Checklist on Finding An Airedale Breeder

What are the most important facts to know about finding the right breed for your family, locating a breeder with quality puppies, and making all the decisions that go with adding a new member to the family. Should it be an Airedale Terrier? Where do you find a good one and what should a buyer watch out for? When you consider the years of companionship an Airedale will provide, it is just good sense to carefully research and prepare for the purchase. Read a book or two (or ten!) and keep a written account of the information provided by people you talk to or call. Remember, there is no quality control organization for pets, and each breeder has individual standards of cleanliness, quality, and care. Take nothing for granted and use this checklist.

The Breeder:
-Start a notebook and use one page to write about each breeder you call or correspond with. This will help you know where you found your information.
-Have you thought about your interests and goals for an Airedale? Does the breeder ask about your needs and expectations?
-Does the breeder have experience-not just years owning Airedales, but involvement in a wide variety of activities with dogs? Are they currently active?
-Do they have formal education in genetics, animal care, canine behavior, and its modification? Can they give you good advice?
-Do they have references from people with their puppies doing the same activities you would expect from your future puppy?
-Do they offer information about grooming, training, and suggested reading? Do they take back older dogs? Are they responsible?
-Does the breeder honestly answer your questions, briefly and to the point? Do they try to change the subject or to justify a lack of socialization, written guarantees, or hip and eye certifications in their program?
-Do you feel comfortable talking to the breeder? Do they have the dog's best interests in mind? Can you call for supportive information and advice as your puppy grows? Trust your instincts!

The Puppy's Parents:
-Were they mated as the best possible choice for each other, to produce the best possible puppies? Was the sire selected for his local availablity and low cost or for the quality of his puppies? (Ask the breeder if they are planning to keep one)
-Have the parents been rigorously screened for good health: thyroid normal, eyes certified by CERF, hips x-rayed and, if over 2 years of age, OFA Certified?
-Are they of stable, sound temperament? Is it proven by living in the house with a family, or earning obedience titles?
-Has either parent earned an AKC Championship? Remember the value of an unbiased observer evaluating the temperament, health, and care of your future puppy's parents.
-Is the mother there to be seen if you visit? Any other relatives to the puppies) half-brothers or sisters, aunts, uncles, etc.)? If the sire is a far-distant champion, don't penalize the breeder for choosing the best possible sire for the litter. Ask about what the sire's offspring are like and ask to see photos.

The Puppies...are the last thing you should look at. All puppies are cute and tend to cause us to make a decision from the heart. So ask the questions above before you see the puppies.
-Are they clean and raised in the house? Are they well socialized by daily interaction around people? Is there a full worming and vaccination schedule started?
-Is there a written guarantee and is it explained on your request?
-Do they use a Puppy Aptitude Test with results available? Does the breeder make a knowledgeable effort to match a puppy to your lifestyle and expectations?
-Do the puppies leave before 7 weeks of age? It is considered best to wait until after the puppies are 7 to 8 weeks old.
-Do the puppies have a kit that includes food, care instructions, information on supplies, grooming, training, and important organizations and AKC application to registration, pedigree, and a receipt or bill of sale?
-The more knowledgeable you are, the better puppy you will find.

How to Select a Puppy

An overview of the history of aptitude testing.

How to set up to do the test.

How to evaluate the results of the test in regard to the owner's goals and lifestyle.

Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT)

Social Attraction-degree of attraction to people
METHOD: Place pup in testing area 4 feet from tester, who kneels and coaxes puppy to her/him with happy voice (puppy should not be attracted by excessive movements)

1 Comes readily, jumps, bites
2 Comes readily, tail up, paws, licks at hands
3 Comes readily, tail up
4 Comes readily, tail down
5 Comes hesitantly, tail down
6 Does not come at all

Following-degree of willingness to follow human leadership
METHOD: Stand up and walk away from puppy with small steps, encouraging verbally

1 Follows readily, tail up, gets underfoot, bites at feet
2 Follows readily, gets underfoot
3 Follows readily, tail up
4 Follows readily, tail down
5 Follows hesitantly, tail down
6 No follow or went away

Retrieve-degree of willingness to work with humans. High correlation between ability to retrieve and successful guide dogs, obedience dogs, and field trial dogs.
METHOD: Attract pup's attention with paper ball. When he is watching, toss 4 feet away.

1 Chases object, picks it up; runs away
2 Chases object, stands over it, does not return
3 Chases object, picks it up and returns to tester
4 Chases object, returns w/o object
5 Starts to chase; loses interest
6 Does not chase

Restraint-Degree of dominance or submission. Response to social
or physical dominance
METHOD: Gently roll the pup on its back and hold for 30 seconds

1 Struggles fiercely, flails, bites
2 Struggles fiercely, flails
3 Settles, struggles, settles with eye contact
4 Slight struggle, then settles
5 No struggle, tail tucked
6 No struggle, strains to avoid eye contact

Social dominance-degree of acceptance of human social dominance. How "forgiving" the pup is.
METHOD: Pup sits at a 45 degree angle to tester. Tester strokes pup and puts his/her face low and close to pup

1 Jumps, paws, bites, growls
2 Jumps, paws, bites, licks
3 Cuddles up to tester, tries to lick face
4 Sits quietly, accepts petting, nudges or licks hands
5 Rolls over, no eye contact
6 Goes away and stays away

Elevation Dominance-Degree of accepting dominance while in position of no control
METHOD: Cradle the pup under its belly, finger interlaced, and elevate just off ground for 30 seconds

1 Struggles fiercely, bites
2 Struggles
3 No struggle, relaxed, tail wags
4 No struggle, relaxed
5 No struggle, tense
6 No struggle, froze, tail and rear legs tense

Touch Sensitivity-degree of sensitivity to touch
METHOD -Take webbing of one front foot and press between finger and thumb lightly, gradually increasing pressure on a scale from 1-10. Stop as soon as the puppy shows discomfort.

1 9-10 counts before response
2 7-8 counts before response
3 5-6 counts before response
4 3-4 counts before response
5 1-2 counts before response

Sound Sensitivity-degree of sensitivity to sound.
METHOD-Place pup in center of testing area and make a sharp noise a few feet away. A large metal spoon struck sharply on a metal pan twice works well.

1 Locates sound, walks towards it
2 Locates sound, barks
3 Locates sound, shows curiosity, walks towards it
4 Locates the sound
5 Cringes, backs off, hides
6 Ignores sound, shows no curiosity

Chase Instinct-Degree of response to moving chase object.
METHOD-Tie a string around a towel and drag it in front of the puppy from left to right.

1 Looks, attacks, bites
2 Looks, barks, tail-up
3 Looks curiously, attempts to investigate
4 Looks, does not go forward, tail down
5 Runs away, hides
6 Ignores, shows no curiosity

Stability-Degree of intelligent response to strange object
METHOD-Place pup in center of testing area. Closed umbrella is held 4 feet away and pointed perpendicular to the direction the puppy faces. The umbrella is opened and set down so the pup can investigate.

1 Walks forward, tail up, bites
2 Walks forward, tail up, mouths
3 Walks forward, attempts to investigate
4 Looks curiously, stays put
5 Goes away, tail down, hides
6 Ignores, shows no curiosity

Energy Level-Degree of physical energy
METHOD-Observe pup on the other sub-tests and score according to most frequent activity observed. Check with breeder for confirmation of your observations.

HIGH- Continually runs, pounces, wiggles, paws
MEDIUM- Mostly trots, occasionally runs, pounces, wiggles
LOW- Walk, sits quietly, remains in position usually
STRESS- Stands rigidly, eyes roll, tail down, ears back