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CHAPTER XX. 



THE AIREDALE TERRIER. 



VERY many of our readers who are acquainted with the old Yorkshire Waterside Terrier will 

 possibly fail to recognise him under his new denomination the Airedale Terrier. The change 

 has been brought about since the institution of classes for the breeds at north country shows, as so 

 much confusion was found to be caused amongst the exhibitors if the breed was not distinguished 

 by some definite title. The existence of a dog resembling the Airedale Terrier has ever been a 

 subject for astonishment to individuals in the southern part of the country, and a by no means 

 insignificant mare's nest was discovered when the breed was brought for the first time beneath 

 the notice of some of the least cautious of them, who strutted, and crowed a welcome to what 

 they imagined to be a "new" breed of dog, discovered by themselves. An excuse may, 

 however, be made for these much-ridiculed persons, as really in its own neighbourhood the 

 breed has only of late years come to be considered worthy of practical and intelligent 

 support. It existed certainly, and had existed for years and years, but the ownership 

 of the majority of specimens rested in the hands of those who had little time, money, 

 or inclination, to devote themselves to the science of breeding. Still, the breed grew 

 and prospered, mainly owing to the exertions of a few unprejudiced practical persons, whose 

 mode of progress will be alluded to hereafter. Before, however, going into the points and 

 descriptions which have been so kindly afforded us by Mr. Reginald Knight of Chappel Allerton 

 near Leeds, we may say that it has been our desire to lay the opinions, not only of Mr. Knight, 

 but also of other successful breeders and exhibitors, before our readers. With this object, we 

 requested Mr. Knight to oblige us by communicating with certain gentlemen, which he most 

 kindly consented to do, and in addition provided us with the following notes, including his own 

 experiences of the pluck and utility of the breed, which we gladly reproduce in cxtcnso. 



" This breed was originally bred from a cross between one of the old rough-coated 

 Scotch Terriers and Bull-terrier. What I mean by the old Scotch Terrier is a dog weighing 

 from 12 Ibs. to 22 Ibs., with a bluish-grey back and tanned legs, with a very hard and coarse 

 coat. This cross, of course, did not produce a large dog, neither had the animal a very keen 

 nose, so it was then crossed with Otter-hound, thus producing a large, ungainly animal, with 

 big ' falling ' ears, and very soft coat. This was then crossed and re-crossed, first with the 

 original cross, and then with Bull-terrier, to prodace a good terrier ear and good feet. This 

 again was crossed with Otter-hound, the offspring not showing so much hound, neither having 

 such a soft coat, but possessing a good nose for hunting, and a fondness for water as well as 

 great gameness, both from the Bull blood as well as from the hound. Then this was crossed 

 with Bull again, and then the offspring crossed and re-crossed with the terrier till it was brought 

 up to the present standard. I ought to say that if you go to a show now you will find that 

 fully two-thirds of the dogs in the Airedale Terrier class are dogs of ungainly appearance, with 

 big hound ears and narrow long heads, also flat-sided and very badly built behind, as well as 

 with a great weakness about the pasterns, causing the joint to give, and thus pressing the foot 



