My son is thinking about this breed coming into his family. He has a little interest in bird hunting and I know a little about the breed as far as hunting badgers, etc.

Any of you guys own an airdale and use it for bird hunting? I know the breed is very loyal and a great protector of home and family.

I do no own a airdale,but a friend of mine owns several.They have strong prey drive. There is a group who breed and test for hunting skills. They point track and retrieve.
They are very bold dogs. If you want one who hunts besure of who you get a pup from and ask to see the parents hunt.

JD

They do track and retrieve but they do not "point" since they are terrier. Best bet would be out of North Fork, California.

Norseman they do point,I did not want to beleive it either. I took a frien out who has one she has been showing and doing utility work with. First time out it showed a little preydrive and did flash point before jumping in. There is a web site about hunting airdales but I lost the link. They are fiesty dogs to say the least.
JD

They are pretty much a one person dog. I had a 100 pounder and loved him to death. I trained him to flush and retrieve. He did ok but wasn't worth a shit. I had a german shepard as a kid that was far better. My Airdale would retrieve ducks and he was hilarious to watch dive in the water and flounder about to get the duck. But he would do it. When he was young he would take showers with me.

I think they are a cross between an otter hound, water spaniel, and terrior. Can't rememeber. But they are fearless. Mine loved to kill house cats, and would take on all comers. He died of a heart attack and I buried him in the back yard.

FWIW, Airdales are run frequently with a pack of lion or bear hounds. Despite their normal good nature, they are ready for any inturder, interloper, or whatever. They can be counted on to play in a family like other dogs or defend their family. They are not bred as guard dogs but they are outstanding at this....so I'm told.

When I was about 4 years old our neighbor owned an Airdale and I played with him all the time. I guess you could say they "walk softly and carry a big stick"....as T.R.liked to say.

I've learned that there's a breeder about 2 hours from here that has a litter on the ground now....and the breeder selectively breeds for 'hunt' in her dogs. Pretty interesting to see.

I hunt coyotes with a good friend of mine who's been using them for years as decoys. They quickly convert to a tracking dog should we wound a coyote and it's a quick death for the coyote should he be alive when we reach him. I've found them to be extremely courageous and tough.

Mine is just now six months old and quickly turning into my favorite. A loveable sweetheart around the home and kids but a snarling tornado of teeth when I drag out a coyote hide for her to play with.

Can't figure it out .....why I like this breed so much...their looks for sure but maybe it's because they remind me of Teddy Roosevelt..speak softly and carry a big stick.

Thanks for the heads up to the breeder.