Full Cry Column
August 2002

Kevin G. Kelly - Southern Working Airedale Terrier Association correspondent

Good day to you all. It is early morning here at the RDR Ranch on the edge of Big Basin, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The sun is already bright, with no fog in the air. Yesterday was hot and it seems as though today is already well on it’s way to being the same. Summer is here.
We have been busy with the vast number of events that occur this time of year. Work in the building world always increases, so there is a little more money to make the improvements around the house and on the vehicles. I just put a new transmission and transfer case in the ‘Beast’. There is more daylight, so there is more time to do the projects. The young folks are out of school so we can do more things with them. There are musical events that happen, late spring and early summer, we just had “ Robert Earl Keen’s Texas Uprising and Swine Soiree”. It’s an annual event that brings some very good musicians our way. And of course there is more time for the dogs.
We had a couple of new arrivals come to Guinness/Brigid. They are solid little bullets and I am very excited to watch them grow. They appear to have the square heads and solid bone structure that, to me, makes the good dogs. They are very new but they seem to have the number one rule, at this age, mastered; “Root, Hog or Die.” This is the rule that leads to their survival at this stage especially. The rule came to me through Henry Johnson and I believe it’s what sets the determination and gets carried on through the generations. It is often what makes the smaller pups in a litter more tenacious. They have to fight harder right from the start to get their place at the milk bar.
I just ran across this email from the day before the pups were born. I had written it to Henry, Billy, Clint and Eddie Boatwright: “ Hello, I have been putting my transmission, transfer case, flywheel and oil pan on the truck today. Brigid was out all day with Brisk. They would go off together for a while and then drop back by to advise Miles and myself on what we were doing. They didn't think we were paying attention so they would bring their muddy faces right into ours under the truck. It was a big help.
We came down to the house around 8:30. I did the dog chores, gave Miles a ride out to a friends house, (it is Sat. night, and he is 18), I came home and Laurie had made a pork roast, mashed potatoes and corn.
After dinner I went out side to put Brigid up for the night, in the maternity ward, (the dog run with the whelping box) and bring Brisk into the house to feed. Brisk came a running, Brigid was nowhere around. I immediately knew and said to myself, "she is out in the woods making a den!" I got my flashlight and Guinness and I took a walk. We didn't go very far and I started calling and whistling. We went on down the path aways, when the "morphic field" called out to me. I turned around and looked, with the flash light, and there she was peeking over a big log laying in front of a burned out redwood stump from the harvest at the turn of the nineteenth century. I walked over, shined the light in and it went down and back in under the stump. It looked like a great spot to have puppies. The floor looked very soft, the stump and surrounding trees was a natural canopy. There was only one way in and it wasn't big.
I called her to come out, so I could take her to the house. She looked just a little confused and then turned around and went back in to where her instincts were telling her to go. I coaxed her back to the entrance and lifted her out and took her to the house. I believe she is in labor or close to it. I checked on her when I started this I will go check when I am done. I believe tonight is the night, I'll let you know.”
Well the next day is when we got the pups. This is Brigid’s first litter and it is always amazing to me, that the instincts are so strong and so accurate when it comes to giving birth. Brigid is doing a great job with her little ones and she wasn’t trained to by any human. It makes a good argument for allowing your dogs to follow their instincts whenever you can, especially in the field.
We heard from Billy Harkins from down Owltown, Georgia way: “Kevin and Clint, I just thought that I would tell you about my 5:30 AM coon hunt this morning. I was rudely awakened this morning to my Airedale Molly and bulldog/cur cross Boozer barking treed up on the ridge above my house. At first I couldn't tell where they were so I got out of bed and went out on the porch to listen. It didn't take but a second to tell where they were and they were barking real good.
I went back in the house to get my clothes and shoes on and to get a drink of water. It just was getting light enough to see to walk around outside. I got in my explorer and drove up the drive way to the top of the hill. It was early and I was still trying to wipe the sleep out of my eyes. When I got out to listen I could hear them close to me about thirty yards off in the woods. I climbed up the bank and headed in the edge of the woods and the trees and leaves were all wet with rain from the late night rain we had just gotten .It was still too dark to see good when I got in the woods so I just eased on in till I got to where the dogs were treeing.
They were treeing up a snag tree about twenty feet or so high. The top was broken out and was hanging down towards the ground. It was too dark to see very well and I couldn't make out anything in the tree but the dogs were very sure so I just took there word for it and hissed them on the tree. I really thought that it was a house cat cause they tend to be in the vicinity.
Since it wasn't light enough to see very well and the dogs weren't going any where I decided to just take it in and enjoy the moment even if it was now just 6:00 AM.
After a few minuets of waiting there I remembered that I had a video camera that I had borrowed from my cousin earlier so I walked back out to my vehicle and drove back down the hill after it. When I got back to the dogs they were still just as convinced as ever that there was some kind of varmint up there that needed closer investigation.
It still wasn't good enough light to make any thing out but I started walking around the tree on hopes of being able to make something out. Finally I saw a fuzzy ball in the very top but still couldn't make it out. So I just waited for better light and petted the dogs telling them that it had better not be the neighbors cat or we all might be in trouble.
After about twenty more minutes I finally saw a coon's head attached to the top of the fuzzy ball. Now I was relieved that it wasn't a cat and glad to see that I had a fine pair of coon dogs. I started to find a rock to throw but there weren't any to find so I tried squalling and the coon looked around at me. I kept it up and the little guy started down the tree but turned just in time to miss Molly's snapping teeth. He headed back up to the top of the snag and there he stayed for a while. I got on the lower end of the tree and pulled on the tree lap that was hanging down and Mr. coon jumped strait out on the ground. The two dogs were on him in a flash and they made short order of Mr. Coon. Molly decided that it was her coon and took possession of the kill. Boozer being the gentleman that he is didn't put up any fuss and gave up all claims to the lady.
Take care till next time, Billy Harkins”
Billy, thanks for the story. I always feel like I’m right there with Billy when he tells a tale, whether he and his dogs are in pursuit of mean old Mr. Hog or an early morning intruder with a ringed tail. I really enjoyed the bear story in Clint’s column last month. Keep ‘em coming Billy.
Back in the June issue of Full Cry I ask for any and all the readers to get in touch. And I ask that when I print sections from the archives of the Tennessee Valley Airedale column, by Henry S. Johnson Jr., that if you see your name or remember a specific event, I would really enjoy hearing from you. Well, Lawrence Pace answered the call: “ I read your column every month! I really enjoy it! I just wanted to report to you and the readers that I am Lawrence Pace formerly of Woodstock,Ga.
I was at Eufala (hog baying event) a little over 10 years ago with Airedale Shadow.I still have Shadow. He is a little over 12 years of age. He was a good hunting dog and watch- dog, as well as a family pet. He has slowed down over the past three years but is still a valued pet. I also have a three year old Airedale named Mac, he has learned much from Shadow.
I have personally owned two Airedales ,and grew up in Rural New York State where all the poultry farmers house or used Airedales to keep the red Fox away from their poultry.
I'm currently living in Spring Hill ,Florida for 8 years. There are a few Airedales here too! Respectfully submitted, Lawrence "Larry" Pace “
Larry, I really appreciate you getting in touch and thanks for the compliment about the column. I hope your letter inspires others to write as well. The beauty of the Airedale is that even when it doesn’t hunt well anymore, it has been such a great partner for so many years it is still a joy to be around. I hope Airedale Shadow hangs around for quite awhile, I’m sure Mac has more he could learn from him. Stay in touch and let me know if you have heard from Henry.
I wrote Ernie Taft, of Montana, to ask him about his Airedale Jack; here is what he wrote; “ Jack is a non registered Airedale from a back yard breeder in Missoula, Montana. I picked him up @ 9 weeks, a muddy, full of worms mess . The family has been raising Airedales since 1956. The father was a bit larger and heaver than Jack. The mother about the same size. Both had very nice coloration, sort of like the text book Airedales are to look . He will be 5 in September, we had him neutered @ 6 months . A border patrolman here has two that are smaller but heavier. Both great hunting dogs. His wife works with the Airedale Rescue Society ... that’s where he got his second one from . He uses shock collars on them for training. Jack is very quick to learn. He is stubborn at times but a real gentle, sweet fellow. Has killed every cat on the farm. Leaves the neighbors cats alone, suprised me . Guess his territory is his to rule as he sees fit. Neighbors is not his problem :>). Now, he has taken over the mousing duties and does quite well. I call him "dances with coyotes " at times . He will run out and play with them. Have watched him when he is out in the fields with me. Long as the coyotes stay a couple hundreds of yards away he leaves them alone. Seems he has a "safety perimeter" that he allows no one into. Other dogs best not come between he and I unless they want the "Jaws of Death " upon them. He gets on well with all the neighbors dogs long as they keep their distance from me. Gotta love that Dog!!
Funny story ..... I was driving through the neighbors yard when his pack of dogs came out to greet us. One is a yippy healer who jumps up and barks at the drivers’ window. Just happened to look in the door mirror to see Jack with a good head hold on the healer . Jack was in the pickup box and reached down and grabbed the healer by the head behind his ears just as it reached the top of its yapping jump. Wasn't about to let go. Lucky, I happened to look. Love that dog :>)
Regards, Ernie”.
Ernie, you tell a good story. I’m glad to hear about Jack and some of his adventures. A good dog is a good dog.
A while after that first field report, Ernie sent me another note with a beautiful photograph of his granddaughter, Jayleen McAlpine and Jack in Ernie’s jeep. They spent Fathers Day and her Birthday riding through the countryside, picking wild flowers. The big thrill, of the day, I’m sure, was that; Ernie let Jayleen drive his Jeep. I’ll bet you did a great job, Jayleen.
Ernie you’re a good man. I’ll bet it was a fantastic day.

I got an email from Craig Harrington of Clarksville, Tennessee with a question; “Do you breed dogs that look and act like Alberta or at least know who does? That is the best looking Airedale I have seen in my own mind's eye of what one should look like. I've seen 'em in England and Europe where I was stationed in the US Army in the 70s, 80s & 90s.
When my old Staffordshire Bull Terrier passes on my wife and I are talking about getting an Airedale again and I sure would like a good sound one. Besides, I'm now looking for a good young pup for a friend of mine and think this young man and his family would be a perfect match for a well-bred Airedale.
Thanks for your time.” Craig Harrington, Clarksville, TN.
Thanks for writing, Craig. And Alberta Trickum says thanks for the compliment. Her parents belong to Stan Townsend (Rocky/Cece), in eastern Georgia. Her Grandparents are from Henry Johnson, (Grit/TwoBelle) and Billy Harkins, (Hammer/Lucy) In Tennessee and Georgia. Alberta Trickum has been in season the last couple of weeks and housed in the honeymoon suite with Boru. I’m hoping to get some results from this because this is a cross I wanted to make when I got Alberta in the first place. Boru’s mom is Brisk, she is Grits daughter and Hammer’s sister. I’m after these good, versatile, hunting working Airedales, with a self keeping coat, that are a joy to be around. { I’ve been lucky to start with the cream of the crop from all the hard work from Henry, Billy Harkins, Odon Corr, Lawrence Alexander and David Noe. And all their predecessors right back to the first developers of the breed.}
It’s good to hear from you Craig, stay in touch and have fun with your Staffordshire’s.

Richard Dwyer wrote to report on his dog, Buford, (Slim X Alley Cat), that he placed in a good home: “ Buford has a personal groomer living the good life of a pampered pet. They pay a professional handler to hand strip him every two weeks. LOL. You know that you placed a dog into a great pet home when they remodel the house and grounds to fit the dogs needs.
I placed Buford into this home due to a testicle that was lodged in his abdomen and had to be removed. Sure was a hell of a good dog and am happy that I placed him in such a fine home.
I have to say that the look of a well hand stripped dog is impressive.”
Good job placing Buford, Richard. It’s always good, if you can, to put the dogs that don’t quite work out into a working home but the most important thing, I think, is to get them into a loving home. Sounds like Buford is living the life of Riley!

Excerpt from the August Full Cry, 1992, Tennessee Valley Airedale Terrier column written by Henry S, Johnson Jr. “ In last months column, (July, 1992), I ran an account by Danny Kelly of Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England, on hunting rats with Airedales in a country where guns and game are not readily available to the average citizen. Now I want to continue with another excerpt from a letter Danny wrote April 14, 1986. Danny says, “Now about rabbits. On some occasions I am able to stalk and kill rabbits with an air rifle, but most of them are caught and killed by the dogs (Airedales Paddy and Ben). I always try to get to the area I’m hunting shortly before dawn, when many rabbits are a good distance from their burrows. In certain fields around here, the fields are separated by rows of trees and undergrowth, rather than, fences or ditches. These stretches of trees and undergrowth normally vary in width from 2 to 20 feet. Their length depends on the size of the fields.
“ To hunt these wooded stretches for rabbits, I peg a long net across them down at one end of the field, with the u-shaped wings of the net extending out into the field on either side. Then the dogs and I make a wide detour to the other end of the field, trying to make as little noise as possible. After that I send the dogs into the extended patch of undergrowth. They work their way in and out, keeping the rabbits headed toward the net. Some of the rabbits leave the undergrowth and head across the field in the wrong direction. But if all goes well, most of the rabbits continue moving towards the net. I made the net from a couple of nylon football (soccer) nets. It’s about 45 feet long and 2.5 feet high. It’s not very heavy but it’s rather bulky and awkward to carry.
“ The rabbits are not actually caught in the net. The whole idea is for the rabbits to panic when they reach it. Some rabbits squat down and wait. Others run about in a wild panic. Either way, it gives the dogs a chance to grab them. This method of hunting rabbits isn’t easy neither does it produce large bags. But it can work, and it’s good, exciting fun.
In my experience Airedales are a little too slow for coursing rabbits on open ground, though I have seen Paddy catch the odd one or two in his younger days. Some people in England use Airedale/Greyhound crossbreds for coursing rabbit, hare, fox and, illegally deer. I understand the Airedale/Greyhound cross has proved a fine hunter of coyote in America.”
The gunless hunting with Airedales described here and in last month’s column outlines basic poacher tactics traditionally use in Yorkshire and other countries where many of the ordinary citizens do not have access to guns or to game lands. The Airedale was bred to hunt silently, as is proper for a poachers dog, and the old Yorkshiremen tell of sending them into darkened fields to find and drive rabbits and pheasants to the silently waiting nets. Nets for pheasants would, of course, be lighter and taller than nets for rabbits and should collapse around the birds when they fly into them.”
I don’t think it’s time to start making nets quite yet but if we don’t participate where we can, politically we could find ourselves in a gunless situation without game lands to hunt. Besides it would take quite a net to send a wild boar into a panic! (Although I trapped one recently that broke the welds on the wire of the trap door and escaped.)
Incidentally, while I was transcribing the text from ten years ago, I was interrupted by Brisk catching a mouse behind the woodstove. We have three cats and Brisk is the best mouser.
Before I end this month; I just wanted to send my condolences to Dan Dilbeck. He lost his puppy, Bob, to salmon poisoning, at least that was the best guess. I know Dan must have thought the world of that pup and I was sorry to hear about the misfortune. Dan is pictured here with his pup Bob and Airedale Kelly, owned by Bob McClellen. The puppy was named after Bob McClellen.

Dan Dilbeck with Bob the puppy and Kelly, owned by Bob McClellan

The quote of the month is; "We are all terribly alone in this life, I fear. This is part of our mortality, and there is not really much we can do about it. The awful armor of our isolation is pierced only by those fragile loyalties, which we pray will abide--children, or a lover, or friends. All of these ask for tenderness and care." (Willie Morris in "Good Friends--Dogs, Sons, and Others")

As Henry S. Johnson Jr. says: “ Let us hear from you Airedale people. And don’t forget to put your arms around those furry black and tan dogs with the beards and the moustaches and talk to them. They are people dogs and family members.”
Respectfully submitted, Kevin G. Kelly, Pacific Coast Corresponding Secretary for the Working Airedale Terrier Association. No rules, regulations, officers, dues or formal affiliations, it’s more a state of mind.