# Help identifying dog breed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 15, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-dog-breed/284917 "2005-01-15T22:01:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-dog-breed/284917/1 "2005-01-15T22:01:07Z")
I have seen a pair of dogs walking with their owners that I am trying to identify. I think they might be Airedales, they look pretty much exactly like them, but they’re freakin gigantic. I mean, I see these dogs walking down the street and I do a double take because they’re so big. I’m trying to come up with a guess as to their size, but I am fairly certain their backs are about waist high on a man that appears to be about 6’ or so. I’ve been Googling pics of Airedales, but can’t get a sense on whether that fits with their size - all the info I’ve seen, and most of the pictures have indicated a somewhat smaller dog. Are Airedales, or can they be, particularly large dogs? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-dog-breed/284917/2 "2005-01-15T22:24:32Z")
Could they be [Irish Woulhounds](http://www.antique-dog-pictures.co.uk/images/sight/irish-wolfhound.jpg) ? Those are some huge dogs and I think they resemble an Airedale. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-dog-breed/284917/3 "2005-01-15T22:26:52Z")
> [@The Mermaid](#): > > Could they be [Irish Woulounds](http://www.antique-dog-pictures.co.uk/images/sight/irish-wolfhound.jpg) :smack: Or maybe Irish Wolfhounds even. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-dog-breed/284917/4 "2005-01-15T22:30:54Z")
I think they be exactly that. Cool, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-dog-breed/284917/5 "2005-01-16T13:11:42Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > … I think they might be Airedales, they look pretty much exactly like them, but they’re freakin gigantic. … but I am fairly certain their backs are about waist high on a man that appears to be about 6’ or so… As **The Mermaid** suggested, they’re almost certainly Wolfhounds. They have a rough coat that is similar to the Airedale’s, although the head shape is different. Wolfhounds are generally recognized as the tallest (measured where the shoulder blades are at the top of the dog’s back) of any breed recognized by the AKC. Although the tallest dog I’ve ever seen was a Dane (38" at the withers), I’m sure there are Wolfhounds that tall, too. Although most IWs I’ve seen have been gray, the [standard](http://www.akc.org/breeds/irish_wolfhound/index.cfm) recognizes at least six colors. Please note that IWs are “single-colored,” that is, all the same color, where Airedales are (basically) black & tan. > [@](#): > > Are Airedales, or can they be, particularly large dogs? Nope. They’re the tallest of the terriers, but the [standard](http://www.akc.org/breeds/airedale_terrier/index.cfm) says that the males should be approximately 23", which is a very noticeable 9" less than 36". 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-dog-breed/284917/6 "2005-01-16T13:13:48Z")
> [@tygerbryght](#): > > They’re the tallest of the terriers, but the [standard](http://www.akc.org/breeds/airedale_terrier/index.cfm) says that the males should be approximately 23", which is a very noticeable 9" less than 36". 🙂 You sure about that? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-dog-breed/284917/7 "2005-01-16T14:35:15Z")
Well, the AKC sets the breed standard, so yeah! Of course, there are animals born that do not fit the breed standard (in many ways, not just height), but responsible breeders will spay or neuter them to avoid problems within the breed. With the breed I’m in, we are seeing a rotten trend towards breeding smaller animals to fit people’s lifestyles, and it sucks. Newfoundlands are giant dogs, and if people don’t want a giant dog, but another breed! Argh… Sorry… IW rule! That is probably our next breed. If you like the look but would prefer a smaller animal, you can try a Scottish Deerhound. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-dog-breed/284917/8 "2005-01-16T14:42:52Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You sure about that? I’ll back up **tygerbryght** on that. From the AKC standards: > [@](#): > > Dogs should measure approximately 23 inches in height at the shoulder; bitches, slightly less. Both sexes should be sturdy, well muscled and boned. That sounds short to me though. more here: [http://www.akc.org/breeds/airedale\_terrier/index.cfm](http://www.akc.org/breeds/airedale_terrier/index.cfm) I once did some housecalls for a guy who owned 8 Irish Wolfhounds. His basement (of a HUGE house) had ten “stalls”, just like a horse barn. Sadly, the dogs were all geriatric and I saw them go one by one over about an eight month period. The dogs were so much work, that the owner had hired a Vietnam vet who was a nice guy, but loony. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identifying-dog-breed/284917/9 "2005-01-16T15:12:14Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > I have seen a pair of dogs walking with their owners that I am trying to identify. They’re probably _homo sapiens sapiens_, although one never knows these days. Gender can be rough to determine, especially if you live in a very cold climate or an urban center. Check the knuckles and the throat. These are not foolproof techniques, however. You may simply have to ask. (What? Am I the only one who read it that way at first?) 😃