Airedale Terrier — questions to ask before paying a deposit
A responsible breeder will have these readily available. Deflection is a red flag.
Fatal neonatal lung disease (LAMP3)can shorten life or cause chronic painCommon in this breed
A recessive surfactant disorder found in this breed: affected puppies are born at term and develop respiratory failure within hours to days, and none in the study survived beyond four weeks. In the Finnish research cohort about one Airedale in five was a carrier, and the variant was not found in any other breed screened, so two carrier parents can produce an affected litter without either looking unusual.
Ask to see: LAMP3 c.1159G>A DNA test result, on both parents
Dillard et al. 2020, PLOS Genetics (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1008651) · OMIA — Surfactant metabolism dysfunction, pulmonary (dog) (https://omia.org/OMIA002251/9615/)
Haemophilia B (factor IX deficiency)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
An inherited bleeding disorder caused, in this breed, by a large insertion in the factor IX gene that leaves affected dogs with almost no factor IX activity. It is X-linked, so it shows in males while females carry it silently — a carrier dam can produce affected sons even when every dog in the pedigree looks healthy.
Ask to see: Haemophilia B (F9) DNA result for the Airedale variant, or a factor IX activity assay — on the dam especially, since carriers are female
Gu et al. 1999, Thrombosis and Haemostasis (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10544912/) · OMIA — Haemophilia B (dog) (https://omia.org/OMIA000438/9615/)
Protein-losing nephropathy (NPHS1 / KIRREL2)can shorten life or cause chronic pain
A kidney disease in which the filter leaks protein into the urine, usually in middle age, and that often progresses to kidney failure. Two variants associated with it were described in the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and found in Airedale Terriers too, including an affected Airedale carrying both; the inheritance is complex, so a result shows risk rather than a certainty either way.
Ask to see: PLN (NPHS1 and KIRREL2) DNA result, on both parents, and a recent urine protein:creatinine ratio for any adult breeding dog
Littman et al. 2013, Mammalian Genome (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00335-012-9445-8) · Littman 2015, Emerging perspectives on hereditary glomerulopathies in canines (https://www.dovepress.com/emerging-perspectives-on-hereditary-glomerulopathies-in-canines-peer-reviewed-article-AGG)
Factor VII deficiency
An inherited clotting-factor deficiency, usually mild: most affected dogs bleed more than expected only after surgery or injury. The variant was first described in Beagles and has since been documented in a number of breeds including this one; a study in another breed found no link to post-operative bleeding, so its effect varies.
Ask to see: Factor VII deficiency (F7) DNA test result, on both parents
OMIA — Factor VII deficiency (dog) (https://omia.org/OMIA000361/9615/) · Callan et al. 2006, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16961583/)