Airedale Terriers are dogs of medium size that usually originate in England. These dogs are generally loyal, vigilant, affectionate and gentle, but even that is not enough to stop dogs from smelling.
Although Airedale Terriers emit a standard dog smell, they are not usually smellier than other dogs unless there is a specific reason or factor resulting in an unhealthy or foul smell. You can learn more about this below.
Do Airedale Terriers Smell?
Airedale Terriers do not usually smell too bad, although they still carry a distinct dog smell that is pretty difficult to avoid. There are, however, some situations in which Airedale Terriers might end up smelling a bit more than the average dog, in which case you might need to figure out the cause and a solution.
You should note that this smell can sometimes be a result of underlying health issues too, in which case you should visit the vet immediately to get your dog checked out.
There are some situations in which your dog’s coat might end up growing a bit longer too, which can result in more dirt and dead cells getting stuck, thus emitting a bad smell.
This is because the coats of Airedale Terriers tend to be a bit long in certain parts. The coat is also typically coarse and wiry, which can also require some careful grooming.
Potential Reasons Behind Smelly Airedale Terriers
There are several reasons that can help explain why your Airedale Terrier is smelling more than usual. Figuring out the reason can help you out so that you can take measures to get rid of the smell while also keeping your dog healthy and happy.
Take a look at some of these reasons below.
Allergies
If your Airedale Terrier is suffering from some kind of allergy, this might cause parts of their body to smell bad due to the skin reactions that may arise. Allergies might also lead to excessive sweating or drooling in addition to frequent scratching and redness.
You might have to visit the vet and seek medication for this.
Infections
Through some kind of yeast, bacteria or any other kind of rot, parts of your dog’s body might get infected, resulting in a bad odor. This kind of infection can be on the skin, in the ears, on the gums or teeth or on any other part of the body.
This can lead to a rotten smell and will require veterinary support.
Also Read: Airedale Terrier vs Fox Terrier
Dust and Debris
Since the coats of Airedale Terriers tend to be a bit wiry and slightly long in certain sections, it is possible for them to accumulate too much dust and debris on their skin. This can result in poor smell from your dog, which is why you should clean and groom your terriers on a regular enough basis.
Gastrointestinal Disease
Your Airedale Terriers might have some foods that their bodies might not favor or be able to digest properly, which can result in gastrointestinal diseases. As a result, your dogs can end up vomiting or releasing too much flatulence, which might help explain the bad smell.
Anal Sacs
Anal sacs or glands are pouch-like parts that are situated on either side of your dog’s anus. These sacs have sweat glands that produce secretions that can then emit odors, although this is pretty normal in all dogs.
It is only when the smell becomes particularly bad or foul that you should start worrying, as this could indicate the presence of a disease or infection.
Sweat
Your Airedale Terriers produce sweat not only from their anal glands, but also from the glands located on their paws. Typically, the smell that sweat produces can be taken care of easily, but if your dog is panting too much and emitting excessive levels of sweat, this can help explain the bad smell too.
Poor Diet
There are some foods that most dogs cannot eat at all or in excessive quantities. Sticking to certain dry foods or foods that your Airedale Terriers do not like can sometimes result in a bad smell too.
Also Read: Are Airedale Terriers Good Guard Dogs?
External Substances
Your Airedale Terrier might have eaten something outdoors that they shouldn’t have, resulting in a bad smell.
Apart from this, the external products that you apply to your dogs, such as strong shampoos and soaps, might not react well with the skin, resulting in poor smells.
How to Minimize Airedale Terriers from Smelling
There are a few ways in which you can reduce the bad smell that might be coming from your Airedale Terrier. You can go through these below and apply them to your own dog’s situation based on what the causes behind the smell indicated.
- Keep your Airedale Terriers clean and tidy by rinsing the coat every time they come back home after playing or exercising outdoors.
- Bathe your dogs once in a while with the right kind of soap and shampoo that can help preserve the health of your dog’s fur and skin without causing them too much harm.
- Groom your dog’s coat regularly, especially when you notice the fur getting too long and dirty.
- Clip the nails and keep your dog’s paws and ears clean enough.
- Brush your Airedale Terrier’s teeth on a frequent basis.
- Maintain a proper diet for your Airedale Terrier so that they can get the essential nutrients to keep all internal and external body parts healthy.
- Provide enough water for your dog on a daily basis.
- Avoid certain cleaning materials, such as hydrogen peroxide, borax, vinegar, bleach and fragrances.
- In case of any discomfort, unease or health issue that seems to be emitting the poor smell, make sure you take your dog to the vet as soon as possible for treatment.
Also Read: Do Airedale Terriers Like to Swim?
In Summary
Airedale Terriers smell as much as most other dogs do, although there might be some cases in which they might smell more than usual due to causes like allergies, dust and debris, infections, stomach problems, unhealthy anal sacs, excessive sweat, poor diet and the usage of harmful external products.
It is possible to minimize this poor smell by taking some precautionary and cleaning measures. Visit the vet if these measures are not enough.