Differences and Similarities between the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor.

Airedale Terrier versus Komondor

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Airedale Terrier Versus Komondor: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Airedale Terrier and for the Komondor. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Airedale Terrier or the Komondor

Airedale Terrier versus Komondor: Overview

A very important difference between the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Airedale Terrier is a medium-sized dog while the Komondor is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Airedale Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

On the other hand, the Komondor belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Airedale Terrier versus Komondor: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Airedale Terrier to the Komondor based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Airedale Terrier Komondor
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Life Span 10 to 13 years 10 to 12 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Height 21 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder 25 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 1/5
General Health 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Weight 40 to 65 pounds 80 to 100 pounds
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 11.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1360 $840
Price Range $950 – $1800 $550 – $800
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Dentition
  • Eye Examination- min age 9 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 57 170

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Airedale Terrier in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Komondor. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Airedale Terrier is 70 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Komondor is 70 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Komondor is not better or worse than the Airedale Terrier. So, you can get the Komondor or the Airedale Terrier!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor

    Below is a list of where the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor are most different:

  • Airedale Terriers get along well with other dogs. However, Komondors do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Airedale Terriers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Komondors have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Airedale Terriers have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy. However, Komondors have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.
  • The Similarities Between the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor

    The Airedale Terrier and the Komondor are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor are most similar:

  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor are very easy to train.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Airedale Terrier versus Komondor

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor.

    Airedale Terriers weigh 40 to 65 pounds when fully grown. Airedale Terriers are 21 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Komondors weigh 80 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Komondors are 25 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Airedale Terrier versus Price of Komondor

    The average price of the Airedale Terrier puppy is $1360. The price of the Airedale Terrier typically ranges from $950 – $1800. However, the price of a Airedale Terrier can be as low as $250 and as high as $3135. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 282 Airedale Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Komondor puppy is $840. The price of the Komondor typically ranges from $550 – $800. However, the price of a Komondor can be as low as $500 and as high as $1800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 17 Komondor puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Airedale Terrier is more expensive than the Komondor.

    Airedale Terrier Komondor
    Average Price $1360 $840
    Price Range $950 to $1800 $550 to $800

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Airedale Terrier and Komondor. For different price points, the charts show how many Airedale Terrier puppies or how many Komondor puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Airedale Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Airedale Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Komondors

    A breakdown of the prices of Komondors

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Airedale Terrier puppy or the Komondor puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    The Popularity of Airedale Terrier versus Popularity of Komondor

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Airedale Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Komondor. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Airedale Terrier is 57 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Komondor is 170 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Airedale Terrier

    Popularity of Airedale Terrier

    Popularity of Komondor

    Popularity of Komondor

    Year Airedale Terrier Popularity Rank Komondor Popularity Rank
    2013 56 159
    2014 57 168
    2015 53 163
    2016 55 177
    2017 55 163
    2018 60 173
    2019 60 181
    2020 62 178

    Health Problems of Airedale Terrier versus Health Problems of Komondor

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Airedale Terrier is prone to more genetic health problems than the Komondor.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Airedale Terrier than for the Komondor.

    5 health tests are recommended for Airedale Terrier while 3 tests are recommended for the Komondor.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Airedale Terriers and in Komondors.

    Airedale Terrier Health Problems

    Airedale Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Airedale Terrier puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Airedale Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Airedale Terrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Airedale Terriers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Airedale Terriers here.

    Komondor Health Problems

    Komondors are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Komondor puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Komondor puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Komondor breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Komondors for:

  • Dentition
  • Eye Examination- min age 9 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Komondors here.

    Is the Airedale Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Komondor?

    Airedale Terriers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Komondors do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Airedale Terrier or the Komondor

    Airedale Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Komondors do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Airedale Terrier or the Komondor?

    Airedale Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Komondors are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Airedale Terrier versus Komondor

    Airedale Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Komondors do not like to be left alone.

    Do Airedale Terriers shed more than Komondors?

    Airedale Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Komondors shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Airedale Terrier or the Komondor?

    Airedale Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Komondors require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Can Airedale Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Komondors Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Airedale Terriers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Komondors can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Airedale Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Komondors Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Airedale Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Komondors can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Are Airedale Terriers good family dogs? What about Komondors?

    Airedale Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Komondors are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Airedale Terriers and Komondors?

    Airedale Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Komondors get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Airedale Terrier or the Komondor?

    Airedale Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Komondors do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the Airedale Terrier Easier to Train than the Komondor?

    Airedale Terriers are very easy to train.

    Komondors are very easy to train.

    Do Airedale Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Komondors?

    Airedale Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Komondors are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: Airedale Terrier vs. Komondor

    Airedale Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Komondors have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Does the Airedale Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Komondor?

    Airedale Terriers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Komondors have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Airedale Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Komondor that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Komondor:

  • Belgian Tervuren (70 percent match with Komondor). Here is our comparison of the Airedale Terrier vs Belgian Tervuren.
  • Black Russian Terrier (70 percent match with Komondor). Here is our comparison of the Airedale Terrier vs Black Russian Terrier.
  • Giant Schnauzer (72 percent match with Komondor). Here is our comparison of the Airedale Terrier vs Giant Schnauzer.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Komondor

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Airedale Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Airedale Terrier:

  • Australian Shepherd (80 percent match with Airedale Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Komondor vs Australian Shepherd.
  • Curly-Coated Retriever (82 percent match with Airedale Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Komondor vs Curly-Coated Retriever.
  • English Springer Spaniel (80 percent match with Airedale Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Komondor vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Airedale Terrier and how the Komondor compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Airedale Terrier and of the Komondor to other breeds:

    Airedale Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Airedale Terrier versus Bernedoodle     Airedale Terrier versus Black Russian Terrier     Airedale Terrier versus Shiranian     Airedale Terrier versus Leonberger     Airedale Terrier versus King Shepherd     Airedale Terrier versus Frenchton     Airedale Terrier versus Akita     Airedale Terrier versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Airedale Terrier versus Bracco Italiano     Airedale Terrier versus Boykin Spaniel     

    Komondor Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Komondor versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Komondor versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Komondor versus Lhasapoo     Komondor versus Japanese Chin     Komondor versus Shiranian     Komondor versus Redbone Coonhound     Komondor versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Komondor versus German Longhaired Pointer     Komondor versus Pekingese     Komondor versus Border Terrier     

    Conclusion: Airedale Terrier versus Komondor. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Airedale Terrier and the Komondor better suits you and your family.