I keep seeing more and more about these dogs, but i dont know anything about them, so lets hear some facts. What they got? Nose, speed, endurance, grit, tell me what you know. everyone pitch in here!

They have curly fur coats, I know that much.

It was my expierience that the best ones belonged to folks great grand parents. I never had the pleasure of seeing one that was anything like the tales I had heard of them. Some were fairly useful, but for the most part there were plenty of other dogs that could do the same job better. Just another breed mostly lost to the show/sales crowd, IMO.

Take care.

Airedales are like any other hunting dog. You mostly get out what you put in. All I can say for sure is that they can be trained to decoy coyotes.



Thats my Airedale Pearl in the back with a triple she helped decoy back in August.


and a more recent example of her and Ellie Maes (the cur) work.

Jack in Missouri

Way before i knew anything about decoy dogs and I coyote hunted, we had a man named Larry Symes that took care of coyotes on our ranch. We called him the coyote man. I never had the chance to hunt with him, but he always had an Airdale or 2 with him. And also, he killed a ton of coyotes!! I went with him on a few track jobs when a ranch hand would make a bad shot on one from the truck and he was around. They seemed to work real well for him.

I am with Scott on this one, you always hear of the good ole Airedale of yesteryear. Todays Airedale does not have the nose that you hear of in the old days or the tree in them. I think you can still hunt hard and get some that work but I think you do alot more training than the natural ability that they are supossed to have.
This in my Airedale Otis

A working quality Airdale is hard to beat! They also are used to retrieve birds on water or land.

Long time ago I trained dogs for personel protection mostly German shepherds, dobes and my Rottweilers. Let me tell you a good Airdale is one tuff and brave dog the few I worked with loved their owners and were fearless.

Here is Otis treeing on a bear. I used him alot before he was a year old and put a bucket load of bear under his belt. Ariedales are known for a later starting dog.



Not a bit scared of going in a hole either

how bout speed and stamina? I have heard of them being ran with stags, not sure if thats bs though. So are they a Terrier?

Got good speed and alot of grit, go day after day. Not sure about the stags I have never had any

do you see any benefits to using an airdale over a hound?

just so everyone knows, i dont want need or have an airdale, just like learnin stuff and thought this might make some good conversation.

I could not do what I do with just a pack of Airedales. If I had to choose a breed of dog to do my job I would choose the hounds. The Airedale is a more versatile dog and i use him on Bear, Lion ,Bocat, Coyotes ,Fox and Badger. The hounds I use on Bear ,Lion ,and Bobcat.
I do believe the Airedale is more durable than a cur and that is why I like the terriers and crosses on coyotes, they can go day after day after day and keep going long past the curs in the heat.

cool thanks for the info. Anyone else?

I run airedale's. Have for the past 10 yrs. I think what turns most people off is they can be very hard headed at times. I agree with Devin, they are a late starting dog, but also agree you can run them day after day. Very willing mix it up if needed. I had an 80 lb. male that truely enjoyed that work. Was a very good spring time dog. Too aggessive with fall coyotes. But on the other side great with my kids. Good with people.

Currently down to my last Airedale and she has been a great fall decoy dog. Tracks cripples and is ok for the trapline. I have a hound that works better but they make a good team. I have run both the curlly coat and the redline airedales. Both have worked well for me.

Needing another pup for this spring and debating on breed.