tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post8552028284969308647..comments2024-03-26T22:16:26.572-04:00Comments on Terrierman's Daily Dose: True TerriersPBurnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05781540805883519064noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-66858899325906700762016-07-22T14:06:43.744-04:002016-07-22T14:06:43.744-04:00Airedales aren't all worked like hounds. The o...Airedales aren't all worked like hounds. The otterhound was likely used to breed up in size, but the bone structure is way more terrier from the various black and tans that formed them. They are extremely versatile dogs, they make excellent bird dogs, personal protection dogs and they'll rid a property of vermin in no time flat. They made great war dogs, too, and served our military well. I've seen them worked in the field on birds, and they do have fantastic noses, can triangulate a field with very little training needed, but other than that ability they're not much like a hound. If you're going to identify a dog by a single purpose, then it's one of the most difficult breeds to categorize. <br /><br />I get what you're saying about 'type', but the use of the word terrier began to be used as shorthand for a type of temperament not just a hunting dog's size and grounding ability a long time ago. I wouldn't call a Black Russian a 'terrier', either, but the translation from Russian and the heavy use of the Airedale in its formation is likely what started it, plus they're a very recent breed. The Germans used the Dale heavily in the Giant Schnauzer, too.<br /><br />An Airedale is not like a hound in temperament, not even close. And they're hunting styles are very different. I've seen Dales go after dens in ways that hounds do not. Not too many dogs will go in for a badger, and I've seen a Dale do it. In fact, I've seen them used with hounds in a hunting pack because they hunt differently and compliment the hounds, Dales can catch and hold. They're fantastic in rough territory and water. The best are not breed standard (no surprise there) and seem to be most common working on ranches these days. I think part of the problem is that they have been used for so many different purposes that 'terrier' became a catch-all. It's semantics at this point. If it's the size of the quarry that matters most, Airedales are also used to hunt bear in Maine. There really isn't a category for that. A hound won't cut it. <br /> lucypup2009@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09008801803433422853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684843.post-38509330471587969302016-07-19T11:54:34.105-04:002016-07-19T11:54:34.105-04:00Dear Patrick,
For several centuries the Border Co...Dear Patrick,<br /><br />For several centuries the Border Collie was one of many "collies" and bears that name in the rural UK today. Along came Queen Victoria, her collies and the Borzois her kennelman crossed them with. The "COLLIE" is born.<br /><br />Sometime after WW1, a sheepdog trial was to be held in London's Hyde Park and was advertised as a collie competition. The KC objected: "Your dogs aren't COLLIES at all." <br /><br />So the ISDS Secretary shrugged: "Okay, we'll call our dogs "Border Collies".<br /><br />When the KC started registering "Border Collies" the originals started calling themselves "Working Border Collies".<br /><br />In the US, after the AKC poached the Border Collie, their version was renamed, happily I think, the "Barbie Collie".<br /><br />Names matter. A lot.<br /><br />Donald McCaigDonald McCaighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11890894628274998487noreply@blogger.com