Читать книгу Airedale Terrier - Bardi McLennan - Страница 6

It is certain that the Airedale Terrier originated in the valley of the Aire and Wharfe Rivers in northeastern England, but the breed’s exact genetic makeup is conjecture at best. The creators were either blissfully unaware of the conundrum they were leaving for future enthusiasts of their newly created breed or, as competitive sportsmen, took sly amusement in leaving us with a puzzle on which to place our bets.

Small terriers were used from time immemorial for poaching the fields and streams of the landed gentry. Rabbits and birds that strayed by chance beyond the gamekeeper’s sharp eye were “fair game” to the poacher in search of food for his table. Terriers had to be quick and accurate to catch this prey. They were considered “easy keepers” who slept by the fire or in the barn, required little in the way of food, were a healthy lot and, best of all, were extremely willing and capable workers. They also kept the rat population under control.

When the towns of Leeds, Bradford, Otley and Bingley and the surrounding area first became industrialized in the early 1800s, the millworkers and miners were using their small terriers on the abundance of small game (primarily water rats) found along the banks of the Aire, Wharfe, Colne and Calder Rivers. In a short time, the Aire became so heavily lined with factories and mills that the otter and fish population retreated to adjoining less polluted waterways. The water rats, however, remained behind.

Pursuit of the strong-swimming otters by the small terriers had never been too successful due to the terriers’ short legs, which hampered their ability to wade into deep water or to swim long distances upstream. Packs of Otterhounds were the recognized leaders in this endeavor, and as such had the full support of the fishermen whose sport and food supply were being depleted by the fish-hungry otters in the rivers and streams feeding the industry-choked Aire.

WORKING TERRIERS

A “working terrier” used to refer only to a terrier that worked underground. Today, however, small underground terriers are commonly called “earth dogs” and all terriers, large and small, that do work of any kind, be it search and rescue, sniffing narcotics or chasing lions or rabbits, are referred to as “working terriers.” To be sure, there are still hold-outs for the original definition!

Used to create the Airedale, the Otterhound is also associated with the River Aire and is famous for its ability to hunt otters in the rough waters of the river.

The factory and mill workers considered water-ratting a prime weekend sport. Organized matches generated such keen competition that spectators lined the riverbanks to wager on their favorites. The dogs were sent out two at a time and points were scored for speed and performance in both locating and in dispatching the rats.