| Airedale Terrier | German Shepherd | |
|---|---|---|
| Lifespan | 10-13 years | 7-10 years |
| Size | Large | Large |
| Weight | 40-65 lb | 50-90 lb |
| Energy | High | High |
| Grooming | Moderate | Moderate |
| Shedding | Low | High |
| With kids | Good with kids | With supervision |
As the largest terrier breed, the Airedale keeps a full terrier prey drive and stubborn streak in a 50-plus-pound body, and breed mortality surveys put cancer as the cause of roughly 4 in 10 Airedale deaths — noticeably higher than most breeds.
This is a working police/military breed sold as a family pet, and hip and elbow dysplasia are common enough that breeding-stock screening is standard practice, not a precaution — a German Shepherd bought without health-tested parents has a meaningfully higher chance of developing joint disease that shortens its active years.
Airedale Terrier ·
German Shepherd
Health problems, origin and what living with each is actually like.