We are celebrating the end of our first year with Brody. We are lucky to have him and he is lucky to have us too! I think he has to be the happiest Airedale there is (in his opinion).

Here is Brody's daily routine: He hears Dad's alarm go off so it is time for some loud stretching, exaggerated yawning, and some non-chalant rabbit shooting (passing gas) while looking askance. He patiently waits for Dad to get dressed then there is lots of wild dancing at the front door waiting for shoes to go on. As soon as he's out the front door he has to chase all the greedy birds from the bird feeders, then get a drink from his very own pond. He follows Dad up to the barn where he gives all the horses a rousing wake-up bark and maybe a few nips if they are too close to the fences. Brody chews on horse hoof snacks (when available after the horseshoer leaves), gets another drink from the trough, checks to make sure no animals got in the garbage, and guards Dad while he feeds the horses. As soon as Dad leaves for the house, Brody heads north down the driveway (we live on 11 acres adjoining my in-law's 5 acres) to our neighbors to get a hug from Fawn, a 9-year-old girl who watches out her window for him to come and wake her up. As soon as Fawn comes out and hugs are exchanged he heads northeast to Grandma's house. If Grandma isn't up yet to open the kitchen door Brody goes to the bedroom window to bark his arrival. Grandma gives him tidbits of meat from the previous night's supper or a couple of dog biscuits. Sometimes if Poppa needs his guarding services while he works in the yard, Brody will stay awhile or take a nap on the porch. When he gets bored he ambles south to go home. Most mornings he joins his Mom, sister Annie (an Old English Sheepdog), and brother, Sammy (a Jack Russell/Whippet mix) for a two-mile hike in the wash. The rest of the day is spent chasing lizards in the backyard, digging holes outside the fence, lying on the front porch supervising birds, or lying on the couch until it is time to feed the horses again. Some days he visits Grandma or his other neighbor friend, Duane, or goes for a car-car ride to pick up one of his kids from school. Then, if there is time, he helps Mom go for another short walk to Grandma's to deliver mail or down the small wash. At night, Brody curls up on the bathroom rug or the couch to rest up for another big day!

Brody is our third Airedale and he has a very unusual habit of collecting shoes. He never chews on them but he takes all the toys out of the dog toy box and then puts his daily shoe collection near the basket. He rearranges them and sometimes stacks them. It is very amusing to watch! Needless to say we always know where our shoes are if they aren't where we left them!

Brody is very affectionate with people and dogs - loves children. He sure is a happy-go-lucky Airedale and he is much more affectionate with the rest of the family than Daley and Dalton were. They were pretty much one-woman Airedales as far as loyalty goes. Dave loves that Brody follows him everywhere.

Vicki Richards