esrosedotblog

Our search for a new airedale to share our life is getting close to a conclusion.

I hope.

Friday, we are going to Las Vegas to visit Mikey who is 7 years old and in need of a home.

He would be staying at the same place that we got Booker six years ago.

We are excited.

It has been too long without a canine friend.

Well, four months. That is a long time in dog years!

We don't know a lot but this is a good thing. We never did get a thorough history of our wonderful Booker who passed the end of April. And while he came without references, he did have a good month of observation by the rescue people who are pretty careful about these things.

I am not sure whether he will remain Mikey or not. That is up to him and to us.

It is a bit exciting and a little scary. An important event in all our lives, Mikey included.

Otherwise, things are quiet. John is settled after his Italian journey and my travels simmered down a long time ago.

Now on to the next phase.

No photos of Mikey but all airedales look the same from a distance. It is in the close ups that they endear and enchant, each in its own way.

Labels: Airedale, dog

We are activating our search for a new dog to join our family.

So far there is one positive sighting. An eight year old Aire-boy in Albuquerque NM. More than a one day drive away.

He is a handsome guy and lives in a kennel now. His human who is/was older got too sick to keep him.

We heard from him through our friend Rusty who has an airedale rescue operation with a few other people. Southwest Airedale Terrier Rescue (SWAT!).

He is just on the top side of our age range. Eight. But he is a handsome guy and so we are pursuing the next steps. Rusty is going to be in Albuquerque next week for her work and will go visit with him. I am thinking she might bring him back to her place in Las Vegas.

I don't know. We have not taken it that far.

But it is encouraging to know there are airedales out there. If Ace does not work out we will probably not hold out for another airedale much longer. We will go for another related breed like a welsh terrier who are half the size but marked just the same.

It is a hopeful sign though.

Just taking it a step at a time.

Labels: Airedale, dogs

We have put out the signals that we are looking for another dog.

Airedale, preferably, but I am hurting so from being dog-less I would take almost everything. Well, that is not true. But a Welsh Terrier or similar.

We had started out thinking that we would get a smaller dog to replace our beloved Booker. That doesn't seem so important now.

Particularly in the sudden appearance of an older Airedale, Ace! He is in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Is 8 years old and is a big boy. 90 pounds. Same thing.

It is my uninformed opinion that the days of the 45 pound airedale are over. A guy out here tried to breed hundred pounders and the genes got out. Booker was big. All of them seem big now. I did see a female at 40 recently. Already adopted. They go fast.

So, the wheels are in motion. As it happens, our friend Rusty is going to be in Albuquerque next week. Rusty is our trusted rescue dog expert. We got Booker through her.

So the process will unfold.

We could not get a better helper than Rusty.

It is happening. I knew it would. And just two days after John went off to Sicily for three weeks. Maybe we will have another trip for him to make when he gets back.

Labels: Airedale, Booker, dog

WAR PLAY

You know, Airedales were bred to fight otters and other varmints.

In this case, the war has become a ritual and pretty much fun.

I love how the otter goes through the gate to "get away" and then swoops back in for some more fun.

They say that the relationship grew over a few months and the otter returns for a session every evening.

Labels: Airedale, animals

BEST IN SHOW BOOKER

This is all to the well and good but when it comes to the real deal, we vote for Booker. This loads slowly but it does come up.

He has personality to burn and he wouldn't put up with any of this prancing shit.

We wonder what these dogs do for fun.

Although, there is a bit of Airedale independence in a few of these guys even as they do their best to conform. An itch, a toss of the head. A bit of sassiness. You can see it on the sidelines. Skip ahead to the winner. He is rather obvious from the get go.

Labels: Airedale, Booker

AIREPUPPY GOODNESS

The photography is a little shaky but when you are trying to "get" five Airedale puppies you are bound to shake and wiggle a lot.

Labels: Airedale

FAMILY AFFAIR

Last night, when Booker and I left for our evening walk we saw some dogs up the street and realized that they were Airedales. Two people, a mom and son, were walking them.

As it turned out, they were two Airedale puppies. Well, adolescents. They were 6 months old, bro and sis. Gawky like colts.

They loved Booker and he was kind to them, although he did do some of the older dog scolding that we often see with him. "Get back kid, quiet down". But here it was even more pronounced.

Lectured to behave in a fitting family way.

They were gorgeous. Full of piss and vinegar.

John was just leaving for a Meeting and so we all visited and gloried in "owning" an Airedale. They are very special, a breed apart, so their humans tend to think that they are superior too in making the choice to live with these beautiful beings.

There is nothing more boring than to hear a bunch of Airedale fans going on and on about their friends.

These Airedales live several blocks over the other side of Sunrise, a main thoroughfare.

We have another Airedale in the complex, Jake, and he and Booker have met. They were reserved but friendly.

We don't know if Airedales recognize each other or not. We would like them to. I know that there is a difference in Terriers interacting but that might just be a characteristic of the breed rather than recognition.

Booker's best friends here are his size. Some one that you can run around in circles with. The smaller dogs are a little more careful and sometimes yappy. He has no patience for that. The same way he was impatient with the youngsters we were visiting with last night.

We have never met anyone who had two same age siblings before. It happens a lot.

When we got our first dog, Franklin, we had the idea that we might get two but the breeder discouraged us from doing it. She believed that they would bond to one another and dilute control of the human. I think we may have seen a bit of that last night. I am glad that we just have had one at a time.

Airedales are very independent and even though these people loved their dogs and all, there was an issue of control. The two pups were a handful.

But the people and the Airedales didn't seem to mind and that is what counts.

Very nice.

Airedales. Find one to live with. You will have a happier life.

Labels: Airedale, Booker

LEAPIN' LIZARDS

Booker has a strong "prey instinct". We are wary of his intentions off the leash as a result.

We are even wary of his intentions on the leash. When he sees some prey, rabbits or those awful ground squirrels, he takes off and we have to be ready.

But we are experienced leash holders and dog handlers so we are seldom surprised.

Except when he gets into his latest obsession. Lizards.

He is on the case in the yard. On his toes, up and alert, a burst of speed and, goddam, they got away again.

We are waiting for the day that one doesn't get away but, in the meantime, it is still in the "dry run" category of chasing.

Out on the leash he can do the same. The problem is that he sees them before we do.

He has been doing research and, I have watched this, he can sniff them out.

Aren't lizards cold blooded?

Anyway it is a new angle on our life with an Airedale.

Fun but surprising.

Labels: Airedale, Booker

AIREDALE CONNECTIONS

Our friend has a friend who is in the terrier rescue effort so she was quite interested in our experience getting Booker and the way it has worked out so well. He told her about it. She knew our coordinator. All that.

He mentioned to us that she would be in Palm Springs this weekend and maybe our paths would cross.

OK. There are 10,000 people visiting PS this weekend. Maybe my paths will cross with two of them if I am not careful but that is about it.

Last night, Booker and I set out for our routine evening walk.

After four weeks, he has gotten a pretty good idea of the area and all the options that, at least we are willing to tell him, are available. He is beginning to take the lead just as Franklin did.

This makes for a lot more interesting walk for all concerned. I would guess that there are at least 15 possible walks with small variations make that way more than 15.

So off we go.

You know how this is going to go don't you?

Well, hear me out.

We went out to El Portal and down to Mesa and then north to Crestview turning East across South Palm and then to Twin Palms (are you lost yet? We are at Lyons Inn or whatever it is. Then along Twin Palms to the motels and north on Palo Fierro between the old Motel 6 and the new Ace and, now this gets different, across East Palm Canyon because there was no, none on a weekend, traffic and continued north on Palo Fierro.

Let me tell you here that I never, ever go across E. Palm in the evening walk because of the traffic but John and Booker go all the time in the morning.

Booker more than knows the way. Totally. So that is what B wanted and the traffic seas parted and that is where we went.

Booker still leading. We get a couple of blocks and turn east towards the big Biltmore grass mounds which Booker, like Franklin, enjoys a great deal. Go up and down the hills, eat grass, roll around maybe although not tonight.

Somewhere in that last block before the grassy mounds, a grey van stopped. I think we had seen it before. A woman gets out and says "Is that Booker?". Booker raises his head and gawks. Raises a paw and says "here!". She comes across and asks if I am Earl or John and I say, "duuhh, Earl". I raise my hand too. You know I am a social butterfly.

I know that you guessed already. It was our friend's friend, the Terrier lady!

Booker found her.

Although I must say that once he found her he wasn't too nice to her. He mostly rooted in the bushes and then, bored to the ears, tried to go on the walk while we were talking. Not even sitting impatiently at the end of the leash or, the new trick, barking at us to get going. A scold.

I thought this was pretty good.

A minor miracle. Or something like that.

It turns out that she was staying at a place midway between the house and where we met. A mile.

But the timing.

Well, not to make too much of it. It was nice. Airedale talk and then on with our lives.

We didn't take much time to talk but we wouldn't have even if Booker was sitting patiently. I would have been the antsy one.

Labels: Airedale, Booker

AIRE BORNE

We got Booker's photos today.

He got groomed and posed for several shots.

Here he is looking back to the past before he faces the future.

He is a handsome dude.

They say that he is a "good boy" and is very easy going. All the pictures seem to say that loud and clear.

He sees the vet on Wednesday and will have to be neutered. All the shots. A microchip. Blood workup.

Then, he will be ready to come to Palm Springs.

If the vet stuff goes well, it seems that he is ours. And we are his. A good deal all around.

The label has been "Airedale" and, from now on, will be "Booker".

It is interesting that none of this excitement alters the sadness or the feelings about Franklin.

It is pretty clear that Booker is not a replacement for Franklin but will stand beside him in our hearts.

A very nice note from a very good friend said this:

Here’s a perspective that may help with your feelings over getting another dog. In a way, it’s the highest compliment you can pay Franklin. He added so much joy to your lives you want to duplicate that with another dog. Franklin showed you what’s possible and now you don’t like living without that dimension in your lives. To choose not to get another dog would be saying Franklin wasn’t all that great so why bother with another one.

Labels: Airedale, Booker

AIREDALE LULL

We don't have a lot of progress as far as the rescue Airedale is concerned.

The behavioral evaluation is pretty much over. Booker is said to be "a good boy" and to be an easy going guy.

Can't ask for more than that.

He is set for the vet, a physical, shots and other procedures as necessary, on Tuesday. Sometime this week he will be groomed and there will be photos to look at.

The foster mom / rescue coordinator had to work this week and so she got slowed down.

We are not good at waiting. Well, I am not. Speaking for myself.

I want the process to be over and for Booker to be here with us.

We definitely get the impression that he is ours at the end of the process.

That is a good thing.

We like the woman who we are working with very much.

She seems to like us.

You can see that I am being cautious. I am a little shaky and don't want rejection but, also, I want the process to work for us. For him to be healthy and have a good medical start as well as for us to face any difficulties that might be evident at this point.

So I will be patient. As I can.

Labels: Airedale

HIS NAME IS "BOOKER"

Another step towards an Airedale rescue dog.

The coordinator is planning to get him to a groomer (before she will send a picture) and the vet. He gets a full workup physical as well as all shots and a microchip. If he hasn't been neutered (he has to be doesn't he?) he will be.

We realized that we didn't know the name of this five year old prospect! We asked. And found that his name is "Booker" which we love.

So far so good. We have a feeling that we are on the right track. We like our coordinator a lot. She has been very open with us.

It is not too hard to get ahead of ourselves in this project and so, as usual, we are trying to take it a day at a time and doing the next indicated thing.

Labels: Airedale

IN WAITING

No news from the Airedale Rescue team today. It is going to move slowly. Not good for impatient people like us.

It took us two weeks to apply and then want instant results.

I think that the deliberation is a good thing. I am glad that they do it.

We have read a lot of stories of people who have adopted Airedales through this process and it is all good. There are bumps for sure. Some dogs are badly marred by early experiences but they place accordingly. It is a quite transparent process.

We think that the five year old, now in Las Vegas, is a candidate for us and we think our coordinator thinks so too. I like the symmetry. His owner died. Franklin died.

We will see.

The thing we are learning is that signing up for another Airedale is not a block to our mourning Franklin.

It is also getting clear that this dog will be his own animal and that he will have a separate place in our lives.

He will not be required to replace Franklin. We will have our own three way life together.

I worry that they will worry about our age.

We already decided that if this does not work out, and we don't know why it should not, we will head for the shelter. Or another Airedale puppy.

There is a dog in our future. And we hope for an Airedale.

Labels: Airedale

SIGNED UP

We are in the process with adopting an older Airedale.

The focus changed from Phoenix to a coordinator in Las Vegas (actually closer) who we will work with.

We have sent in a rather exhaustive questionnaire and email "talked" with the coordinator. Also a phone call. We like her a lot.

She just got a five year old "Aire boy" whose owner died recently. He is from Reno. She seems to be asking if that is what we are looking for.

I gave an unequivocal "yes". Short of his medical workup which he is to get soon and a picture, he sounds just right.

There could also be other dogs at other coordinators (also foster parents) in the Southwest.

We have talked to some family and friends about it and we have nothing but encouragement.

I even talked to Franklin's vet this morning to give him a heads up that they would call him as a reference.

It is two weeks today that he has been gone. Time moves quickly but the grieving does not. Nor should it.

The advent of a new dog adds color and excitement to the current scene but it in no way erases or fills the hole left by our beautiful boy.

Labels: Airedale, Franklin

SIGNING UP

I think we have decided that we need a dog in our life.

And, we want another Airedale. We love the personality and the beauty of the breed.

We have come to terms with the fact that there will not be another Franklin. Nor would we want there to be. That would minimize him.

We are probably going to apply for an Airedale rescue dog. The outfit is quite large, in Phoenix.

They put you through the wringer to match the dogs (or refuse). We figure it would take time and we are more or less ready to take the plunge. We are now pretty clear we don't want a puppy (unless we have to) if we can get a good rescue.

The stories of people who have done it are on this site. Click on any picture. There are six pages of them. There are a lot of detailed experience with rescue, warts and all. Not everyone was a full bore success but all have a happy ending. I appreciate the honesty.

The dogs are all thoroughly screened and medically "complete", shots and all. A microchip. Neutered. No serious behavioral problems. Most live in foster homes before adoption.

We figure no less than three years old and, probably, not an older, older one.

We will fill out the form and then wait for the next indicated action.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The only concern has been that we might be covering up feelings but, since I had a pretty good cry this morning in the middle of this, that is probably not the case. And, if it is, to some extent, so what?

I have this feeling of wanting to help out another Airedale and myself at the same time. That seems good to me. Then we bond and we are helping each other.

Labels: Airedale, life