A Family Affair

Since 1990 the simple love and infectious enjoyment of these spectacular fuzzy faced clowns has kept me dedicated to breeding and showing Airedale Terriers.  Over the years I have been very fortunate to have many great people assume the role of guardians for my Airedales and I have a rich tradition and relationship with so many of those people.    In the coming years I hope to expand that family and continue the tradition of breeding healthy sound little puppies that will grow up and live long happy lives with their owners.  It is always very rewarding to get the many letters and pictures of fond stories of their families, watch their children grow, and hear about great moments of their beloved Airedales.  With electronic messaging and digital photography it is easy to keep in touch with so many people.  Recently, I was reminded just how magnificent the “special sense and talents” really are in these wonderful animals.  One such story was that of Oscar’s daughter Ella who alerts Vicki just before her little girl has a seizure.   Sometimes it is the simple joy of making their owners so proud like Magi being crowned Queen of the 2008 St. Louis Mardi Gras Pet Parade.  Abbey, served for many years as the photo girl for countless ads on all Purina One products and flew to England to live the last year of her life with her proud folks just shy of her 13th birthday.  Sometimes that pleasure is my own personal happiness for a sense of accomplish in knowing that I have made people happy with their family companion or walking onto the green carpet of Westminster to show a wonderful dog that I bred and loved dearly.  There are so many stories and so many good people who each have a special message to tell whether about their first Airedale or a successor following in the paws of another passed on years before.

For as long as I have been breeding Airedales I always tell people that one of the things I find the most rewarding in being a breeder is that of meeting and becoming friends with so many good people.  Showing and competing with these tremendous dogs is a great deal of fun and the joy of winning with something you have watched from its creation is a very humbling experience.  Nothing, however takes the place of knowing you have made someone happy or possibly even helped enrich their lives.  Often some of these people become like family and hold a very special place in my heart.  I have some puppy people whose children are their dogs and they have demonstrated that they will go to any measure for them.  I recently attended a Memorial Service for “Georgie” who was a very very special Airedale and it was without a doubt one of the most touching services I have ever attended throughout my entire life.  Many of these people have gotten numerous dogs from me over the years and now even some of their children have gotten dogs.  Some people always have a pair so that the dogs always have a buddy.  Other are convinced that having only one is the best, but the dogs truly do enjoy having their own companion. 

To me, it is very rewarding to see that young puppy grow up, mature, and compete with other Airedales and fellow breeders, but to me seeing the looks on the faces of happy owners is really what this stewardship of the breed is all about.  I very much enjoy mentoring to the new owner whether they are getting a companion or their first show prospect.  I tell people that generally the life expectancy of these dogs is 12-14 years, and that is never long enough.  Truly the hardest part of being a breeder, whether it is in keeping those special dogs that you love or getting a call or note from someone, is having to say “Good-bye” to your best friend.  As a breeder you will face those sad moments more than others and for me the task never gets easier and each one was truly unique and wonderful in their own way.  I owe a lifetime of thanks for those memories, support, love to both my dogs and me, and some truly special friendships that have all been made possible through my Airedales.

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