AIREDALE TERRIERS IN FINLAND

Airedale Terrier is considered to be a very traditional breed amongst all the hundreds of breeds that today exist in Finland. The first Airedale was seen in Finland quite soon after the breed was officially registered in England. It has been noticed that a person who once has been in contact with an Airedale will be an Airedale enthusiast until the end of his/her days.

HISTORY

The first Airedale in Helsinki however was a visitor, CH Reliable who was seen at Helsinki Dog Show in 1899. It was bred in England by Mr Blockley, owner was Swedish Mr Hallin. This dog was as international as the best dogs today, because it had been shown in England, Oslo (Kristiania), Randers, München, Stockholm etc. So Airedales travelled quite a lot even at that time!

The next report of an Airedale is from 1910. At that time Mr G V Weman imported an Airedale named Jack from England. The dog was born in 1909 and it was owned privately. More famous dogs were Lord and Wally, a couple imported from Germany by Finnish Police Dog Department. They had a litter at 1912, and one of them got the name Guide (Opas). After that there were more and more imports from England, Germany, Sweden and St Petersburg (Russia).

The first Show Champion was in 1930 Warland Wat’O, an English import. The most famous in working trials have probably been CH Kinnan Begi, who has most winings and CH Gunhell Judy, who had 6 different champion titles! The both were also Show Champions.

Airedale is considered to be a traditional working dog, and it has been owned by Police, Army etc. Perhaps the most important names in the Airedale history are SA Timo and Edmuntopp Kettie, who were used in the Second World War mainly as messenger dogs. A group of Finnish soldiers were circled by enemies, when SA Timo rescued them by taking a message and they got help in time. At some time during the war it was so cold, that the only dogs which could be used were German Shepherds and Airedales, all the other breeds used by the Army couldn’t stand the cold.

After the Second World War more and more different breeds were imported to Finland, and people wanted to have more specialized dogs. Today Airedale Terrier is considered to be a family dog which is good as an allrounder.

The first Show Champion was in 1930 Warland Wat’O, an English import. The most famous in working trials have probably been CH Kinnan Begi, who has most winnings and

CH Gunhell Judy, who had 6 different champion titles! They both were also Show Champions.

THE VERSATILE AIREDALE TODAY IN FINLAND

Airedale Terrier has always considered to be good for messengers, but also the other traditional working activities are popular: searching and tracking. Airedale is not used so much as schutzhund in Finland. Other good activities to Airedales in Finland are rescue, agility and trailing (animals). There are also some individuals who are used as elkhounds and retrievers.

But most of all - Airedale is the best possible family dog.

BREEDERS

The first breeder was Finnish Police Dog Service in 1912, as mentioned before. After that it looks like the Airedales very mainly imported, because the next mention of an Airedale litter is from 1925 by kennel Urnes, owned by Mauno Urnberg. In 1926 Mr O. J. Lönn had a litter, mother was Adda v. Wendelstein, father was Denny, owned by colonel G Mannerheim - a very famous name in Finnish history! After that there seems to be Airedalelitters every year.

Even Army and other military organisations continued to breed Airedales.

A very important person was Mrs Rea Hannula, owner of kennel Peggen. She could continue her breeding also during the Second World War. Other important breeders after the war amongst others were Bridale (Briitta Vaahterlinna), Eho (Hjördis and Erkki Tenleníus) and Gunhell (Anna ja Gunnar Henilä). Even at that time people travelled a lot and visited European Shows.

Perhaps the most famous of the modern breeders is kennel Big Lady’s, owned by Pirjo Hjelm. She has bred 25 International Champions. Airedale breeders have been quite succesfull and in the recent times Airedales have been exported to at least fourteen countries.

Breeders who have bred at least 3 litters during the recent time are for example (in alphabetical order):

Bayjet - Susanna Söderholm

Big Lady’s - Pirjo Hjelm

Copperbeard - Jukka & Laura Mäenpää

Evermay’s - Sari Kettunen

Extempore - Kaisa Railo

Happy Pop’s - Susanna Ollila

Hiuhaun - Eeva Salonen

Honeywolf - Tarja Wiik

Kitty’s Kiss - Maila & Sini-Marja Sistonen

Ranpiin - Tapio Ranta

Ransun - Matti Siltala & Tiina Hägg

Red Diadem’s - Pertti & Heidi Pellikka

Ruskanheimon - Eila Uusi-Kouvo

Sankt-Cisse’s - Kari & Ulla Vähäsarja

Soft-Air - Ritva Josefsson

Teinikedon - Gunvor Oksanen

NAMES OF SOME FOREIGN AIREDALES WHO ARE NOWADAYS GENETICALLY IMPORTANT:

CH Babu of Bengal (Eng)

CH Beacytan Xerxes (Eng)

CH Blackjack’s Nostradamus (Am)

CH Jokyl Lucky Strike (Eng)

CH Jokyl Smart Enough (Eng)

CH Jokyl Tophat N’ Tails (Eng)

CH Jokyl Walkie Talkie (Eng)

CH Mynair Nevergivin’ (Eng)

CH Perrancourt Pirate (Eng)

CH Perrancourt Pirate Prince (Eng)

CH Ragtime Fair Play (Swe)

Ragtime King Oliver (Swe)

CH Ragtime Sassafras (Swe)

CH Saredon The Jazzsinger (Eng)

Spicaway Martell (DK)

CH Spicaway Ouzo (DK)

CH Stargus Sea King (Eng)

CH Tintara Bulrush (Eng)

SHOWS IN FINLAND AND HOW TO BECOME A CHAMPION

In both National and International shows certificate is given to the best dog and bitch who can take it. This means that the dog hasn’t got already 3 certificates and the same judge can’t give it twice to the same dog. Airedales under 2 years can take it only twice, the third must be taken in the open class. So a dog can’t take a certificate if it is already a champion, it has already 3 certificates or it’s under 2 years and has got 2 certificates.

To become a Finnish Show Champion Airedale must have to show that it has got working abilities. This means that it must have an accepted result from a working competition (lowest class is enough) or it has cleared a character test. This test has been planned by the Swedish Army, and it contains 9 different gradings. The dog must show that it’s temperament is in order, it’s not afraid of shooting and it has no mean ideas of people. This test is done only in Finland to all dogs, other countries except Sweden don’t use it, and in Sweden it’s used only to military dogs. Airedalers in Finland consider this test as a good possibility; because all people don’t train their dogs and with the character test the can show that the dog has mentally good qualities also for working purposes.

Airedale Terrier can also become a Working Champion, Obedience Champion, Agility Champion and also a Trailing Champion (hunting test).

The other show possible in Finland are Open Show, which is not very common, and Match Show, which is quite popular for example when training young dogs for official shows. There are also special Puppy Shows, but the classes for dogs under 9 months are unofficiel.

BREEDING IN FINLAND

In Finland breeder consider very highly the fact that Airedale Terrier is a healthy dog both mentally and physically. Some breeders began to X-ray their Airedales as early as 70’ies because of Hip Dysplasia and in the end of 80’ies the club made a rule accepted by The Finnish Kennel Club, that all Airedales used for breeding must have a result of HD-testing.

The litter can’t be registered if the parents don’t have that official result.

The rule for breeders was first made in 1984 and checked in 1991. It must be accepted by the majority of the general meeting of the club and then by the Finnish Kennel Club. This rule puts very much weight to the health of Airedales, so that the breeder should know to avoid unhealthy dogs or untypical behaviour.

Finnish Kennel Club wants every breeder to use officiel blankets for selling puppies. According those blankets the breeder has told the puppy buyer all the problems which are typical or possible for the breed and how this litter and this puppy can be considered to have them.

DOCKING BAN

Docking ban begun in Finland in July 1st 1996. The registretions went down with 66 %! But it looks like the Finnish Airedalers are going to accept their dogs with the long tails - main thing is what is between the ears!

THE FINNISH AIREDALE TERRIER CLUB

In the beginning there were two big organisations in Finland, the main difference perhaps was the language. In 1946 the airedalers had a meeting and decided to have an organisation which belonged to the Finnish speaking Kennel Club, the section was within companion- and terrier breeds. The important person to make the initiative was Mr Edmund Natunen, owner of the kennel Edmuntopp (Edmundtopp Kettie was mentioned before as a war dog). Later this organisation came independent as a breed club and is one of the oldest breed clubs in Finland.

In the beginning of the clubs history the main weight was put to the working section and Airedales were quite few in the shows. In 1952 only 12 Airedales took part in shows. In 1950 Airedalers with two other breeds (rottweilers and boxers) decided to have a competition which nowadays is a very important competition for working breeds with 50 breeds taking part to it!

Airedale owners are known to be very active - just like their dogs. The Finnish Airedale Terrier Club has shown it by having more members than any other breed club compared with the registrations. The club has two general meetings per year. Perhaps the most important for the club is the magazine Karvakuono ("Furry Nose"), with 4 numbers per year containing normally 60 - 120 pages. Also Summer Camps are very popular, during a week in July more than 100 airedalers meet each other somewhere in Finland. This week contains all kinds of activities and it’s not unusual to see there airedalers from other countries as well!

The club is very active with keeping contact with breeders and every second year at least there is breeders’ meeting with some up-to-date issue. The club has also organised researchs to be sent for all airedale owners who have owned an Airedale during years 1976 - 1990. More than 50 % of owners who could be contacted had answered to the questions considering the health, temperament etc of Airedales. These answers have also had a great value because according to them Airedale Terrier is still a healthy breed without any special problems.