Airedale Terrier. Bardi McLennan
cutting back on the number and frequency of these shots, so consult your vet for guidance.
Teach your child the responsibilities of ownership so that she respects her puppy and treats him appropriately. As puppy and child grow up together, they will form an incredible bond.
At dog shows, the dogs are measured against the breed standard. The Airedale Terrier who most closely conforms to the breed standard is selected as the winner.
A breed standard is a written blueprint of the perfect specimen of a breed. Breeders and judges use the standard to evaluate the essential aspects of the breed described. The standard’s primary function is to describe conformation in enough detail to include type and soundness, allowing one to visualize the dog with some degree of accuracy. Conversely, bland modifiers such as “fairly,” “slightly” or “moderately” also are used where a specific definition is not key to overall judgment. In addition to physical traits, the standard also describes desirable temperament and also indicates what characteristics are considered to be faults in the breed.
The Airedale standard originated in England, where it was usual for the writers to be horsemen or stockmen, men who could determine top quality in almost every animal from rabbit to sheep to horses to dogs. For that very reason, the first breed standards for dogs did not declare the obvious: “four legs and a bark” being left unsaid. The present American Airedale standard includes a description of the gait as does the English standard.
In the 1960s, poor front movement in the Airedale had become quite common and judges were forced simply to go with the best of a bad lot, pointing out in their critiques how critical proper movement was in a large working terrier. Breeders got the message and fronts soon improved. The author cites this as a specific example of how concerned people can use a breed standard properly. The standard specifies desired height, but not weight, since the description under “General Appearance” offers a picture of the desired overall balance and the breed no longer varies in these aspects as it did at the start of its development.
Despite this pattern for perfection, evaluating the Airedale Terrier is subjective. Designated breed faults are faults, but what one person forgives in the whelping box or show ring as a minor imperfection, another person sees as a major defect. One judge is smitten by a fabulous coat, another overlooks a less-than-great coat in favor of a perfect ear set, but in the end the determination of which dog gets the prize is based on an appraisal of the whole dog.
THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB STANDARD FOR THE AIREDALE TERRIER
Head: Should be well balanced with little apparent difference between the length of skull and foreface.
FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS
Breeding involves a major financial investment, but just as important is the investment of time. The breeder will spend countless hours in caring for, cleaning (and cleaning up after), feeding and training the litter. Furthermore, we haven’t yet mentioned the strain and health risks that delivering a litter pose to the dam. Many bitches die in puppybirth, and that is a very high price to pay. Experienced breeders, with established lines and reputations in the field, are not in the hobby for financial gain. Those “breeders” who are in it for profit are not true breeders at all, and are not reputable sources from which to buy puppies. Remember, there is nothing more to breeding dogs than the love of the dogs.
A pet Airedale of course must be groomed, but a pet trim is much easier to maintain than the coat of a show dog.
Skull: Should be long and flat, not too broad between the ears and narrowing very slightly to the eyes. Scalp should be free from wrinkles, stop hardly visible and cheeks level and free from fullness.
Ears: Should be V-shaped with carriage rather to the side of the head, not pointing to the eyes, small but not out of proportion to the size of the dog. The topline of the folded ear should be above the level of the skull.
Foreface: Should be deep, powerful, strong and muscular. Should be well filled up before the eyes.
Eyes: Should be dark, small, not prominent, full of terrier expression, keenness and intelligence.
Lips: Should be tight.
Nose: Should be black and not too small.
Teeth: Should be strong and white, free from discoloration or defect. Bite either level or viselike. A slightly overlapping or scissors bite is permissible without preference.
Neck: Should be of moderate length and thickness, gradually widening towards the shoulders. Skin tight, not loose.
Shoulders and Chest: Shoulders long and sloping well into the back. Shoulder blades flat. From the front, chest deep but not broad. The depth of the chest should be approximately on a level with the elbows.
Body: Back should be short, strong and level. Ribs well sprung. Loins muscular and of good width. There should be but little space between the last rib and the hip joint.
The correct head.
An undesirable head, showing too much stop and cheeks too full.
Hindquarters: Should be strong and muscular with no droop.
Tail: The root of the tail should be set well up on the back. It should be carried gaily but not curled over the back. It should be of good strength and substance and of fair length.
MEETING THE IDEAL
The American Kennel Club defines a standard as: “A description of the ideal dog of each recognized breed, to serve as an ideal against which dogs are judged at shows.” This “blueprint” is drawn up by the breed’s recognized parent club, approved by a majority of its membership, and then submitted to the AKC for approval. This is a complete departure from the way standards are handled in England, where all standards and changes are controlled by The Kennel Club.
The AKC states that “An understanding of any breed must begin with its standard. This applies to all dogs, not just those intended for showing.” The picture that the standard draws of the dog’s type, gait, temperament and structure is the guiding image used by breeders as they plan their programs.
Correct ears.
Incorrect ears; too small and too high set.
Legs: Forelegs should be perfectly straight, with plenty of muscle and bone.