Tuesday, August 31, 2010

picking a airedale puppy

In picking out a puppy select the bright little 
chap to whom you are naturally attracted I am
advising the " dog owner " who knows the breed
well enough not to be interested in any litter not
of orthodox breeding. Only in case of doubt
need you pay attention to show points. If it
comes to a question of that pick the dark eye,
small ear, long head, short back, straight legs.
Do not worry about size or color or coat, nor
must a novice expect to be able to " pick the win-
ner " of a litter. Go to a reputable breeder and
pay as much as you can afford. You can take
his advice, for all dog breeders are not crooks
and grafters, but like any other kind of a busi-
ness transaction knowledge is very valuable to
the purchaser.

May I plead the case of the bitch as a com-
panion? Nine out of ten want a dog, but a bitch
has many advantages. She is usually more
clever, a great deal more affectionate and faith-
ful, much less given to roaming from home, and
should one ever want to raise some puppies she
may prove a valuable investment.

The kennel owner, turning now to him, will, I
take it for granted, read all he can lay his hands
on that treats of the Airedale, go to shows, visit
kennels, and talk, think, and dream Airedale.
If he is to have a small kennel I advise his buying



18 THE AIREDALE

one or two good young bitches. Puppies are a
chance and old bitches, however famous, are poor
breeding stock. Buy young winning bitches,
proved mothers and of desirable blood lines and
you will have the best possible start along the
road of kennel success. It is as rocky a thor-
oughfare as the proverbial one to Dublin, full of
all sorts of disappointments and maybe even
losses, but its pleasures and its gains are sure to
come to the man who follows it in the right spirit.

The large kennel owner is either going into it
for pleasure, where he will have a check book to
help him, or for a business. In the former case
he will probably leave much on the shoulders of
his kennel manager, and I am writing on Aire-
dales not the servant problem. If he is going
to make a business of raising Airedales that is
his business, not the author's.

To all Airedale buyers let me again say that
it pays to know all you can about the breed and
to buy the best you can afford. The " biggest
and best terrier " has been tried by so many dif-
ferent people in all parts of the world and has
won such unanimous praise that his admirers can
recommend him to anyone, anywhere, for any-
thing.

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