Why an Airedale?
<--- Previous Why an Airedale?
The joy, the fun and the laughter an Airedale brings to a home is beyond a complete description, but we'll try anyway. Our life here in Houston would not be complete without the effects of our two Airedales such as:
Kristine |
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I too am hooked...in my case I would not have a head on my knee. I would not have a walking buddy. My life is good, but is better with that Sassy One. We can't live without them because we have lived with them ... and love them. Linda |
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The first mistake Christine ...I think the Airedales own us! Those soulful eyes drilling a hole in yours when they want something; those fly-away ears that have to make you laugh; the ever present "smile"; the paw asking for forgiveness; the mouth that eventually will take your hand "gently" to say I love you; the head butts and nose pokes and squeezing between your legs as you're walking down the driveway or worse yet, the stairs!. I can't imagine missing them, but I truly did when I went on vacation. Most of all they make us smile! Rosey |
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Christine: Sing along with the Carpenters and Dionne Warwick (by Evie )
What do you get when you kiss a 'dale Don't tell me what it's all about What do you get when you fall in love? |
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A picture's worth a thousand words: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glenfinlas/196901800/ This was especially welcome as we were selling our house - brand new pale cream carpets, spotless kitchen floor, etc., to impress viewers ... Cherry |
Because they've captured our hearts for the rest of our lives. Jean
<--- Previous Why an Airedale?
You can't help but laugh when you're sitting at the dining room table after supper and a 70 pound Airedale is trying to get into your guest's lap, or when they want you to get up so they slam into the mattress and rub all the way down. And their favorite: bearded dogs that have had sardines for supper, then drink a gallon of water (saved in their beards) coming your direction, when you're dressed to go out for supper. Glenda |
I had my sister's Lab here for a week. It was a dog I rescued and gave to them five years ago. He is a lovely boy - tall, long and lanky. Ball crazy and great for her boys. I could not live with a lab. He is a couch potato until he hears "Ball"; he doesn't really "play" like an Airedale; and that tail! He wags it constantly and sweeps literally everything at that height. All my outdoor planters have bashed flowers. Tables are cleaned off and doors are whacked hard. He is not a clown he does some funny things-like say "Mom". He is not a thinking dog...couldn't find his way out of a paper bag if he tried....but sweet and loving. Alice tried to tell him she was hot on the trail of a rat and he should come along--nope he sat down and looked around not a clue there was scent of anything....until he spotted his ball. LOL Give me a thinking, clownish, playful vermin-hunting Airedale any day. Lydia |
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I love the fact that these dogs think for themselves! I know that it is a full time job reminding them that we are boss, but I like that. My brother-in-law has two golden retrievers because he wanted dogs that do not challenge him, they just follow him blindly. Don't get me wrong, that breed is a wonderful, beautiful dog for those that like that personality, but I prefer my Airegirl - she has a mind of her own and likes to tease. She outsmarts those dogs all of the time and I love to watch her thinking and carrying out her plan. She has learned everything that I have taken the time to teach her properly and we have learned, as we did with our children, firmness and consistency, mixed with love and affection are the secret. Heather |
Why raise kids that challenge you every step of the way when your efforts are rewarded in the future? Why do anything that's not easy? If you want easy get a cat! Airedales are challenging! They need constant attention, they need constant discipline to show them the difference between right and wrong. If you are not willing to give that get a different breed. But ... If you're willing to do all the work, all the saying "No", and backing that up, you'll be rewarded with a wonderful companion. Too many Airedales are in rescue because of owners that don't make that commitment. Jim |
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Just last week I had the "scream like you are being attacked" yipping. I jumped up from my morning coffee and thought "I need to grab something." It sounded like Abbey was being attacked (my thought was a groundhog which has been seen traveling through our yards in search of our veggie gardens). Broom in hand I started out for our yard behind the fort/shed in the corner. Lo and behold there was Abbey with her head stuck in our fence. She had wanted to sniff something on the other side, went under and lifted her head up and I guess tried to pull it out thus the screaming and yelping. As I got closer she realized she had to lower it and then pull back. Sigh...my life would be SO boring without an Airedale! Marie |
I finally gave in and joined her in my nightgown. She was onto something. It's a beautiful cool night out and the grass smells fresh and clean. Trudi was rolling in it, trying to convince me to do the same. I almost did. She had to settle for a game of tag. I hope the neighbors weren't watching! Eventually Tim came out and wondered what was taking so long. I was too embarrassed to admit that I was frolicking, too. I finally just gathered Trudi up and heaved her into the house. It was almost a shame not to spend the night together in the yard. Life's just too short to miss those kind of moments with my former shy-girl! On the other hand, morning comes too early and sleep would be a good idea too! Monica |
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Can we add the one about them sleeping all day and stretching, licking, whining, playing with their ball, groaning, licking, licking, looking out the window and having to move the blinds so they hit against the window frame all night while you are trying to sleep, then when you get out of bed to get ready to go to work to earn the money for the dog food and dog sundries, they hop onto the nice warm soft spot you just left and go to sleep, meaning that you have to rouse the Airedaless out of the warm spot to get them to go outside to do business and get their breakfast and cookie - don't forget the cookie or we'll just stand in your way until you get the cookie - and do the other 100 things you need to do in the morning. In my next life I want to come back as an Airedale to a person who is a human slave just like me. Glenda |
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It's that charm, that smile and the attitude of "what's this? what's next?" Ellen |
Because they keep us humble ... you can never get too full of yourself when you live with an Airedale. Because they make sure we never lose our sense of humor. Because they worm their way into your heart in such a way that when they're not around life just isn't the same. Libby |
OK friends, I need a reminder. Tell me again why we can't live without these Airedales. The "best" Airedale activity today was Baron eating the roll of paper towels while I was cleaning up from Bristol's incident. CeCe - and her out-of-control barking - is a subject I won't even approach. Christine |
Life is Merrier with An Airedale Terrier???What's life like living with an Airedale Terrier" |
Because they are cute, fuzzy, some of them are cuddly, they are smart (outsmart us a lot of times), funny, scared of storms and have to be held (mothering instinct in us), stubborn, willful - guess that's the same as stubborn. There is no other breed in the world quite like an Airedale! And we can't live without them. Does that help? Bobbi |
What would we ever do for quality entertainment without them?? Does this help? Elizabeth |
Well, I've come to determine our reason for having an Airedale is so that we wouldn't need a paper shredder for our documents ... both Piper and Abbey LOVE to shred any paper they get their teeth on. Today I came home to find our newspaper shredded on the living room floor and sofa. Mind you, the dogs were not loose alone, our son and daughter were home doing their thing. No need to prune the plants outside, either. Abbey just runs or walks by and picks off the low branches on the Rose of Sharon, ornamental grasses and even dead-heads flowers. But there is also time when they are the most loving, cuddling, couch potatoes you can ask for. Marie |
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So, here's what I miss about NOT owning an Airedale: Her goofy smile when I came home in the evening. The way her tail would wag so hard her back end started coming in a semi-circle to the front. Her habit of coming up to ask for some attention by putting both paws in my lap and then leaning in for a long cuddle. How she slept on her bed with a cat and never minded sharing. Walks through the neighborhood and people stopping me to tell me how beautiful she was (and a lot of "what kind of dog is that?"); one time someone offered to buy her. Not a chance. Watching her grow from a 6-month-old, hairy, goofy puppy to a 70-pound, classically beautiful Airedale, with some moments of dignity and a big sense of humor. The way she stopped on walks to give me a nose-poke so I wouldn't forget she was there. Yeah, she chewed a couple rugs and the legs of a hutch. I lost count of the number of beds I bought for her so she could use them as big chew toys. Cleaning up the yard was no treat, and trying to dry her beard after a big drink of water was always a challenge. And then there were the bills associated with a dog: grooming, vet's, doggie day care and replacement beds. But I would take her back in a second if I could and put up with everything if I could own an Airedale again. As it is, I walk the Airedale Terrier Rescue & Adoption dogs that land at my local vet and transport 'dales who need a ride to a new, better home. But it's not the same and you know it. So, I know you're just exasperated after an Airedale kind of day, but I had to weigh in with why I would take that kind of a day if I could. Then, I would sit down with a drink and contemplate what makes me put up with these big, hairy, goofy, charming dogs ... it must be love. Ellen |
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Because they make us laugh and bring out the love from the deepest part of our heart of hearts - there's just nothing like that kind of love. There's that wonderful unique bond and kinship that knows no bounds. They make my world complete. And they ground us in this day and age of chaos. Kat |
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