AiredaleTerriers.org Airedale Terrier Information & Referral Resource

I must say, with the boy I have (Bailley) I may have learned more about Airedales than someone with 6 dogs (or more).

I, of course, have a vet. He has the latest equipment, an excellent reputation, the cleanest most sanitary environment, and yet.....on looking over the last two years, many of the problems that at times have become worse rather than better, were times when I listened to his (what I now consider) to his well-meaning advice on training. I have had quite a few dogs, 3 of them I trained for friends of mine. BUT...THEY WERE NOT AIREDALES.

The same training techniques do NOT work with this breed and can in fact take you backwards for awhile. I wonder how many of the little ones in the shelters were "helped" there by well-meaning outsiders offering advice. I have at times had to say "NO, I don't FEEL right with this.....". But it has taken a long time to get to the point where I really KNOW when something isn't right for him, or for me.

Other people (and I mean non-Airedale people) for the most part seem to have a mind-set about how a dog should behave, and if he does not, will get a smaller dog. All I have to say about this is "BULL".

AFTER I joined Airedale-L, there was a thread about not putting your puppy in prone position on his back...which is designed to make you alpha......if anyone is interested in the year of work to undo this well-meaning advice from my vet, please e-mail me....but all I can say is, I wish I had found this list first. I will be working through this for a very long, long time.

To you new owners, trust the list advice first....before the outsiders......trust YOUR OWN instincts about what is right and wrong.....and most important, don't be afraid to ask questions......there is no such thing as a stupid question, not where our pups are concerned.

Linda and Bailley
linda_louthan@WORLDNET.ATT.NET
9/14/00