Working Dog Temperament

[hicntry]

I think all working dogs should be true alpha dogs. They display the least overall aggression, and the utmost in confidence in all situations , particularly stressful situations where most dogs fail. They don't all have to retrieve or have the desire to do so. The ones that don't retrieve will simply not be picked for bird work or other venues that require this trait. Extreme aloofness is one of the best known traits but it is not conducive to training I wouldn't think. What do you do? Pick a less qualified dog that doesn't display this trait because he is easier to train? No, you learn how to train an aloof, intelligent dog. I think most of the traits found in airedales can be found in other breeds. Chessies are extremely aloof and many people pull their hair out working with them but, rest assured, like the airedale, once they are trained, they never forget it.

Love that spell check....corrected 7 words

[hicntry]

Good god Mark, What you have done is the beginning of the fall of the airedale. Crossing any German breed to a sound, people oriented dog will make the dale more prone to biting people(which I suspect is what you, personally are looking for). The same was done to the APBT and look what such crosses have done for that breed. There are certain traits that you can depend on being in German breeds. First and foremost is their propensity to be sharp and bite people. You have done the airedale a big disservice in my opinion. If the airedale isn't sharp enough for you, get a different dog. Don't try making your own.

[Maverick]

I don't like my dogs too independent, otherwise they think that I can come along for the hunt, but if I can't keep up, that's my problem. Neither do I like a dog that is at the other extreme and won't leave my side. I like them confident and bold, but hunting with me. They need to be intelligent and learn what their part in the hunt is, and the burning desire to do it. They should be happiest helping me with whatever task I am involved in. They should be loyal and protective.

[Maverick]

Checking out quoting feature...

eggers said:

I don't like my dogs too independent, otherwise they think that I can come along for the hunt, but if I can't keep up, that's my problem. Neither do I like a dog that is at the other extreme and won't leave my side. I like them confident and bold, but hunting with me. They need to be intelligent and learn what their part in the hunt is, and the burning desire to do it. They should be happiest helping me with whatever task I am involved in. They should be loyal and protective.

[Robert]

Second try:

So you have to reply at the end of the thread. You can't tag your reply to the particular post you're responding to without identifying it in some other way - Don.

What I had in mind for core traits are positive or neutral traits that are uniquely or nearly uniquely Airedale. You think most of the traits found in airedales can be found in other breeds. What are the traits that can't? Can you describe a few?

Who can change what the spell checker recognizes as correct?

[steve]

hicntry said:

I think all working dogs should be true alpha dogs. They display the least overall aggression, and the utmost in confidence in all situations , particularly stressful situations where most dogs fail. They don't all have to retrieve or have the desire to do so. The ones that don't retrieve will simply not be picked for bird work or other venues that require this trait. Extreme aloofness is one of the best known traits but it is not conducive to training I wouldn't think. What do you do? Pick a less qualified dog that doesn't display this trait because he is easier to train? No, you learn how to train an aloof, intelligent dog. I think most of the traits found in airedales can be found in other breeds. Chessies are extremely aloof and many people pull their hair out working with them but, rest assured, like the airedale, once they are trained, they never forget it.

Love that spell check....corrected 7 words

I don't mind a dog that is alpha to other dogs, and even prefer some independence to think for himself, but he dambed sure better be subserviant to the "True Alpha", which is me. An extremely aloof dog, even with the right natural abilities is of little efficient use if you can't form those abilities. He just goes where he wants, when he wants, does what he wants, & returns when he wants. Kind of like your crew on the famous coyote hunt. I can't live with dogs like that, they need to pay attention to what I'm doing and what I wish. Pete pretty much hit the nail in his reply.

[hicntry]

Steve, had I been paying attention the dogs wouldn't have gotten away like that. LOL We were just having a small nip or two of Kentucky's finest (and talking a little politics) and the dogs shouldn't have been loose if I wasn't watching them. Besides, it was Curt's fault for pulling that book out of his wallet when we should have been setting up another stand. ;D ;D

[Curt White]

I'm not going to respond to your comment about my book until...

I figure out how to post a picture of me...so...

You'll remember the person that you have accused of...

Leading you astray!!! ;D

[Robert]

I’d like to hear opinions about open registries vs. closed registries. What’s good or bad about each?

The more I’ve thought about a working Airedale registry, the more I’ve come to think it should be an open registry. The requirements for registration should not include prior registration with any kennel club or any other breed club or association. The working Airedale registry should be independent of other organizations. The following are my ideas regarding the preliminary steps to establishing such a registry:

1. Determine if physical appearance is a requirement and, if it is, define the required appearance.

2. Decide if meeting core traits should be a requirement. If it is, determine what the core traits are.

3. Determine what working ability is necessary for registration and what evidence of working ability is acceptable.

Every dog would have to meet the requirements to be registered. If physical appearance is to be a requirement, I think an over-all Airedale look might be preferable to a written physical standard. A panel could look at the dog, photos of the dog, or a video of the dog and determine if it looks sufficiently like an Airedale to be considered. Perhaps some appeal process could be established for dogs that fail this test.

Core traits would be positive or neutral traits that help to define the dog as a (working) Airedale. They could simply be quirky things that Airedales do but very few other dogs do. They might be difficult to verify because they could be things Airedales do only under unusual circumstances - circumstances that can’t be easily simulated.

Evidence of working ability could come in many forms. Passing currently established tests could be one form. Passing tests established by the group could be another. Videos could be submitted to a panel showing the dog at work. Testimonials could be submitted. The group would decide what the criteria would be, and a panel would decide if the dog passed. Since no other form of registration would be a requirement of registration as a working Airedale, passing tests that require a dog be of a registered breed could not be required. But passing such tests could help to establish evidence of working ability.

Perhaps some form of recognition could be provided for superior achievement beyond that required for registration. For examble, passing group established tests or proving ability in other ways established by the group for the purpose of qualifying for registration could be rewarded by assigning titles.

Robert

[Summit Forge]

Curt,
I agree that an Airedale should not be bred unless it can be documented that it can do something. This should apply to the bitch and the stud dog. I do not like the idea of a Breed Survey Judge that decides who can compete. However, I see no need to conclude that an Airedale must be ugly to perform.

[dirtdevil]

If there was any way to pick the best hunting dog besides hunting it ... that information would be worth a ton and Don would have already had a visit from the men in black when he posted that top secret stuff.

Goran has mentioned something and so have a few others .... something about the smaller pups in a litter that get picked on end up with a higher threshold for pain and become real sharp about what's going on .

I look closer at which pups pay the most attention to the world , show interest in fur , use their nose , and have that look in their eyes that suggests something besides the Odie mentality .

A hunting dog need never know how he stacks up against other dogs ...if you have a decent dog and do your part then they should have finding game on thier mind when unsnapped and I surely won't tolerate doing my part and then having a dog horse-assing around on my precious time in the woods ....using up what goodness I have left in these old bones.

I have one good dog right now , when we unsnap ....if you're dog even blinks or sniffs his butt then my dog has just smoked him .....can't see where alpha fits into that.

I also thought Alpha was mostly a term used in wild canines to describe the boss of the pack ..the dog that EARNED his spot . Never knew Alpha wolves were born and took their spot like something from the Lion King ,lol.

[hicntry]

I guess it is time you quit thinking and try and learn something then Justin. Byeeee ;D ;D