Airedale terriers have a distinctive coat that requires some amount of grooming. Unlike other dogs, they do not need regular trimmings. However, their
coat does need to be stripped, which involves pulling out the dead fur. Otherwise, they won’t retain their distinctive wiry coat.
Despite this, there are several styles you can decide to get your Airedale done in. We’ll take a look at some of the most popular options below.
The 4 Airedale Terrier Grooming & Haircut Styles
1. Classic Airedale Trim
This is the “correct” way to trim an Airedale. The head is hand-stripped to maintain the traditional beard. The body is also completely handstripped to maintain the wiry texture of the coat. You’ll need to regularly get the dog’s coat handstripped to keep this texture throughout their body. Their tail is left fully and bushy, and their legs are left a bit longer, too.
This is the haircut you’ll see in the show ring, and many companion dog owners decide to get their dog hand stripped in this manner, as well. It doesn’t require tons of maintenance, unlike some other show cuts.
2. Puppy Cut
If you want your dog to look more “natural,” the puppy cut is probably what you want. Typically, the fur is trimmed to the same length across the body, and it may or may not be handstripped. The coat is often very curly if it isn’t handstripped, so it’s largely a personal preference.
This trim may require more daily brushing, especially if you decide not to hand strip it. It’s called the puppy cut because this is typically what puppies look like before they are handstripped for the first time.
3. Sporting Cut
For a purely practical trim, consider the sporting cut. In this style, the dog is handstripped a bit shorter everywhere, including on their nose. You won’t see this in the show ring, as it is technically not according to standard. However, it is much easier to take care of, though the dog does look much less dramatic at the same time.
As the name suggests, this cut is best for very active dogs who are involved in sports. It’s purely practical, though it also works well for many companion animals.
4. Summer Cut
Airedale terriers with a summer cut are trimmed very short all over their body to make their lives a bit more pleasant in the summer. While this is called the summer cut, specifically, you can get your dog trimmed this short at any time.
Usually, only about ½ of an inch is kept on the coat. When a dog’s coat is this short, hand stripping isn’t as important. Furthermore, the dog may need to be trimmed less often, especially if you decide to let it grow out for the winter.
Summary
Grooming an Airedale terrier can take a lot of time and energy. However, some cuts can make it more straightforward, such as the summer cut. Still, some dog owners prefer a more traditional look, or they may want to keep their dog’s fur as natural as possible.
Whatever you choose, be sure you understand the maintenance that comes with your chosen cut. Often, it makes sense to select a cut that provides the right amount of maintenance for your schedule—not just one you like the look of.
Of course, it’s important to find a groomer who understands how to groom these dogs, as hand stripping is much different from trimming. Otherwise, you may not be able to achieve any of these cuts.
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Featured Image Credit: DuxX, Shutterstock
