From: ce293@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Gail E. Brookhart)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Re: Opinions on breed.
Date: 18 Dec 1992 00:36:26 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: ce293@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Gail E. Brookhart)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Chris Barnes) says:

>In article <1992Dec17.113741.1890@msus1.msus.edu>
>    kevin@msus1.msus.edu writes:
> 
>>
>>Well it looks like I will finally be able to get a puppy again so before I go
>>asearching I figured I would query the net about the appropriate breed for my
>>needs.  What I am looking for is a dog that will serve a variety of purposes.
>>In order of importance (sorta) they are.
> 
>I would have a recommendation for you, but I think there's something
>else that needs pointed out here.....
> 
> 
>>	2.  Adaptable to both life with a yard and life in an apartment.
>>	    ( I have crate trained a dog before and am comfortable with it)
> 
>>	3.  A good hunter of upland game. (Pheasant, Grouse)
>>	4.  Between 65lbs and 100 lbs.
> 
>Item #2 is incompatible with #3 and #4.  #3 because a good hunter will
>require lots of excersise - and that means more than just a walk after
>you get home from work.  Staying in an apartment/crate all day will not
>give the dog the excersise it would need (even for small hunting dogs).
>#4 is incompatible simply because I would consider it cruel to keep a
>large dog in an apartment all day (actually, I wouldn't sell ANY breed
>of dog to someone that lived in an apartment).
> 
>.soapbox off
> 
>      -----------------------------------------------------
>Chris Barnes            |   President - Bryan/College Station
>cbarnes@tamvm1.tamu.edu |         Retriever Club.
>(409) 846-3273 (home)   |   "Dedicated to the betterment of
>(409) 845-4437 (work)   |               the retrieving breeds"
>

First things first, I think that Chris brings up good points.

Now I will suggest something that may contradict him.

Have you ever thought about getting an Airedale Terrier?  They
meet most of your qualifications very well -- don't shed much if
well-groomed, moderate size (45 bitches to 75 pound males), will
fare well in city life if ample exercise is given, great
companions, bright, good learners, AND (here is where many will
disagree) they can hunt upland game fairly well.

An Airedale is not the specialist at hunting that a pointer or
a retriever is but they are superb at being canine generalists.
That is, they can do a whole lot of things pretty well but 
are not as good as the specialists in the specialized breeds.

The Airedale Terrier Club of America has a Hunting/Working
Committee that puts on an annual weekend long workshop on 
introducing your Airedale to fur and feather.  Dave Duffey,
a respected authority on hunting dogs, has been a frequent
participant at the env

event.

If you are interested, please email me and I will provide you
with more details.

Looking for any excuse to brag about Airedales and Bouviers,

I remain hopelessly devoted to dogs,

Gail Brookhart
ce293@cleveland.freenet.edu

Toby the Airedale and Casey the Bouvier DO endorse my 
opinions!  So there!   <grin>