Full Cry Column
August 2003

Kevin G. Kelly (Pacific Coast Working Airedale Terrier Association correspondent)

Here I sit early on a Wednesday morning near the ridge of the Big Basin, in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Just outside the town of Boulder Creek. It is the beginning of July and it feels as though summer is fully upon us. The Shasta Daisies are in full bloom, the grasses that were so lustrous in April are now turning to brown. The Sticky Monkey flower is a hearty, drought resistant wild flower in a dark orange hue and can be spotted very easily, across the hillsides. This is the time of the year when I am very grateful for the thick redwood groves along the creek. The canopy they provide, over the flowing water is always a welcome respite on a hot summer day.

Dog news has been slow recently but there is always correspondence and I will give you what I have.

First off I have been watching the remaining pups I have here. Looking at the differences in personality, drive, the traits,(interest) they show in tracking, air scenting and they’re persistence when chasing any prey. It also tells me something when I watch them interact with the other dogs. Every pup, is unique in their own way but I am very pleased with the way they all use their noses, they will stay right on the ground once there is something there. Three of the four are pretty focused and will stay with it for quite awhile. One seems to be more easily distracted. I have not been in the woods as often as other times and I feel like the dogs are not getting out as much as they should. My biggest reason for keeping the dogs to a reasonable number is so they all get their turn in a practical rotation. With the time I give the younger dogs, the older dogs become more independent.

Jack Hartzel seems very pleased with his Airedale, Rand. Here’s a what he had to say recently, "This is Rand after his second Haircut at 62 lbs. He will be 11 months old tomorrow. He's killed three groundhogs in the last two weeks! Semper Fi!............Jack Hartzel"

Jack Hartzel' Rand

Thanks for the comments, Jack. Rand is one good looking Airedale and seems to know what he likes! Keep us informed on how you all are getting along.

Rick Schell wrote back in May with a good story of his adventure’s.

"Went hog hunting the last two weekends and have gotten a hog both times. Y'all probably forgot about me and Copper. My buddy and I took our Plott hound puppys out with my Airedale. We let the Plott puppies mother and Copper out to check this field we had not been in for awhile. She runs straight and we have been working the pups off deer with collars so we kept them on a leash. The mother started barking on track a couple hundred yards away and it was not long after that we heard a grunt coming through the briars. By golly it was Copper on this small boars tail, not making a sound, just trying to run him down. Perfect to turn these puppies loose. They bayed him up in about 300 yards. I am always concerned for Copper when the hounds are bayed so far as I know how rough he can be. When we got there it was pretty as these dogs worked this little boar of about 100 pounds. I watched for a while, then the hog charged into the pack and that is when Copper took his shot and grabbed him. The rest of the pups thankfully all joined in and we caught and tied him. Them plot puppies are one year old and rough. The boar had about one, inch tusks. We brought him home to my buddy’s house, who is building a running pen. So we will castrate the boar for a future BBQ. I have noticed with Copper that he is sneaky and does not rush in like a bulldog, but waits for the right moment and slam. He grabs him. I have seen him real quietly sneak to the back side of a pig when the Plott’s are in the hogs face. I know he gets rougher when he sees me. I am not sure how rough he is when I am not there quick enough. Last weekend they killed a hog on their own before we could get to them. Coppers bloody beard told the story. I keep a vest on him, yet he is always the most sore limping and all. The hounds are the most warn out and Copper seems to be the most beat up if that makes sense. Copper does check in with me, but is not at my feet. He goes out and hunts. I never have to go catch him as I can call or horn him regular unless he is after one. I want one more Airedale. Maybe looking at a more redline short coat look. I will wait for Billy’s dogs to have some pups and get one then. Just thought I would send a little update on Copper. Oh, Kevin Kelly, I am sorry I missed you. Billy invited me up and I had family plans if I recall. Would have been fun.

Talk to ya later, Rick"

I would have enjoyed a visit as well and no you and Copper are not forgotten. Your hunting adventures are an inspiration to get out into the woods. Thanks for the update, keep ‘em coming!

Henry Johnson, as most of you know wrote this column for eleven years. Now, my going to the post office box, for my Full Cry, isn’t the same. Often I wouldn’t get out of the parking lot without reading the column and never did I go without checking out the photos. Henry’s attitude and perspective is part of what I enjoyed, in his columns. Recently he shared an email exchange, he was having with Craig Harrington. I would like to share it with you here. Henry wrote;

" I am a firm believer in shared knowledge and in networking with other like-minded humans and have operated openly like this all my life. It pays great dividends I think. I particularly like what Samuel Johnson said about it: "Knowledge is more than equivalent to force." One of my ancestors, no doubt. B ut, as you well know, in any group of humans there are going to be a few that go through life "gaming the system." These gamesters treat knowledge as power to be used for personal advantage. They will share knowledge only when they think it is to their advantage to do so and they are also quite willing to provide you with incorrect knowledge (disinformation) when they think it is to their advantage to do so. One of the problems with knowledge of any kind is the quality of it. There are "FACTS" and there are "Facts" and there are "facts" and there is "TRUTH" and "Truth" and "truth" and REALITY and "Reality" and "reality" and there can be "ILLUSIONS" that faithfully imitate all of the above. And what is Fact, Truth, Reality for one person is not necessarily Fact, Truth, Reality for someone else because everything a human sees, hears, smells is colored by his life experience and by where he is standing and what the local conditions are at the time. (You know that when you have .30 caliber rounds whip lashing past your ears you are not going to have quite the same priorities or observe things in quite the same manner as you would when sitting in your rocker on the deck in the cool of the evening. So individuals don't see, hear, smell the exact same thing. All Facts, Truths, and Realities are building blocks and can be put together in different ways so that the end structure is not exactly the same, particularly since different people are going to be seeing somewhat different things.

Henry Johnson, Jeff Rowe and Red Anne - best colored terrier

All this heavy thinking makes my head hurt. I long ago decided it was too much for me, so my simple solution has been to try to deal as much as possible with the best quality people I could find and bet on them. I think in any human endeavor you make or break on the quality of your people. When I put together teams of geologists, engineers, even lawyers on occasion, I always told them "I am not looking for brilliance or stupidity from you, as I can supply both those qualities. What I want is solid, dependable performance and a heavy dose of good common sense." And never forget the last of my Guidelines: "You live and learn and then you die and forget it all. The only solution is to write it all down." By the way, there is another quote I like that can't be twisted around or spun to create the image of the day. Old Sam Rayburn said, "There are no degrees of honorable. You are or you aren't!" Henry"

I believe the world of dogs is as good an example of human interaction as any in the world. Networking, shared knowledge and acting in an honorable way, will bring out the best qualities in yourself and have a rippling effect on your associates and your breed.

Last year Brigid and Alberta Trickum got in a pretty good fight, neither one hurt but I had a heck of a time stopping it. Since then I have kept them apart. Alberta Trickum is about 46 lbs., Brigid weighs in at, 53lbs. I always figured it would not go well for Alberta. Last Friday night, I had Brisk and Brigid out running around together. I came in the house for a while and Dan came in shortly there after and told me it looked like three dogs were out and two went rolling down over the hillside in a fight. I went down into the dog yard and couldn't hear any brawling. I called and hear came Alberta Trickum trotting out of the woods, with Brigid not far behind. When I saw Alberta, I thought, oh boy there's going to be blood. She wasn't limping or acting the least bit hurt. I checked her over good, she was slimed at the side of her neck by Brigid's saliva but no wounds. Brigid was keeping her distance, they both were respecting the other by a safe distance. I thought, good, they decided fighting wasn't a good thing, before I got there. I called Brigid over just to give her some attention and get them a little closer, let them get used to being together again. They always were together for the first couple years. Brigid had a puncture wound on the top of her muzzle and another under her chin, a little blood coming from both. I have had them out together often since with no problems. They are not playing together but they aren't fighting either. Alberta Trickum has come ‘into her own’ and will not be bossed by her "pushy cousin". I think it's all those Grit genes in her Mom and Dad! When I wrote to Billy about the incident, he responded with this, "I saw on TV the other day that the Hatfields and the Macoys just signed a peace treaty, now Brigid and Alberta Trickum, what’s the world coming to?" Last night Alberta Trickum and Brigid were racing side by side through the woods with no problem. I am glad for it is no good to have a hunting dog that doesn’t get along with other dogs.

Wayne Waggoner has had some good and bad dog luck lately. Eddie Boatwright of Rocky Hollow wrote recently to say, "Wayne Waggoner's dog Rebel (Chief/Katie) died in about a 3 day period. Wayne was devastated. It looks like Rebel got tetanus from a wound of some short. He became paralyzed and could not get up. Wayne took him to the vet but nothing could be done. He had just told Henry that Rebel was the best Airedale he had ever seen and then tragedy struck. Henry had emailed him not to brag too much. One of Wayne's females just delivered 7 pups by Rebel so he still has that tradition ongoing. We may get one of those pups from him. Nancy took a male pup to Wayne last week so that he would still have a Chief/Katie pup."

I know that Wayne’s Irish Terrier just had some pups as well, lots of good news and Wayne I’m sorry for your very bad luck with Rebel. Sure glad the genes are carrying on. I’d like to get in line for one of those pups.

I heard from John Houben today. It is always good to hear from him. I got Brisk from him five years ago, she’s alpha around here. Here’s what John had to say,

"As you say it gets pretty busy just living. Things are going well. I have been working the dogs a bit but not near as much as I want. Been mostly working my Mt. Cur and hound. Last Friday, I took ol' Maggie out on a coyote complaint and although we didn't call in any coyotes she did find one of this springs dens, which had been abandoned. The pups are mostly being camped out in the blackberrys and the brush by now (July). Katie, the Airedale I got back from Kraig Glazier is doing well. She is the ideal Airedale as far as I am concerned.... small, fast, enthusiastic, hard coat. I have been focusing on hunting the other dogs so haven't put her on any game to speak. I may try starting her on squirrels but I like her so much I'm not real concerned about turning her into a hunting dog.
Take care, John"

Thanks for the note John, glad to hear Maggie’s still got the nose. Send me a picture of Katie if you ever get a chance. And good Luck with the Cur and Hound pups.

I recently offered O’Sheen, my smooth coated male, who is one year old now, to Billy. And got the response I thought I might get. He told me he is full up with dog’s right now. John’s email indicates he’s training as much as he can and would like to more. Clint told me his training of the pups is consuming a lot of time. This brings me back to what I referred to above. Too many dogs is not fair to yourself or the dogs, if you don’t have a big enough yard or two, for them to play and romp together, freely.

Bob McClellan, just had a birthday. Hope it’s the best year yet Bob. Bob wrote to me in the last couple days,
" Heard from Brenda Towne. Abby has not started to come in heat yet. Last time was in December, so it could be at any time. Looking back, the last litter was born on November 10th, so she was in heat in September that time."

The Kelly/Kelly cross may or may not have produced pups. I hear through the grape vine, that she looks like she’s getting ready to nurse but doesn’t look pregnant. Maybe, there’s only one or two pups in the oven. Bob says;
" Kelly wouldn't recognize her boy friend now. I gave him his summer haircut a few days ago." He went on to tell me about Dan and the Guinness/Brigid pup he got from me. "Got a phone call from Dan last night. He is back down at his Dad's place in Livermore. He's tickled pink with Jude." Bob Mc.

Always good to hear from you Bob, can’t wait to see Jude when she is grown.

Well folks, that’s about it for me this month. The Quote can be gleaned from Henry’s comments above.

But remember, " 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, its more a state of mind.