It is always good to know what to expect out of your future puppy in terms of size. Referring to a puppy’s growth chart helps you better understand the size of your pet, as well as its general requirements.
Popularly known as ‘‘the king of terriers,’’ an Airedale puppy makes the largest dog in the terrier family. But, how large are Airedale dogs truly?
In the following part of this article, we’re going to identify the Airedale Terrier growth chart in detail. That said, we will start with the simple numbers, measuring the breed’s weight and height chart throughout life phases.
But, what good does the chart do without a detailed explanation of each of these stages? That’s right! Your quest for a proper Airedale growth chart has come to an end! Let’s take a look!
The Airedale Terrier Growth Chart
| Age | Weight | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 1-1.5 Ibs | 0.5 inches |
| Week 2 | 2.5 Ibs | 1-1.5 inches |
| Week 3 | 3.5 Ibs | 1.5-2 inches |
| Week 4 | 4-5 Ibs | 2-3 inches |
| Week 5 | 6 Ibs | 3-4 inches |
| Week 6 | 7.5 Ibs | 4-5 inches |
| Week 7 | 8-9 Ibs | 5-6 inches |
| Week 8 | 10-11 Ibs | 6-7 inches |
| 3 Months | 18-20 Ibs | 11-12 inches |
| 4 Months | 24-26 Ibs | 15-16 inches |
| 5 Months | 30-35 Ibs | 17.5-18 inches |
| 6 Months | 34-39 Ibs | 19-20 inches |
| 8 Months | 37-45 Ibs | 20-22 inches |
| 10 Months | 39-48 Ibs | 21-22 inches |
| 12 Months | 40-55 Ibs | 22-23 inches |
| 18 Months | 50-65 Ibs | 23 inches |
| Adult Airedale | 50-65 Ibs | 23 inches |
As we can see from the chart above, the fully-grown Airedale puppy weighs between 50 and 65 pounds on average.
However, Airedale breeders emphasize the fluctuation in numbers when it comes to these puppies’ size. Namely, some Airedale puppies can reach up to 70 or even 80 pounds in weight, but that’s rare.
On the other hand, the puppy’s height measured from the withers revolves between 22 and 23 inches on average. This is a relatively large dog that qualifies among the biggest terrier canines of all.
You should bear in mind that these are estimated numbers measured with a height and weight calculator. Some puppies can go up or down by a few pounds or so, which doesn’t have to be an instant red flag.
However, if your puppy is drastically above or beyond these measures, you should reconsider your feeding habits, as well as your puppy’s health.
Airedale Puppy Throughout Life Stages
In order to anticipate the needs of your Airedale Terrier puppy, you need to have an idea on what this dog will look like throughout its life stages. Generally, all terrier breeds are highly active dogs that require a big back yard and lots of activity during the day.
That being said, the Airedale puppy is most likely to have the same needs. Namely, these doggies, unlike Poodles or Golden Retrievers, are not the best dog breed for apartment-living. Still, with proper training and lots of socialization, Airedales can be decent family dogs.
Each of its growth stages is equally important for a puppy’s life as its development is gradual and it doesn’t happen all at once. These pooches require an experienced owner who is ready to dedicate their time, patience, and love for proper upbringing.
First Two Weeks
The first two weeks are crucial for a puppy. This is probably the most vulnerable age of every dog. That said, newborn puppies require good care and nurturing. They have to be kept next to their mother all the time as they require a warm environment and food access.
On the contrary, newborn puppies that are picked up from a shelter or a street should be kept at 85-90°F, and they should be provided with a proper milk replacer. Cow milk is never an option as newborn puppies are lactose intolerant, and they can experience severe stomach pain.
During the first couple of weeks, you shouldn’t expect too much out of your Airedale puppy. Their eyes are still closed, and they are not strong enough for any sort of movement. At the end of the second week, you should expect to see the first teething symptoms, though.
Teething is the first symptom of the so-called ‘‘weaning process,’’ which usually starts at three weeks of age.
From Three Weeks To Five Months
At three weeks of age, puppies are still deeply in their early puppyhood stage. However, they slowly start to open their eyes. On the other hand, the beginning of the third week is characterized by the first rudimentary crawling, which is a heart-warming moment for every dog owner.
The weaning phase usually starts in this period of their life, which is when they are ready to taste their first gruel of milk replacer – water and solid food. The weaning process generally ends by the end of the first month.
However, some puppies are not weaned until they reach six weeks of age.
Every reputable owner will sell their new litters between eight and ten weeks of age. By the end of the tenth month, puppies are usually potty trained and trained in basic commands.
However, taking into consideration that Airedale puppies display stubbornness at times, we can say that these puppies are not the easiest breed to potty train. They require a lot of patience and experience, which is why the breed is recommended for long-time dog owners only.
At this age, puppies should be subjected to their first vaccination and deworming, hip and elbow evaluation, as well as DNA tests. If you’re inclined to buy an Airedale puppy, the recommendation is to research the most reliable Airedale breeders first.
From Six Months To Twelve Months
At six months of age, puppies slowly enter their juvenile stage. This is the official end of the early puppyhood stage, which is characterized by the occurrence of the first symptoms of sexual maturity.
If you’re wondering why your juvenile puppy is acting weird all of a sudden, the reason might be sexual maturity. Spaying or neutering a dog between six and twelve months of age is the best time to do so.
Otherwise, the process can be painful as a surgical procedure in adult dogs is more complex. Furthermore, adult dogs need more time for recovery.
At six months of age, puppies are generally between 35 and 40 pounds in weight. On the other hand, their average height revolves between 19 and 20 inches. During the sexual maturity phase, puppies may have undesirable outbursts and display more stubbornness than usual.
However, you should know that this is a transitional phase that usually ends by the end of the first eighteen months.
During the first year, Airedale canines are supposed to be fully socialized with their family, other dogs, and pets. Furthermore, Airedale owners should feed their canines two to three times a day.
In addition to a proper feeding chart, these canines require one to two hours of high-intensity exercise every day. Despite not reaching their adult size, Airedale puppies are highly active dogs that don’t do well in closed spaces, or without exercise.
This is an ideal period to perfect your Airedale puppy’s skills. That said, you should mentally stimulate your dog with toys, creative games, and other outdoor activities. This is a highly intelligent dog breed, which makes it perfect for agility training, too.
Adult Airedales
Even though some Airedales reach their full size much earlier, these puppies are considered to be adults at eighteen months to two years of age. That is the time when they become fully mature, both mentally and physically.
However, some female Airedale Terriers tend to mature much earlier.
The average weight of an adult Airedale dog revolves between 50 and 65 pounds. However, some canines can reach up to 80 pounds in weight, which makes them the biggest terrier dogs by far.
Unfortunately, their weight is not your friend in the long run as these canines are not as enthusiastic about indoor life as some other medium-sized dogs. They rather prefer a big back yard in order to move freely.
Furthermore, socializing an aggressive dog will be a much more complicated task than socializing a young puppy. That’s why you should never skip early socialization in an Airedale breed, or any other.
Alongside their socialization, these canines will need a solid, two-hour exercise during the day.
As Airedale puppies are impeccable dogs health-wise, their physical activity levels remain intact at all ages. If we assume that the average lifespan of this breed is 11 to 14 years, you can expect to have a highly active dog for at least eight to nine years.
Senior Airedales
There are two things you should pay attention to when having a senior dog in your home – their dieting and their exercise level.
Senior Airedales need a well-balanced diet. That said, you should feed them less calories at least two times a day. Feeding them once a day is not recommended due to their susceptibility to gastric dilatation volvulus.
GDV, or popularly known as bloat, is generally related to large breeds with a wide chest. That said, junk food and poorly-planned mealtimes are to be avoided when having an Airedale canine in a home.
On the other hand, preventing obesity in a senior dog positively correlates with preventing potential heart disease and diabetes. You should always keep your Airedale companion within an estimated adult weight.
Furthermore, these pooches will need reduced exercise during the last phase of their life. Do not overwhelm them with complicated tasks as senior Airedales will be perfectly happy with thirty-minute training on a daily basis.
What Impacts The Airedale Terrier Growth Chart
There are several things that impact the Airedale Terrier growth chart: genetics, health issues, exercise, dieting, and gender.
Not all Airedale puppies grow the same, which is the result of their genetics most of the time. However, other significant factors, such as their lifestyle, dietary requirements, and health problems are just as important.
Some Airedale puppies can face canine hypothyroidism, which directly impacts their growth rate. Namely, puppies with hypothyroidism tend to be bigger, which is the opposite of dogs that deal with hyperthyroidism.
1. Genetics
Genetics plays a crucial role in the Airedale Terrier growth chart. Namely, genetics is the reason why some Airedales are bigger than their counterparts, or why they have a specific coat color.
Generally, these canines belong to a group of non-drooling, good-smelling, medium to large-sized, hypoallergenic dog breeds. However, puppies that come from two big Airedale parents will most likely be the same.
On the other hand, it is highly unrealistic to expect an Airedale that comes from two medium-sized parents to be gigantic.
If you want to anticipate the potential behavior of your Airedale puppy – take a look at its parents first. Genetics impacts a dog’s behavior a lot. That said, you cannot expect your Airedale puppy to be as trainable and as obedient (by default) as a German Shepherd or a Poodle.
These dogs need a lot of patience and time to be properly trained, which is why the breed is not recommended for first-time dog owners.
2. Health Issues
Despite the fact that this is a healthy dog, some Airedale canines can deal with hip dysplasia, thyroid gland problems, as well as gastric dilatation volvulus.
All these issues can affect the Airedale Terrier growth chart significantly, which is why you should subject your puppy to early health testing in the first place.
Hip dysplasia in dogs is a major issue without deadly repercussions. Namely, hip dysplasia is the abnormality of a hip joint in a dog. That said, puppies with hip dysplasia are expected to be less active or even lethargic.
Consequently, dysplasia-affected puppies can become overly fat due to their high inactivity. That being said, you should take into consideration your puppy’s health when designing a feeding chart.
On the other hand, puppies with a thyroid disorder are more likely to either be bigger or smaller than other dogs in the family. Generally, puppies with hypothyroidism tend to be bigger, while puppies with hyperthyroidism are most likely to have problems with weight gain.
3. Exercise
If you’re willing to buy an Airedale puppy, you should bear in mind that this is an extremely active dog breed. That said, Airedale puppies require at least two hours of exercise on a daily basis.
Anything less than that can negatively affect the Airedale Terrier growth chart. Canines that don’t have the chance to exercise on a regular basis are more likely to gain additional weight, and obesity can have a negative impact both on their physical and mental health.
Airedales that lack activity are highly likely to become overly frustrated and aggressive. That’s why you should always give priority to their training rather than a nice, warm cuddle in the house.
Use interactive dog toys, mental games, and other training techniques to keep them occupied. These canines love being challenged, both mentally and physically. This way, you will manage to keep your puppy happy and healthy.
Additionally, you won’t need to worry about the possibility of weight gain. These dogs burn off a lot of calories throughout training, which is why a healthy snack here and there won’t affect their overall growth chart.
4. Dieting
Dieting positively correlates with an Airedale’s exercise needs. Both of these things are equally important to the Airedale Terrier growth chart as these canines need high-quality food in order to gain healthy weight, and a lot of exercise to burn off extra calories.
That said, avoid table scraps and junk food. These canines are prone to obesity despite the fact that they are highly active.
The ‘‘how long does it take for a dog to gain weight’’ dilemma can sometimes be overwhelming, though. However, as long as you give your dog a proper amount of food on a daily basis – you can expect good results.
If, by chance, your dog is still underweight after a couple of months of giving it a sufficient amount of food – you should seek veterinary help. The reason why some dogs cannot gain weight is mostly rooted in some health problems, such as cancer or hyperthyroidism.
5. Gender
Both male and female Airedale puppies are big, curly-haired dogs, with great athletic potential. However, male puppies are generally bigger than their female counterparts as they can reach up to 65 pounds (some can reach even up to 80 pounds).
On the other hand, females have a different size – they generally weigh between 40 and 50 pounds.
The size difference between male and female Airedales is visible even by the untrained eye. However, bear in mind that despite their smaller size, female puppies are just as active as their male counterparts.
In some rare cases, female puppies weigh as much as male Airedales or even more. However, this is highly unlikely to happen as female canines have a genetic tendency to be smaller.
FAQs
Generally, these purebred canines reach their full size at the age of twelve months. Some Airedales reach their adult weight even before then – at eight or nine months of age.
However, you should take into consideration that these canines reach their mental maturity between 18 and 24 months of age. A two-year-old Airedale dog is considered to be fully grown.
Still, there are several factors that impact the size of this large terrier. First, its dietary habits are of extreme importance.
Dogs that are fed with poor-quality dog food or table scraps tend to be obese, which makes them prone to diabetes and heart failure. Consequently, overfed puppies are generally bigger than expected.
On the other hand, dogs with certain health issues, such as thyroid disorder or cancer are most likely to be smaller than their healthy counterparts.
Naturally, all Airedale puppies are extremely active dogs throughout their whole life. That said, these dogs are highly unlikely to calm down or get easier.
Still,puppies do calm down significantly after being spayed or neutered. Their sexual maturity age generally starts at six to eight months of age, which is probably the best time to spay or neuter your dog. These procedures are much more complicated during adulthood.
Furthermore, puppies that undergo the process of socialization and obedience training are more likely to be calmer and better-behaved. On the contrary, having an untrained Airedale puppy in your home can be an overwhelming experience.
The average lifespan of these puppies is somewhere between 12 and 14 years. Even though these canines are not considered to be one of the healthiest dog breeds in the world, Airedales are quite healthy dogs.
Still, due to some health problems, such as GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus) and hypothyroidism, some Airedale canines live a shorter life.
That being said, you should subject your puppy to early DNA and health tests. Additionally, recognizing the first symptoms of GDV or hypothyroidism in an Airedale puppy is of crucial importance. Timely-treated puppies have a better chance of living a long and a happy life.
Conclusion
The Airedale Terrier growth chart is considered to be a crucial part of the Airedale crash course. That being said, every Airedale owner should revise her/his puppy’s growth chart every once in a while.
Bear in mind that these puppies are medium to large dogs, which means that they can go up or down by a few pounds, give or take.
However, every major imbalance in your dog’s growth should be reported to the vet. Knowing how and when to react is crucial, and it separates a responsible owner from an irresponsible one.
Our intention was to present you with a clearer picture of how big a magnificent Airedale puppy can get. Furthermore, you can see what growth stages this puppy goes through during its lifespan. Airedale canines are complex, but wonderful pets that require proper maintenance and care.
However, devoted, loving, and patient owners won’t have any problem creating an unbreakable bond with these wiry-haired canines.
Read more: Detailed Leonberger Growth Chart For All Dog Lovers