My most recent dog was an Airdale. She died at the ripe old age of 13 and I haven't had another dog since. She was not too high on the brightness scale, except compared with my other dogs, (Irish wolfhounds, bassets, borzois) but she was always friendly, devoted and fearless. I got her for my two year old son and they grew up together. I don't mind admitting that I cried when I had to put her down. I would recommend the breed unhesitatingly.