Читать книгу Airedale Terrier - Bardi McLennan - Страница 10

Through these close lines came all the top Airedales of the early 1900s, including virtually every good representative of the breed that was to be the foundation of the leading Airedale kennels in the US. And still comments persisted about size, light eyes, soft coat—and those ears!

Although the dog Bruce arrived in the US in 1881 (three years prior to the founding of the American Kennel Club), it wasn’t until Ch. Clonmel Marvel won the breed at Westminster in 1900 and repeated the win in the following year that the Airedale Terrier was accepted as a rising star on American soil. The year 1900 also saw the formation of the Airedale Club of America, the national parent club, still in existence today.

Ch. Clonmel Marvel’s wins were followed by another two of Mr. Buckley’s dogs—Ch. Clonmel Bed Rock and Ch. Clonmel Monarch, the latter being the dog Buckley himself deemed to be closest to perfection. Even though the dog had sired many litters before going to America, Buckley was harshly criticized for letting this prized dog leave England.

It is interesting to note the pride with which imports were touted in the US and Canada. Owning or breeding show dogs began to carry the prestige of owning race horses. One man advertised that he was the first to introduce and exhibit these dogs in the US (an unconfirmed statement), while another offered “the most successful Airedales living.” Another breeder, the proud owner of Briar Ranger (from Cholmondeley Briar), noted the dog to be “full of the most valuable blood” and for more emphasis added, “all stock recently imported from England.” It is also known that, in the first part of the 20th century, the Airedale was widely esteemed by American sportsmen for its “do-it-all” hunting abilities.