Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

The Bulldog

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Bulldog History and origin:

Bulldogs were first used in England during the Middle Ages as baiters and fighters of bulls.  They were originally bred to have courage and tenacity similar to the Mastiff.  These early dogs were incredibly aggressive.  It was not until the 19th century that the present personable temperament was achieved.

Description:

The Bulldog stands 13 to 15 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 40 and 60 pounds.  He has a dense, powerful body, an extremely blunt muzzle, a pronounced under-bite, and a short, smooth shedding coat that requires regular brushing with a fairly stiff brush. The color may be brindle, white, fawn, red, or patched.

About the Bulldog:

The Bulldog is a courageous, intelligent, sweet, stubborn, incredibly strong dog that is filled with athletic enthusiasm.  Despite his ferocious appearance, this breed has a docile temperament.  He is extremely personable and loving, but because of his strength and enthusiasm, he is not always the best choice for the elderly or the disabled.  Though normally not aggressive, he may resist training because he has a stubborn streak left over from his bull-fighting days. The Bulldog needs training from early on, particularly in learning not to pull on the leash, not to jump up on people, and in general to contain his exuberance.  He is a fast-learner and loves taking part in games.  He loves children and  gets along well with strangers; just make sure he does not get overenthusiastic and knock your friends or your children with his bowling-ball body.  Training should start form puppy hood and should be firm and persistent.  You must gain adequate control of this eager, powerful, stubborn breed early in life.  The Bulldog is susceptible to respiratory problems.  He will snort and sneeze, spewing out undesirable secretions, usually while licking your face.  The Bulldog also snores.  In addition, the deep wrinkles on his face and forehead tend to get infected if not cleaned and powdered with cornstarch once a day.  Some Bulldogs may need eyelid surgery if a condition known as entropion sets in, causing the eyelids to turn in so that the eyelashes rub against the cornea.  This breed is also sensitive to extremes in temperature and can easily become overheated.  Finally, because of his heavy frame, the Bulldog can develop structural problems and arthritis later in life.  Do not take this dog jogging or let him get overweight.

Feeding:

Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 can (13.3oz) of high quality meaty product with biscuit added.  1 teaspoon of cod liver oil daily is recommended in winter.

Ideal home:

An apartment is fine provided this breed is exercised regularly.  The owner of a Bulldog should be an active, capable leader who desires a sweet, personable, vigorous dog that is good with family and friends.  Children are fine as long as no roughhousing is allowed. The elderly and the disabled may have difficulty dealing with this breed’s high level of enthusiasm; the Bulldog can be a very physical animal and, in his eagerness to play, may knock his owner down and cause an injury.  Time to train, exercise, and socialize thie Bulldog is important.

The Airedale

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Airedale History and origin:

Developed by crossing old English black and tan terrier with Otterhound bloodlines, the Airedale was first used in 19th century England for big game hunting, vermin killing, and police and military work. The breed is named after the valley of Aire in Yorkshire.

Description:

The tallest of the terriers, the Airedale stands 22 to 23 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 50 and 60 pounds. He has a strong, muscular, sturdy body and a wiry, non-shedding coat that requires daily grooming with a stiff brush and periodic clipping. Show dogs, however, need hand-stripping, a process that involves pulling dead hair out by hand to preserve the luster and hard texture of the coat. Color is normally black-and-tan, with some red and, less often, white markings.

About the Airedale:

This beautiful, strong, athletic breed exhibits all the tenacity and determination of a terrier, only in a larger package. The Airedale is stubborn and is often difficult to train. He learns slowly, so do not expect one to pick up on things as quickly as a German Shepherd or a Border Collie. The Airedale is active, sometimes flighty, and often sensitive to the demands of training. If an Airedale resists learning a certain command, the last thing you should do is get firmer with the dog. His resistance will only increase and could accelerate into panic. He should not be spoiled, either; a concise, incremental training technique needs to be implemented from puppy hood. Though affectionate with his owners, the Airedale tends to be suspicious of strangers and can show aggression toward people and dogs. He makes a great watchdog because of his territorial instinct. The Airedale cannot always discriminate between a friend and a stranger, however, and he may give your friends and your children’s friends a hard time. This breed is not recommended for families with young children. Early obedience training and lots of socialization with people and other dogs from an early age is mandatory.

Feeding Your Airedale

Recommended feeding for the Airedale is at least 1-1 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality dog food or the fresh meat equivalent everyday with biscuit added.

Ideal home:

A house with a fenced yard is essential for this breed. The owner of an Airedale should be a strong, confident leader who combines firm discipline with patience and precision. Persons considering this breed should desire a dog that has an active, tenacious temperament and is reserved with strangers. Nervous persons will create a pushy, obnoxious dog that lacks confidence. Overbearing types may bring out fear-aggressive behavior. The Airedale needs daily exercise and makes a good jogging partner because of his athletic physique. If left alone for long periods, he might become destructive and noisy. This breed has a high prey drive, so be careful around small animals. He may not tolerate the hectic, unpredictable behavior of young children. Older children are okay, provided they can gain the animal’s respect by working him in obedience. The elderly and the disabled may have trouble controlling this energetic, driven Airedale.

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