Yes, Will, I did mean that he was the "only known Aussie to have achieved both titles." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I do know that several Rotties, GSDs, and Dobes have both titles. My appologies for the confusion!

Also, I was repeating what I had read in an article in an Aussie magazine. I did not mean to infer that Benny is the only Aussie to compete at any level of SchH, only that he had done so well and had achieved both titles. Certainly to compete well in SchH is a rare accomplishment for an Aussie!

Again, sorry for any confusion!

Working Airdales:
http://med.pam.szczecin.pl/~michaeln/images/aport_gdansk.wmv
http://med.pam.szczecin.pl/~michaeln/images/przywolanie.wmv
http://med.pam.szczecin.pl/~michaeln/images/oszczekanie.wmv


I don’t actually own one, but there are about 6 of them in the police departments near me (in Germany) and 3 in the BSG in my region (BSG = Bundesgrenzschutz or German Border Police). They are all from the von Eriksson Kennel in Prenzlau (Golmitz) (http://www.vonerikson.de) and train at my club. I’m not a fan of this breed but the ones from this kennel are good. Von Eriksson sell they’re dogs worldwide. They are all from the East-German v. Morgenstern lines. There aren’t many so the fact that people haven’t seen good dogs of this breed doesn’t mean they don’t exist. They’re difficult to train and the few that have any success all train SV clubs.

At the previous FCI qualifications in Germany there was a particularly good Airedale. Hans Rudenauer (former chief training director for the SV, DVG and a top judge) came up to the dogs instructor (standing next to my instructor) and said “I have to take my hat of for this dog. In all my years as a judge I have only seen a couple of dogs better than yours”. So, recapping, there aren’t many good ones, but they exist…

Also http://www.belkamp.com

USA judge Al Govednik's wife has an airdale..I believe SchH1 at this point.

Sue

Having been a terrier man for the last 30 yrs, I considered one before I got my working GSD. Now that I have the GSD, I wonder why I beat my head against the wall for so many years with terriers.......and mine are considered very well trained. I still love the onry S#!+s though.

Marcia Govednik's Ferris is a character! There was a couple at practice two weeks ago (?) who brought their airedales.

http://groups.msn.com/MachtigStromSchutzhundVerein/themarciagovednikjournal.msnw

I've always wondered why the Airedale was not worked or used in SchH or patrol more. They have a reputation being hard tenacious dogs that will go through almost anything to succeed at their goal.

But as posted there are alot of dogs breeds as a whole that are represented in these fields and are preferred far more then the Airedale in organized patrol and protection work.

The Rottie, Giant Schznuer and Dobermann to name a few. Though few and far in bewteen (compared to GSDs or Mals)they are used more often then the Airey.

Until you try to train one, then you will know, is the reply. I get when I ask why? Almost the same as I hear about Pit Bulls, not to start that topic again.

I have watched Marcia and Ferris go from BH to IPO 3. Marsha and Ferris have worked hard, and have a great handler dog relationship. I would bet he is one of the top Airedales in the US. It is nice to see other breeds being worked and having sucess.

Brad

I belive Ed Wiess from around St. Louis has an Airedale that he's going to train in Schutzhund. I had a chance meeting with him (if I got the name right) in Chicago where he was visiting - he saw my GSD pup and realized it wasn't an American shep. Led us right into talking about Schutzhund. He was training the dog for hunting first (as an obligation to the German breeder who wanted to see how well it worked), and then was going to do Schutzhund. He had the dog with him - very nice looking dog.

Alan, what type of hunting?

I believe he was working on bird dog and/or raccoon hunting. It was over a year ago, so I don't remember all the details, but I thought it was very interesting that they were working an Airedale for hunting - I was setting a time up to go hunting with my brother-in-law and his English Pointer (the pheasant vacuum cleaner I like to call him) so hunting was on my mind.