New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18
Two Breeds of Dogs viii
Bark at Hotel McAlpin

years.
While the fox terrier always COM
manded a set element among the ca
nine votaries, it is only within the past
decade that the Airedale has WORKED
his way to popular favor, and TINS
popularity is due to his alI-around
qualities as a sporting dog. II one
were to ask the hypercritical fanciers
what class of dog he would select for
a companion the chances are lou to
the majority would pick the Airedaie'
and the same rule would apply to the
Old World. No matter whether the
man or woman dog fancier might live
in a fat or In the outskirts OF the city,
where he could arrange a kennel in his
backyard, the Airedale commends MN,
self to either condition. In Limited
space he is clean, intelligent and wei,
hammered, and easily exercised, a stroii
in the street being sufficient to keep
him in tune.
A Fine Pal
As a pal in the open there is nothing
To approach an Aire, as he is born
protector of his master or mistress,
will tackle anything from a bear to
badger, and as a hunter he is unex-
celled. He will chase a fox or mare
by scent, and around the rsbblt-bur-
rows the Airedale is q veritable engine
of death to bunny. -,
If the dog is capable on dry land he
ia still better on the water or at the
river side Those who have spent mucn
of their time on the banks OF trout or
salmon streams know how difficult II IS
to catch an otter, or much less to get
glimpse of him, yet Airedales have been
known to run down offers single
handed.
About ten years or SO ago in England
an effort was made to convert the Are
dale into universal use as a war dog
and for police purposes. Major Rich
ardson, who devoted number OF years
to the development of war dogs,
brought the Airedale into the limelight
by recommending him to the London
police TO help them in their night work.
As an inducement he offered to train
and equip a number of dogs as trial,
but his offer was rejected.
That Richardson knew what he was
about was certainty, for he had ex-
perience with some of the breed in the
Boer War in helping to find the
wounded on the field of battle. To be
Of real use il was necessary to develop
a heavy type of dog, and this the major
did to perfection. He made a speciality
of dogs weighing about sixty pounds
and with height of fully twenty-four
inches at the shoulder. Although not
officially recognized, the idea introduced
by Major Richardson has gained ground
in several cities across the pond.
Glasgow was the first to give the
wrinkle a trial, and it proved to be
so effective that number Of cities
in England. Scotland and Ireland have
put it in operation. In the suburban
districts wherever introduced the po-
lice dog has been found to be of the
most use, rs his terrific proves as
watchdog makes burglary and other
nightly thefts more difficult. Even
the versatility Of the Airedale as a
polio aid has spread to the Continent,
and one Of the cities patrolled by the
dogs at night is Copenhagen, where
such misdemeanor as burglary Is now
almost unknown.
Erroneous Theories
For q long time some erroneous
theories were prevalent that this class
Of terrier had its origin in the county
of Ayrshire, Scotland, and a sim
liar belief is to be found at the
present day, especially on this Side of
the Atlantic. IL is exactly thirty-two
years ago since the first specimen Of
the breed was benched at Birmingham.
England, and IT was mentioned on the
programme as the "Airedsle or Water
side Terrier"
The name Waterside was added on
water, and the term Airedale came
district where packs of this class of
log was ever to be found, plentiful. A
time there was when the dog did not
bear the "Airedale" or the "Water-
side" title, but was known as the
Blngley terrier. He was known as the
Bingley to the poorer class of sports
men and, automatically enough, to the
poachers for his silent tongue and the
keenness of his scent.
In England one of the men respon-
sible for bringing the breed up TO its
present high standard is Holland Buck
ley, whose dog, Clonmel Slap Dash. is
given in this yarn as one of the finest
specimens Of its kind ever exhibited.
On this side of the Atlantic several
dog lovers have paid great attention to
the development of the breed, and they
have achieved wonderful results. Fore
most among the fanciers are Harold
ODER, II. S. Baldwin. J. ]. ODonohue,
Fred Nelson and Theodore Offerman.
ha nj A.
specimens, the best Of which will be
seen in the coming show.
" course different judges will al
ways disagree as TO the relative merits
of the Airedale. Some favor the big
ger type and some the smaller, but it
IS a certainty that the weaker class
have tendency to resemble the Welsh
terrier, and the fayoritism on those
lines should be avoided as much as
possible. In dogs the weight should
be from forty TO forty-fve pounds, and
in the bitches about six or seven
pounds lighter.
The color which carries all the finer
points Of the breed is the chief thing.
The body should be black or dark griz-
zle and it should extend we'll down the
sides. In the pure types the head and
ears are tan, with dark markings on
either side Of the forehead, the ears
having the darker shade of tan. A de-
cided shade OF tan should cover the
legs as far up as the elbows and thighs.
The coat of the bench dogs should be
worth the careful attention Of the
judges, as the allotment of points cuts
a figure In this direction On the
whole, the coat should be thick, of
wiry texture. but there should be no
tendency to curl.
The peculiar nature OF the undivided
hairs imparts sort of badger grille
to the coat, and this is something that