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DIEGO: • 1 year-old • Male. • Puppy-Mode • Not Neutered (TART will pay to have this done) • 70 lbs. • 1 owner since 12 weeks • No bite/aggression history • Housebroken • Crate trained • Not Microchipped (TART will pay to have this done) • Good with kids • Good (not great) on leash • Affectionate • Extremely Sweet • Wants to be around his people/person • Good with other Dogs
Background: Diego was obtained from a breeder in New Braunfels at roughly 12 weeks old in early June, 2024. Current Owner (CO) saw him posted on-line. CO believes Diego’s parents were AKC registered but she did not pursue papers on Diego. CO estimates his birthday to be mid March 2024. CO had never had a Airedale before.
CO has had Diego now for roughly 10 months. CO is looking to rehome Diego due to medical issues of a family member who has moved back home, coupled with aggression Diego is now receiving from another male dog in the home. Diego was already crated quite a bit prior to the family dynamic changing, and that crate time is increasing even more now as the merged families attempt to keep the aggressive male dog away from Diego and navigate medical appointments.
CO does not believe Diego is getting the time and attention he needs from them and that sadly, their time is only going to decrease as medical issues amp-up time away from home.
Diego also lives with two younger teenagers and a 55 lb female canine that Diego enjoys playing and interacting with. The family also has a rabbit that roams and Diego has had no issues with it. The one time that current owners saw Diego met a cat, Diego just sniffed it and walked away.
Diego is fully house trained. He has a certain bark for when he needs to go out.
Diego is crate trained and spends a significant amount of time crated during the workweek. Overall, he is crated at bedtime, while CO is at work, and/or family is out of the house. That is just too much, especially considering his breed and age, and his current owner would like him to be in a home with more time to run around and be active. Diego use to have a plastic crate that he would chew on in frustration, so they now have him in a metal crate. Diego is crated even more currently due to issues with the other male dog. All dogs in this home are crated in the same manner. Diego seems bored and seems to need more mental/physical stimulation interacting than he is currently getting.
Diego is allowed on the couch and sometimes gets on beds to lounge. He has a blanket in his crate.
Diego has no known anxiety but has been known to howl along to loud noises like a siren.
CATS: Diego is mostly untested with cats though he does not have a super high prey drive. He is uninterested in neighborhood cats and, as mentioned above, was non-reactive to a cat he formally met.
DOGS: Other than the dog who shows aggression to him, Diego has been good with all friendly dogs he’s met. He and the 55 lb female he lives with are great play buddies and get along famously, often enjoying robust tug-o-war. CO believes the issue with their male is because Diego is so young, playful, and mouthy. As he zooms around the yard, he’ll run into the male and playfully put his open mouth on him, which seems to trigger the other dog's annoyance and aggression as he is older and not near as active or playful.
Diego also seems to like little dogs. There is a Chihuahua next door that Diego has dug under the wood fence to get to. The neighbor found Diego and the little dog sitting happily together under their porch enjoying each other’s company. Diego also loves the two smaller dogs in the yard to the other side of him (15lbs and 40lbs).
Diego has shown no resource guarding tendencies to food or possessions.
KIDS: Diego lives with young teenagers and been around children as young as 2 with no issues. Nieces, 5 & 6 visit frequently. Diego will run around interacting, but does not jump on them. BUT, for the very small children, you have to watch if they have a snack because Diego will get excited and his body will start wiggling around somewhat uncontrollably hoping they will share. He would like to join the fun on the trampoline but he can’t quite get himself up there. Though Diego loves the kids and is excited to see and be around them, when it comes to playing and running around in the yard, his first choice is their female dog who he plays with so well.
Diego has never had any bite, nip or aggressive history at all. He is a sweet, friendly, easy-going boy.
Favorite Things: 1. Diego loves food and getting treats. CO believes they have been over-feeding him and has started limiting him some recently. He is very food motivated. CO believes he has learned that if he DOESN’T come when she calls, she’ll try to motivate him with a treat…so he’ll intentionally hold off responding knowing she’ll eventually bring out a reward. It’s like he’s training her on how to train him…more treats please.
Diego also loves his time with his people/family and hanging close to whatever they are doing. Diego is affectionate and sweet but he isn’t overly “needy”. He is content to lay close and be near…but when he DOES needs cuddles and attention, he lets you know.
Diego also loves to play. He loves chews and sturdy toys. He will play fetch with his people and play “rough and tumble” with his canine sister.
Least Favorite Things: Though he is really good at the groomer, Diego does not like to be put in the shower. Once you get him there he gives up, but that is about the only thing he will give you a hard time about.
Other Notes of Relevance:
Diego doesn’t go on car rides often but he is good and enjoys it if you let him put his head out.
When presented with a situation he can’t resist, Diego will occasionally try to counter-surf but he responds to correction…until next time.
Diego HAS dug and chewed under his wood fence to get to his canine buddies next door. He has gotten out 2 to 3 times in the 10 months they’ve had him. CO believes that because he is crated so much and desperate for interesting things to do, he REALLY wants to go visit his friends. CO said their yard is rather small for having 3 dogs, and that, plus the crating time seems to make him crave a little adventure. She believes with more physical/mental stimulation and correction, this behavior would turn around.
Diego does not get regular walks though he was described as pretty good on a leash. CO said he pulls some at the beginning of an outing but quickly settles in. She indicated that Diego limits his own walks and starts heading you back home when he’s done. CO believes he would benefit from more exercise and training in this area. CO also noted that her young teenagers were strong enough and capable of easily controlling Diego on walks and that most adults would not have an issue with him on a leash.
Diego gets excited and barks if someone drives up or knocks at the door. He has picked up this excitement from the other male dog who is really a nut when guests arrives. Diego quickly settles and then he’s done.
Diego is good at the groomer and gets nothing but positive feedback as to his behavior. CO takes him to a drive-through vet so she has no “waiting-room” experiences with him, though she believes he would just want to play with other dogs.
Diego has not had formal training. He knows basic commands like sit, stay, and down. Diego is happy-go-lucky and amicable, but like most Airedales, he approaches obedience sometimes on his own terms. He would benefit from someone working with him in this regard. He is still very young and very smart.
Things a new adopter might find challenging: CO mentioned the challenges they had when Diego was being crated in a plastic crate and began chewing out of boredom. She hopes Diego will go to a home with less crate time. CO believes a new adopter will have challenges initially getting him into a shower if that is something they tend to do. Overall, he is a sweet, friendly, easy guy who is usually up for anything.
Things a new adopter will love about Diego: CO stated that a new adopter is going to love Diego’s personality because he just steals your heart away. He is funny, loving, loyal and knows how to use his big puppy-eyes to get what he wants. He loves his people and seems to intuitively know if something is wrong. When he picks up on you having an issue or a bad day, he will hang especially close to comfort you. Otherwise, Diego is an entertaining, joyful, goof who just needs someone to spend more time with him.
Ideal Next Home: Diego is still a puppy and would do best in an active home where he has opportunities for daily mental and physical stimulation. Optimally Diego needs to begin daily walks or other physical activity. Diego would enjoy a home with school age or above, respectful, dog savvy children AND/OR a friendly canine companion. Diego would thrive having someone home with him the large majority of the time so he is crated less. This personable guys loves to run and play so he would be over-the-moon with a large secure yard, and an abundance of love and attention.
