Great news!

[hicntry]

Great news! I think we have finally got the National breed club(show people) where we want them. They fired all 26 members of the hunting working committee last weekend. All good people. I was talking to the fired president of that committee and told him to keep them all together and the hunting people will start a new working organization. This is the best thing to happen to the working airedale in 100 years. It is so good that I am having thank you cards printed up with my picture and dogs (all out of standard) so I can send them to all the officers of the National Breed Club.....to show my appreciatiion of course.

[orhunter]

Glad you were there to take charge. Means good thing in the future......

[hicntry]

There is a lot to work out but I think we can really bring the interest up if we can stage more events across the country instead of just back east. I know soon as things are set up, I am going to automatically require a membership in the new club for anyone purchasing a pup from me. I am pretty sure that will become come the thing to do for most. I pledged a cashdonation of more than I can afford to start things off, and, just to create something new, I will present a 10th or 11th generation pup the the breeder that has contibuted the most to the club that seriously participates in testing his pups(sucessfully because it should be bred to a dog that has some potential.... and of course, when serious people see what kind of pups these dogs are capable of producing, they just may dig deep to buy one.LOL)). These particular pups I won't sell with a full registration to any one and they couldn't afford them if I did.
I figure to take a six mo old pup, title it, and present it already titled. rather than bring it home. They, in turn would donate a pup back to the club. from the first breeding. I cringe at the thought of donating one of these pups but, hopefully by setting the mark, people will step up to the plate. No guarantee's but it is worth a shot. Don't know what will happen yet because I think there may be a few lawsuits coming from the breed club.

[terryg]

problem you could run into is the akc code that says only one club can represent the breed through akc.

it could put your registrations in jeopardy but that may be just the price of doing business.

i'll look forward to hearing of your progress!

after all . look what navdha did in less than 20 years!

[orhunter]

Yea, look what NAVHDA did. Went from testing good hunting dogs to testing good test dogs.......

[hicntry]

This should have no bearing on AKC. It is a dog club that intends to preserve the hunting airedale. Under the show watch it was put into the terrier class years ago without any objection. They can be the AKC club. Makes no difference to me....as long as they are not in the position to hold the working aspect down. I think this move by the ATCA may be their biggest mistake. I figure they will lose at least 20% of their present membership and no telling how many future memberships will go to preserving the hunting aspect of the airedale. They have pretty much convinced a lot of people it is a show dog, but, even non hunters are waking up and, even though they don't hunt, want the dog preserved for what it was known for.....and that isn't prancing around a ring with a $500 cover up hair do. As far as the AKC, they are all registered dogs. ATCA membership is nothing...I have never been a member. They have quite a screening process to become a member also. Two members in good standing have to recomend you and it takes months for a board meeting to go over your applications etc. Just being funny once, I asked the now fired H/W committee chairman to be one of the sponsors. He simply told me he had some power in the club, but, that for him to sponsor me would be the kiss of death for him in the club. Exact words When he said that, I was tickled pink because with those words, I knew what a big thorn in the side I was to those show people that did not want to see the airedale's hunting ancestory preserved.

[hicntry]

Waarheid, I think it is quite the contrary. To me, it is like hitting the lottery. The H/W will continue as a separate club. Years ago the UKC implemented an airedale program...no one supported it and it fizzeled out. A clear case of putting the cart before the horse. They had AKC judges at one of the events a few years ago to show how good the airedales were. 40 out of 40 failed the junior fur track because they think hunting is about training. Why did they fail? Because the judge would not let the handle walk the track with them. The dogs wouldn't go alone. I think there is a much better chance to bring the dogs back up to par with a club dedicaged soley to the working abilities and not controlled by show folks that wished they would just disappear. I see this as a great day for the airedale.

[hicntry]

"So what I am really asking is:
"Is my understanding about the UKC being required to have only parent-club approved programs correct... or can the UKC act on behalf of the Airedale and create a field program without the ATCA approving?"

That I don't know the ins and outs of that Matthew. I don't think, after being at the nationals, they are ready to compete and there are few people seriously hunting the breed. This break was a now or never deal as I see it. Steve Gilbert, one of the founders of H/W knows the man in charge at the UKC so, if that door is open, I am sure it will be investigated.I had a lengthy discussion with the UKC man in charge about 2 years ago and, at that time, H/W was part of the ATCA. I was told because of previous the experience with airedale, it would be unlikely they would be willing to start another program. I think Maugh Vail is running her dale on retrieving under UKC but not sure of the particulars. I think it is a matter of time to where the ATCA will be history if we get another club started. People are seeing the handwriting on the wall. Show oriented people will always drag the working dog down.

The bottom line is, we are going to have to get a new club up and successfully running first or nothing is going to be of much consequence.

[DK1]

Wow, Hicntry - keep us all updated on how things progress! Congrats!