Airedales

[desertdog]

There's a breeder in Flagstaff with good hunting stock; Matt Thom, Mogollon Rim Airedales.

[Lil Joes BigGame hounds]

A couple of my friends bought dogs from Mat Thom. All though they never really used there dogs for hunting they were damn sure gamey.
One of the dogs turned out to be a real nice dog and had tons of stamina. My buddy would road that dog over 20 miles a day while feeding cows. It was by the dogs own choice to run that far since she didnt ever want to ride in the pick up. She was a short haired dog and would tear into anything you sicked her on. But was never ill on another dog. If I knew I could get a dog like her I would do it in heart beat. I think that dog would have made a great hunting dog.
She died before she would hold still long enough to get bred. Man she was a character.

[stretch]

i have 6 airedales at this time 3 are from matt thom's line he has and breeds slick's and longcoats as you can get both in the same litter ,the slicks are short coated airedales no different than the long coat's work wise just a lot less time to look after as you don't need to cut there fur in the summer ,i have long and short coated and did when i lived in canada 'they are good in the cold and sun , in snow another thing good with slick's is there feet do not ball up with snow like the long coat's ,i would also like to add this about airedales the reason i think the airedales will not cold track much is i believe there brains they just know they can get to game faster on a hot track ,these dogs are so smart (to smart at times) if you own one you will know what i mean
Ian

[Rigger]

Thanks for the info? I am itching to get one real bad.
I haven't talked to him but on his web site it said he didn't
have anything available right now. So if someone knows of
anyone else I would appreciate it.

[Cowboyvon]

You might try over on the coyote gods forum... John Henry got his from Matt and there are a couple of guys that are on there that have the same stuff. I had a half Airedale from John Henry and half hound for a while but I lost her but I have 2 3/4 Hound 1/4 Airedales that I really like

[Hermit]

also ask on the traditional working airdale site as the hunters go onto both
Ian

[stevemac]

A good friend of mine has a airedale, stag x hes only 9mnths at this stag so he was just allowed to tag along this season just gone. for a pup though he is as smart as any pup ive seen maybe even smarter and his determinaton for any thing he does is quite amazing. He took him out to spot light a few bunnys the other night and he caught 6 out of seven runs.
looking forward to next season when he will be one to watch and see how he comes on.

[kcbearcat]

My airedale has run of the place at home and won't be left behind going hunting. He has great endurance brains and grit. Mine (partner) isn't quite as wired as some i have seen, but he is a great addition to my pack. He has a medium nose but makes up for it in brains and always is in the middle of the action. He is a pretty good tree dog but you can't really expect out of them what you expect out of your hounds. They are terriers. I won't ever be without one. Partner has saved my hounds from getting tore up many times. He is the first one to get fur in his mouth and has a nack for fully occupying a critters attention, with a mouthful of their neck hide, with out ever getting touched. Lions in culverts or bayups or lions that jump and get wounded or the ones that just won't tree are all situations that he earns his keep.
As to the coat, partner has a very long coat but I keep it trimmed up all but in the cold of the winter. Snow balls can be an issue in wet snow but he will chew the snow off if they get bad.
He ain't much to listen to but neither are a lot of other tree dogs I guess. Their was another fellow I know up here that was running a couple of airedales with his pack of hounds and one big 100 lb male that was a heck of a hunting dog I understand, decided that the cat tree was his and killed the hounds. Partner is not cross in any way to my dogs but other fellows' hounds don't quite know how to take him. He is super as a family dog and has A+ manners and disposition.
I won't ever not have one. Only mistake I made was cutting him, but then maybe that is why he has such a great disposition?
not the greatest pictures



when he was a puppy

[LCK]

I had ONE exceptionally great Airedale years ago. I guided duck, goose, pheasant hunters with him. I also treed or caught coon, bobcat, lion and bear with this dog. He caught and killed more varmits than I can count. He would run, catch, kill and retrieve red fox, has done so on many occasions. This dog did not have an ill bone in his body, but would not back down from any fight, just never started one. Darby earned me a lot of tips while guiding bird hunters. He was great around the house, patient with my kids who were toddlers back then, and cautious of strangers, but not growly, he just kept an eye on them when at the house.

He had border collie smarts. He trailed heads up and on a full out run. He got killed on the road. I went through 4 more Airdales all of which were culls, then I gave up trying.

[Rigger]

Thanks for the info. I have been trying to get a hold of Matt
It sounds like to me his dogs have been producing some good
stuff. I was wondering are the Females less aggressive towards
other dogs. The last thing i want is to walk into a tree with a
bunch of dead dogs. I hunt with a number of different people.
So how well will they mesh with new dogs on a race?

[bearyooper]

I have one. I did some research on Vaughn Plotts. I contacted Bob Plott and asked my friend Rich Hare to ask his good friend and Vaughn's former hunting partner Bud Lyon. According to Rich, Bud said Plott hunted with airedales prior to hunting with Bud, prior to 1950. Bob Plott thought that Vaughn hunted only females and his last one was named Hazel. All were thought to have been killed by bear. Not sure about history as stories become distorted. I have one out of Matt Thoms and Henry Johnson bloodlines. It's 18 months old and like others mentioned very smart! It made a few bear races this season. Runs track, opens once and a while if hot. Very fast and strong! Did as well as a young hound. I turned him on coyotes alone and he can run them as well. His treeing skills are weak but his experiance is also. He was on a couple bear bays. I could not get to them to watch but I tried like he'll. A real interesting breed. Time will tell but so far I got more than expected!

[swk]

I've got one that's 11 months old, I really like him. I don't have nearly the hound experience many of you have but I feel this dog has as much desire as any other hunting dog I've ever owned. Like many others said, he's smart, I can let him run loose in the yard and he'll stick around yet be ready to go hunting at a moments notice. Very game, starting to track, hasn't treed yet and gets along real well with all the other dogs including my growly jagd.
The traditional working terrier site is a good place for more info. I'm not a moderator but a member and if it's not out of place I'd sure welcome any hunting airedale people to join, we could use more input from those out in the woods with their airedales.

Stevemac- I've heard numerous times good things about the airedale x stag crosses. If you or anyone else has more to add to their experience with this cross please post it.

Another cross I'd like to hear more about is the airedale x jagd. I know about the german heideterrier, I'd like to hear more about this cross on coon, coyote, big game what have you.

Steve

[Rigger]

I have been trying to get a hold of Matt Thom but
all the phone #'s I find are no longer in serves.
I can't get an email to go thew either. Could some
one get his # for me or give him my # to him
435-310-0666
I would love to talk to him to get a pup.
Or anyone else willing to sell theirs who
lives close to Utah. Thanks

[hunt14]

Rob,
try this guy. http://www.huntingairedales.com/huntingcompanions.htm I dont know what his dogs are like but might be worth a try.

[bearyooper]

Try John Houben in West Virginia. The dogs he sells are line bred Cajun(Thom's). He advertises in Full Cry and that is where I got mine from. Nice dog.