CHAPTER XXXVII 

 THE AIREDALE TERRIER 



AT the earlier dog shows, and, indeed, until the publication of the 

 article by the late Mr. Hugh Dalziel on this breed that first 

 appeared in the Country, and subsequently in the First Edition of 

 this work, this dog was seldom seen, except at Yorkshire and a few 

 Lancashire shows. For all that the dog was kept by the sporting 

 working classes long ere it became a show-bench variety. In the 

 catalogues of early exhibitions he appeared under the name or title 

 of "The Broken-haired or Working Terrier," and sometimes as 

 " The Waterside Terrier," by which latter name he was best known 

 in his native dales. Mr. Dalziel suggested that the name Bingley 

 Terrier would be more distinctive and applicable, inasmuch as 

 Bingley seemed to be the district around which this Terrier was to 

 be met with in the greatest numbers. Several correspondents who 

 were breeders and exhibitors suggested to him that Airedale better 

 represented the home of this Terrier, and this was adopted, and the 

 name Airedale Terrier has attached to the breed ever since. Next 

 to the Fox-terrier and the Irish Terrier, it is the most popular of all 

 the important Terrier group in this country, while in America and 

 on the Continent it has also taken a strong hold. So far as America 

 is concerned, so great is the favour in which the Airedale Terrier is 

 held that some of our best dogs have been sold for exportation 

 thither at big prices. Mr. Foxhall Keene, so well known in sporting 

 circles, has been a liberal patron ; while another enthusiastic fancier 

 on the other side is Mr. Qldham, a gentleman who gave over ^600- 

 for a trio that included the famous Clonmel Marvel. 



In the early shows at which the Airedale Terrier was found he 

 was not the smart-looking animal that he is to-day, nor was there 

 the same uniformity of type ; indeed, the variability shown was very 

 marked until the breeding of the dog was seriously taken in hand. 

 Of late years this Terrier has advanced to the front rank of popular 

 dogs with rapid strides ; while besides the great all-round improve- 

 ment noted above in respect of the breed as a whole, other changes 

 have been brought about in eyes, ears, and coat still more recently. 



