HOUSE AND GARDEN 
February, 
I9D 
rats or otter; he can be trained, too, as a first-rate gun dog 
to do the work of the pointer, the retriever and the setter. He 
has also been frequently used in coursing hares. I have before 
me a letter from a sportsman who has used the Airedale as a 
hunting dog in India, in Australia, in 
Japan and in the Rockies. During 
his travels he hunted everything up 
to bears, and, as he says, "the only 
fault with the dogs was that they 
rushed in too fast.” 
But, with all his versatility, the 
Airedale does not disdain the hum¬ 
bler, domestic side of life. As a 
watchdog and a companion for the 
children he is thoroughly faithful, 
obedient and kind. I have seen one 
drawing a sleigh in Canada and en¬ 
joying it as much as the kids. He is 
noted for his attachment to his own¬ 
er, and is self-contained, even re¬ 
served in manner. He is far from 
quarrelsome with other dogs; yet 
once started, he never lets up; he 
would rather die than turn tail. 
Best of all, in the eves of dog- 
owners, he is possessed of an iron 
constitution. In the early stages of 
his career he needs very little atten¬ 
tion, and, when once grown to 
strength, he can stand an unlimited 
amount of rough wear and tear. He 
can endure any climate, and is now 
established from the Klondike to 
New Zealand. 
Recently the German army formed 
several dog battalions for use as 
lookouts and searchers for wounded men. It was found that the 
Airedale was peculiarly adapted for this purpose, not only on 
account of his sagacity, but because of his nerve and strong sense 
of smell. In the trials among the German police dogs it was 
found that the Airedales scored eighty-two points out of a pos¬ 
sible ninety, and clearly established their superiority over every 
other breed. 
At a public exhibition of New York police dogs in Madison 
Square Garden in 1908, some trained dogs were tried out at man- 
catching; of all the entrants the Airedale was the quietest and 
The pups are naturally robust and do not require hot-house methods in bringing 
them up 
quickest at his job, and carried off first prize with great ease. 
Stories about the Airedale are as numerous as flies around a 
sugar barrel in summer time, but the one about the dog in the 
Australian bush which was used for retrieving parrots is as good 
as any, and rather typical. These 
birds, which are a nuisance in 
Australia by reason of their great 
numbers, are frequently used in trap¬ 
shooting. A winged parrot is as 
nasty a customer as a cat in a trap, 
for he has very strong mandibles and 
talons like a hawk. By taking hold 
of the wing tip, this dog managed to 
bring back the biting, scratching 
cjuarrv throughout the whole after¬ 
noon without losing his temper or 
once “lying down on the job.” 
These few chapters from the life 
history of the Airedale serve to illus¬ 
trate the manner in which the breed 
has adapted itself to its environment 
and made good in every instance. 
No doubt they could be duplicated 
many times over. 
.Regarding the care of the Aire¬ 
dale, it must be borne in mind that, 
like all terriers, he is essentially an 
out-of-doors dog. A well-known 
veterinarian once said that most toy 
dogs are killed by kindness and most 
terriers die of neglect. Of course, 
the terrier should not be subjected 
to hot-house methods; on the other 
hand, he mustn’t be treated like a 
bear. All a healthy terrier needs is 
a dry, clean place to sleep, food and 
water at regular hours, and as much exercise as he wishes. The 
country owner should be able to solve all these matters without 
difficulty, but for the city man the problem is more difficult. By 
all means the kennel should be outdoors in a sheltered, dry spot, 
and kept full of fresh straw. I do not advise chaining under any 
circumstances, but if the dog shows a tendency to climb fences 
a convenient runway can be made with a stout wire strung along 
the yard, to which a leader is attached with a swivel. This will 
allow the dog to caper up and down to his heart’s content. If 
you have two dogs, the chains can be adjusted so that they can 
fraternize easily. 
As regards feeding, I have found that two meals are sufficient 
under ordinary circumstances. I am speaking, of course, of the 
dog not used for heavy work. A breakfast of cereal, or mush, 
with milk, and in the evening a dinner of boiled greens, with dog 
biscuit. Meat should be given sparingly, and then only after a 
thorough boiling. A good soup bone every now and then will 
serve to keep his teeth in good condition, and, besides, may pre¬ 
vent him from gnawing more expensive household furnishings. 
I have in mind right now a pair of trousers which I had inad¬ 
vertently left in the way of a six-months' pup. When I ex¬ 
amined them I felt like offering him the coat and vest as a 
bonus. Too much washing for a dog, like study for a man, "is 
a weariness of the flesh.” It is apt to make the coat thin and 
dry, instead of hard and thick. It is better to use a stiff brush 
every few days and, if necessary, a comb to keep out snarls. 
By all means, if you live in the city, take your dog into the 
country over week-ends. There is no better companion for a 
walk, and the way he goes bounding and charging over the fields, 
with head to earth and tail carried high, will be a delight to your 
