fielder 18 Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 Hey Skycat how is the Airedale coming on? Quote Link to post
skycat 6,174 Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 Very well indeed: hunts like a demon non stop, air scenting for rabbits then following the scent to the rabbit or the hole. How shall I put it? Let's just say that she's not scared of cover LOL. I'm used to the terriers scuttling about in the cover after rabbits, putting them out or killing in: the Airedale pup, who must now be coming up 8 months old (I think!) is a bit like an armoured car: she wants into some cover, she just puts her head down and pushes: really funny to see. Very biddable: we had a bit of a time where she was deafing me out, but we had a little talk about that which ended up with her saying "OK boss", and now she is coming on leaps and bounds. She is very trainable: when I tell her to sit, she does it straight away just like a Collie would, the same with the 'down' command: she slams her front end to the ground: bang! just like a Collie: I'm sort of really surprised and not, if that makes sense. She's everything I was led to believe about these dogs and more besides, but you have to put the time in with them: she's round me all day. Now I've learned to read her properly (took some doing to begin with as I'm not used to these dogs at all), I can read her eye expression properly and know how to treat her. She's very bold and has even started to show signs of guarding me: like when cattle come to close she'll front up to them and bark and tell them to go away LOL. It will be interesting to see how she is once she learns to track foxes. if I was ever confident of a dog in that department it is with her: hopefully I won't have to eat my words. LOL I can't say she's going to be fast, but she just goes and goes, gets in the water to cool off then goes again: I end up putting her on the lead so she doesn't do too much: she's still a pup after all. She will be slow to mature physically, of that I'm sure, and she isn't as leggy or as lightly built as I'd hoped, but having said that, if she wants to get somewhere there's not a lot going to stop her. She's about 22 inches now, but built like a tank, though she is still getting her legs together. At least she doesn't look like a wooden toy dog when she runs any more. I'm now going to hazard a guess and say she MAY end up being as fast as a fox: only time will tell. All in all I really can't fault her: she's great with the lurchers and terriers, knows her place in the pack, friendly with strange dogs as long as they don't growl or bark at her: if they do she's showing signs of wanting to put them in their place: I think in the wrong hands these dogs could be a problem if they didn't see their owners as the boss: they need firm but fair handling, and mine is a very strong character indeed. Most of all she is steady and laid back, and very intelligent: you only have to show her something once and she's got it forever. Me very happy person so far. I'll try and get some recent pics up soon. Quote Link to post
just jack 998 Posted August 20, 2008 Report Share Posted August 20, 2008 nice write up there mate, cant wait to see the pics JACK Quote Link to post
skycat 6,174 Posted August 21, 2008 Report Share Posted August 21, 2008 Adam: how is the Airedale that belongs to a friend of a friend coming on: any chance of getting some pics? Quote Link to post
adeyhawk1970 0 Posted August 22, 2008 Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Glad you are happy with the pup skycat but you will have to get some more pictures up to keep us all happy.Until i saw your article in the cmw i didnt know working airedales were available in this country and i had been looking for one for ages.Hopefully Ian will have a litter at the beggining of next year and i can join the list of working airedales owners in this country Quote Link to post
fielder 18 Posted August 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2008 Very well indeed: hunts like a demon non stop, air scenting for rabbits then following the scent to the rabbit or the hole. How shall I put it? Let's just say that she's not scared of cover LOL. I'm used to the terriers scuttling about in the cover after rabbits, putting them out or killing in: the Airedale pup, who must now be coming up 8 months old (I think!) is a bit like an armoured car: she wants into some cover, she just puts her head down and pushes: really funny to see. Very biddable: we had a bit of a time where she was deafing me out, but we had a little talk about that which ended up with her saying "OK boss", and now she is coming on leaps and bounds. She is very trainable: when I tell her to sit, she does it straight away just like a Collie would, the same with the 'down' command: she slams her front end to the ground: bang! just like a Collie: I'm sort of really surprised and not, if that makes sense. She's everything I was led to believe about these dogs and more besides, but you have to put the time in with them: she's round me all day. Now I've learned to read her properly (took some doing to begin with as I'm not used to these dogs at all), I can read her eye expression properly and know how to treat her. She's very bold and has even started to show signs of guarding me: like when cattle come to close she'll front up to them and bark and tell them to go away LOL. It will be interesting to see how she is once she learns to track foxes. if I was ever confident of a dog in that department it is with her: hopefully I won't have to eat my words. LOL I can't say she's going to be fast, but she just goes and goes, gets in the water to cool off then goes again: I end up putting her on the lead so she doesn't do too much: she's still a pup after all. She will be slow to mature physically, of that I'm sure, and she isn't as leggy or as lightly built as I'd hoped, but having said that, if she wants to get somewhere there's not a lot going to stop her. She's about 22 inches now, but built like a tank, though she is still getting her legs together. At least she doesn't look like a wooden toy dog when she runs any more. I'm now going to hazard a guess and say she MAY end up being as fast as a fox: only time will tell. All in all I really can't fault her: she's great with the lurchers and terriers, knows her place in the pack, friendly with strange dogs as long as they don't growl or bark at her: if they do she's showing signs of wanting to put them in their place: I think in the wrong hands these dogs could be a problem if they didn't see their owners as the boss: they need firm but fair handling, and mine is a very strong character indeed. Most of all she is steady and laid back, and very intelligent: you only have to show her something once and she's got it forever. Me very happy person so far. I'll try and get some recent pics up soon. Thanks for the update, very interesting. Keep it coming and all the best with her. Quote Link to post
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.