We expect puppies June 5th, 2021–plus or minus a day or two–from Seneca Perseverance (Perci), OFA Excellent, (PHOTO ABOVE) and CH Seneca Ochoco Pete UDX, OFA Good. This is the first time Perci, now a three year old, has ever had puppies and the very last time that we will ever see puppies from Pete; you see, Pete died many years ago and this is the last of stored frozen semen that we have hoarded, waiting for the right time.

While we wait, I am using this time to help you become more acquainted with the family has led up to this highly anticipated delivery. You may wonder why we care so much about the capital letters in front of the names and those that follow behind. What is the significance of  numbers listed behind AKC and OFA letters? What is a UDX? It means that some highly qualified experienced and educated people looked at the ancestors of your puppy in a dispassionate and unbiased manner.

Instead of “We love Fluffy *so much* that we just had to have puppies to share with EVERYBODY so they can validate our feelings!” type of breeding, these puppies are instead resulting from a body of experts of dogs in general and Airedales in particular reaching a consensus that, indeed, each is an outstanding specimen of an Airedale and worthy of continuing the breed as we exercise responsible stewardship.

Different experts have ascertained the ancestors’ appearance, temperament, and physical soundness (Championships), intelligence, physical soundness, and temperament (CD, CDX, UD, UDX, SchH, and Agility), genetic soundness (OFA, CERF, and longevity) and so on.

Furthermore, no dog ever achieved any of these accomplishments without the love, dedication, and huge amounts of time, money, and knowledge expended in providing the support needed to participate in these sports and activities. Please keep in mind that Pete was Yvonne’s FIRST dog in these sports and they taught each other everything! You don’t know what that means until you try it.

The sire:

CH Seneca Ochoco Pete UDX

AKC #  RM245710/03

CERF # 197/1999-13

OFA #AT-3161G30M  Good

Here’s a story about Pete as a young dog:

Fall, 2001:

To have a Champion, you have to show in conformation…here’s one experience:

The first time I tried it, I hated it.  Let’s see.  I spent days and hours pulling hair.  Not only was I a complete Novice at this dog thing BUT I had an Airedale Terrier—probably the hardest dog to get ready for show—I’ll spare you the details.   Suffice it to say, it involves hours of hand pulling to mere nths of hair in some places and carefully hand plucking single long hairs from other places.  And after all that pulling, and eyeballing and effort I go to the show and he still looks like a hayseed next to the other dogs—readied for show by professionals or owners working on their upteenth dog.  The whole ring thing passes by in a flash and you’re lucky if your dog is even looked at seriously by the judge.  And unlike obedience competition where the dog is truly judged and scored according to a standard, the judge in (the conformation) ring gives you nothing to help you out the next time.

After my first attempt I wrote a letter to the breeder telling her I was done with the whole thing and sorry….(breeder’s note: it was sort of funny too, but that wasn’t the end of it–read on….)

Now mind you I got Pete to train.  I always wanted to train a good dog and he is that, through and through.  He also happens to quite a nice looking Airedale and frankly I got tired of him being referred to as the obedience Airedale in the Airedale Club.  There was even one of those show folk types who insisted an obedience dog could not be a show dog.  In the larger scheme of things I wanted his breeder to get the recognition her breeding program deserves but in the small corners of my human heart I wanted people to give my dog his due!!

So I sent him to dog camp—that is to say a professional handler.  He was out and back in 12 weeks.  Champion Seneca’s Ochoco Pete CDX.

–Yvonne R., WA

Pete was one of three Airedales nationally to qualify for the 2005 Eukanuba Invitationals, FL. Pete was the oldest at 8 years of age.

Yvonne Rauch with Pete UDX (Left), Mary Law with Spice UDX (Center), and Alice Peterson with Tigger UDX (Right)

30 May, 2004

Well, we had a beautiful day out on the Lost River for our first day of field training. It was the third day of training for most…..The first part of the morning was introducing the labs and the dale to birds: pigeons, pheasant and duck. Some dogs took right to it. Others, mine included, had to deep sniff the birds and then be enticed to pick them up. Pete was quite puzzled by the whole thing and exhibited none of his usual retrieve drive.

The trainer told those of us whose dogs were less than enthusiastic not to start worrying and fretting; things would kick in.

We moved onto bumpers being tossed by someone stationed out in the field who also shot a small starter pistol. Pete clicked in and did an excellent job marking. We then moved to water where Pete could hardly stand the fact that other dogs were going before him. We did some of the longest water retrieves ever and he did not want to stop after three.

The last piece of training was shooting a bird for the dog to retrieve from “the line.” The dogs who had shown a bit more enthusiasm went first and I took one of the shot birds and did some refresher training while waiting our turn. I placed the bird in Pete’s mouth and told him to hold.

Then asked him to give and praised. I did that just a few times and then had Bob hold Pete while I stood a few feet in front of him, extending the bird.

“Hey Pete, Take it.” As soon as he strained against the collar he was released; he came and took the bird, praise, Hold, praise, Give. I then did a very short retrieve from my side. Then I had Bob, a short distance off, throw the bird and sent Pete out. The light went on and so did his drive.

We went to the line (all that obedience training also kicked in) and he did a beautiful retrieve.  …while he has always loved to retrieve, and has been known to bark on the go out or retrieve in the obedience ring, as soon as I took the bird, he wheeled in place, faced outward and barked at me, the line judge and (I swear!) the gunner in the field. Everyone agreed; he was given a second bird to retrieve.

The two trainers feel that he should be ready in August for his first NAHRA trial and started talking about beginning the work on multiple marks and directed hunting. He is so fun to watch…..

Sun, 27 Jun 2004

…Pete and I went off to Bend, OR this weekend to see what competing in Open B and Utility B might be like. This is one heck of a brag so please forgive…..We qualified in both each day, earning two UDX legs, three OTCH points, and on Sunday High Scoring Terrier and High in Combined. Quite a ride! I’m still somewhat stunned. And this was the good part–his scores and heeling got better with each performance, not worse as before.

Imagine what he could do if he had a really GOOD handler and trainer. I’d say field work has helped his outlook…..People kept coming by and saying: Wow! An Airedale! An intact male Airedale! Wow.

The paternal grandsire:

Luckyboy von Abendstern SchH III (64 times), FH II German Import

AKC # RM213151/01

AT-2471E122M  Excellent (at 10.5 years of age)

Lucky, the sire of working offspring in Germany, is a product of many generations of East German working dogs.  This indicates that a very high priority for temperment, health, and soundness was applied in the breeding progams that produced him consistently, over a period of over 30 years.

Physically, Luckyboy was in excellent condition at the age of 11 years.  He last competed in the intensely physical sport of Schutzhund on the weekend of July 4th, 1997 with a score of 280 from a possible score of 300.  He was qualified for the all-breed national working trials to be held in fall, 1997 which complicated his purchase, as he could not go if he came to the USA.

Genetically, Luckyboy offers a rare outcross to American breeders.  He especially possesses great substance, excellent coat color, and soundness-front and rear.   His head excells in the flat planes of the top of the skull with a full semi-circle of backskull, small dark eye, and correct bite with but one missing pre-molar (P4).  His health and obvious vigor at his advanced age is impressive and a factor in my interest in the line.

The paternal granddam:

Seneca Jasmine

AKC#RM133842/01 OFA AT-2463G29F Good

Her  full sisters include:

CH Seneca Foxy of Ohuivo CDX, NA, NAJ  (CH title from Bred-By classes (BBE), 3X National Specialty winner of BBE, & Best Junior in Sweeps, performance class winner)

OFA # 2401E25F Excellent, CERF # AT-164/96-21

CH Seneca Brave Chance, Finished from the Bred-by classes with 3 majors

OFA AT-2089 Fair, CERF # AT-139/95-27

U-CD U-CH MACH CH Seneca Darby Life O’ The Party MHV UD AGI AGII PAX2 MXP7 MJP9 RA FDCH, Specialty winner and versatile agility dog, first MACH in breed history OFA AT-2104G30F Good