Airedale Terrier vs Flat-coated Retriever

Compare the Airedale Terrier to the Flat-coated Retriever. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Airedale Terriers and Flat-coated Retrievers.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both the Airedale Terrier and Flat-Coated Retriever are okay choices for new or inexperienced owners.
Children - Both the Airedale Terrier and Flat-Coated Retriever are great with children.
Grooming - The Flat-Coated Retriever is easy to groom while the Airedale Terrier has moderate grooming needs.
Barking - Both breeds will bark frequently, but the Flat-Coated Retriever has the highest tendency to bark between the two.

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Airedale Terrier vs Flat-Coated Retriever

Breed Name	Airedale Terrier	Flat-Coated Retriever
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	Yes	No
Lifespan	10-13 yrs.	8-10 yrs.
Height	22-24 in.	22-24½ in.
Weight	40-65 lb	55-80 lb
Intelligence	High	High
History
Origin Country	United Kingdom	United Kingdom
Origin Year	1886 AD	1859 AD
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	Very Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Pet Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Stranger Friendly	Good	Very Good
Personality
	Loving Stubborn Willing To Please	Affectionate Loving Willing To Please
Living Environment
Apartment	No	No
Indoor	No	Yes
Small Yard	Yes	Yes
Medium Yard	Yes	Yes
Large Yard	Yes	Yes
Temperature Tolerance ¹	30°F to 85°F	20°F to 75°F
Barks/Howls	Very Often	Very Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	High-Very High	High
Exercise Required	High-Very High	High-Very High
Top Running Speed	25 mph	24 mph
Strength	High	High
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	Low	Medium
Shedding	Low	Medium
Dander	Low	Medium
Drool Amount	Low	None-Low

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Airedale Terrier	Flat-Coated Retriever
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	No
Family/Pack	No	Yes
Independent	Yes	No
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	No	Yes
Average	Yes	Yes
Focused & Patient	No	No
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Below Average	Below Average
Burrow/Digging	Below Average	Below Average
Chasing	Average	Average
Follow Commands	Below Average	Average
Fighting	Below Average	Below Average
Guarding	Very Low	Below Average
Herding	Average	Below Average
Hunting	Very Low	High
Protection	Very Low	Below Average
Remove Vermin	Very Low	Below Average
Sledding	Below Average	Below Average
Watch	Very Low	Average

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Airedale Terrier	Flat-Coated Retriever
Lifespan
Lifespan	10-13 yrs.	8-10 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Allergies	Yes	No
Cancer	Yes	Yes
Hip Dysplasia	Yes	No
Hypothyroidism	Yes	No
Progressive Retinal Atrophy	Yes	No
Umbilical Hernias	Yes	No
Von Willebrand's Disease	Yes	No

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Airedale Terrier	Flat-Coated Retriever
Coat
Fur	Yes	Yes
Coat Type
Double Coat	Yes	Yes
Wire Coat	Yes	No
Smooth Coat	Yes	No
Coat Texture
Rough	Yes	No
Scruffy	Yes	No
Wavy	Yes	Yes
Straight	Yes	No
Coat Length(s)
Medium	Yes	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Black & Tan	Yes	No
Grizzle & Tan	Yes	No
Black	No	Yes
Liver	No	Yes