IF AIREDALES ARE SO GOOD, WHY AREN'T THEY MORE POPULAR?

Dear Jubilee:

My family and I would like to add a dog to our family. Our 2 children are older 6 & 10 and we feel they are old enough to appreciate and experience with us the responsibility and joy of owning a puppy.  I have researched a lot of information on the Internet regarding different dogs and their breeds. My husband and I like the Airedale very much. They are beautiful dogs that seem to be loyal, energetic, and quick learners when trained properly. They seem to be a very well rounded breed.

My question is that through breeder research, I have found that the Airedales are not very popular, so that there are not many litters bred. Why is this? The Airedale seems like a great family pet. Am I missing something?

Perplexed

Dear Perplexed:

Airedales are great family pets. They are all that you have discovered and more: they are beautiful, loyal, ENERGETIC, quick learners, OPINIONATED, very well rounded, ENERGETIC and OPINIONATED, OPINIONATED and ENERGETIC.

There are several reasons that they are not more popular.

First, they were the most popular dog in the country during the 1920s and 1930s. Unfortunately, the demand was so high that a lot of people bred them without understanding them and a lot of people bought them who did not have the resources or knowledge to train them and put boundaries on their energy. They were over bred and temperament problems developed -- in short, there were Airedales out there who bit people. When Airedales bite, they leave quite a mark (a doctor that I once talked to -- who loves and owns Airedales himself -- told me that he has never seen a worse bite than one from an Airedale). As they were more and more over bred and as temperament problems grew worse, their popularity diminished. Today, they are about 49th in popularity out of the 150+ breeds recognized by the AKC.

Since they diminished in popularity, the back yard breeders and profit takers left the breeding to the serious breeders of the Airedale Terrier Club of America who have always paid close attention to the genetics of the dogs that they bred. There are fewer backyard breeders than for many breeds because they are difficult puppies to raise: they need a lot of socialization with people who understand the needs of the breed, and they can be very destructive when kept until they are 10 or 12 weeks old (that is why so many backyard breeders send them to their homes at five to seven weeks, way too young and before they have learned important lessons from their siblings and their mother).

Today's well-bred Airedales seldom have the temperament problems that they were once known for. But good breeders do not breed often; they seldom if ever advertise in the newspapers; and they screen prospective buyers very closely to ensure that the dog ends up in a home that can train and discipline an Airedale properly. A home which will call the breeder if any problems develop so the breeder can help the family nip problems in the bud. Most of us do not want them to raise any higher in popularity because we want to breed the best and be sure that they are well cared for.

Today, Airedales, if bred and raised well, are loyal, fun, mischievous, good with children, affectionate, ENERGETIC, OPINIONATED, and will give you endless hours of amusement and joy. But they certainly are ENERGETIC and OPINIONATED. You must have a real good sense of humor and still have a willingness to do what it takes to discipline them instead of always laughing at their antics. In short, you must remember that what is cute in an 18 pound puppy is not cute in a 55 pound adult.

If you are looking for an Airedale, go to the Airedale Terrier Club of America web site -- www.airedale.org -- and look for a breeder in your area of the country.

Look for a dog show near you and go to watch the Airedales. In fact, visit with any breeds that have appealed to you during your search. Then visit with the people who are showing the Airedales and the people around the ring watching them. Ask a lot of questions. (you can find upcoming dog shows listed at www.infodog.com and www.onofrio.com and about two weeks before the show, you can click on the show on one of those sites and find out how many Airedales are entered and what time and in what ring they will be showing).

Then go visit a breeder or two, and meet their dogs. Talk to the breeder about their temperaments and their training. Ask a lot of questions. Be sure to ask about the health of the parents and the certifications of the parents' hips. Also answer all of the breeders questions honestly and straightforward without being annoyed by the questions. The breeder wants their dogs in the right homes, and the more the breeder learns about you, the better they can select a dog for you. In fact, if a breeder does not ask you a lot of questions, run, don't walk to the door and find another breeder. And if the breeder thinks that the breed is not the right breed for you, your answers will help them determine that and be able to counsel you to look for another breed.

Also be sure that the breeder will take the dog back if it does not work out for you or if your life circumstances change. Most good breeders do not want one of their dogs passed on to a family that is not ready for an Airedale's personality so they will require that you send the dog back to
them. They prefer to place dogs of their breeding than take a chance on the dog ending up in a shelter.

Dealing with an Airedale Terrier Club of America breeder is the best way to assure yourself of getting a well tempered, healthy, beautiful Airedale along with a breeder who will help you along the way.

One note: you may have to wait for the Airedale of your dreams. So put yourself on the waiting list of the breeder you choose and wait for one of their puppies. They are well worth the wait.
 

Jubilee