08 Hunting/Working Activities
Description
This article is from the Airedale Terrier Breed FAQ, by Kathy Dowd with numerous contributions by others.
08 Hunting/Working Activities
Airedales, as previously mentioned, are used for hunting and working
in many areas. In an effort to promote and maintain the hunting
abilities for which the Airedale was originally bred, a
Hunting/Working committee was formed by the Airedale Terrier Club of
America in 1985. This committee holds an annual workshop in
conjunction with hunting tests. The workshop is assists both novice
and experienced hunters in developing the skills Airedales need to be
successful gundogs.
These trials are conducted in accordance with ATCA-approved hunting
tests and titles. These tests are being continually revised and
improved to tap even deeper into the talents of the breed. Currently,
there are Junior and Senior Hunting Dog titles in flushing (JHDF and
SHDF), retrieving (JHDR and SHDR), and the more traditional fur test
(JHDFur and SHDFur).
The members of the H/W Committee are working with hunting judges and
instructors from other breeds with AKC recognized Hunting titles to
develop AKC recognized hunting titles for Airedales. Hopefully in the
future, Airedales will be able to obtain AKC Hunting titles.
The Upland Bird tests require the dog to find and flush two birds,
retrieve a shot bird on land, and do a short water retrieve. (JHDF and
SHDF)
The Hunting Dog Retriever test brings contestants to a line from which
the dog is expected to remember or "mark" the fall of a bird shot in
the field. Upon a command from the handler, the dog should retrieve
the bird. The next phase is to repeat the retrieve, except from the
water. To obtain the SHDR title, the dog is required to mark one duck
shot over the water, and while waiting to be released, see another
duck down. The dog must then retrieve both birds.
The HDFur test requires the dog to follow a track of raccoon scent,
locate a caged raccoon in a wooded area, bark, or "bay," to declare
the find.
For more information on the H/W Activities, please contact:
Steve Gilbert - ATCA H/W Committee Chairman
100 Hawthorne Drive
Lima, OH 45805
(419)991-7430
or visit the ATCA Hunting and Working Web page to see Airedales
working at:
http://hwc.airedale.org
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