thanks wolf. airedales have a long history of police and military work.http://www.morningstarairedales.com/pg3.html

just realized its the site you gave me.

I have to speak up here and give you my experience with owning a giant. At one time I had 2 dobermans and my giant. People would scatter at the sight of the Dobermans and ask if they bit. I hike with my Giant all the time and people practically feed her their hands. I almost s&*t one day when a jogger went past me and pet her without asking to or even slowing down. People don't know what they are so they assume they are some kind of funny looking Lab mix or something around here. Thank god she doesn't have a defensive bone in her body. Giants are great so far as the insurance goes though since they are yet to hit the un-insureable list. I am lucky my insurance agent is not dog wise. He looked at Gunther and asked what he was. I just said I wasn't sure, some kind of mix. LOL. Gotta love people that think all shepards are light tan with a black saddle <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I think airdales would do well if you found the right lines. I used to take care of one for a friend when she would go out of town and he was the type of dog that wouldn't let you back into your own car if you didn't watch it. The down side is grooming, but most terriers are actually easy to groom once you get the hang of it.

anyway, there is my $.02

Milt,

The Giant and the Airedale have much different temperaments. The Giants, particularly the males, tend to be handler hard, dominant, and rank as they mature. The Airedales are more of clowns except when they work.A giant is not something I would recomend for someone that doesn't have experience dealing with a rank dog. It can get ugly.

I didn't realize Milt was considering a giant.

I have to agree with Richard about the rank issue. I sustained some good bites out of a male and my own stupidity. 18 months old, already showing severe dominance in previous home, put in a new home with a me = BAD

I learned from that experience..... the hard way.

Breeding did play into things and no, he was not out of "working lines" but take a 30 inch 110 lb pissed off ball of fur with severe head issues. I will let you guess where he came from <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Pretty is as pretty does

Somebody suggested it. It is a tough breed if you don't know what you are getting into.