Have you ever wondered if a dog’s appearance truly reflects its ability to perform the tasks it was originally bred for? The phrase “form follows function” is often thrown around in dog breeding circles, but how true is that today? In the world of modern breeds, we’ve seen a growing focus on looks over actual working abilities. Does a dog’s physical appearance really guarantee it can still perform the traditional roles it was meant for? Or are we seeing a decline in the true working capabilities of our breeds?

The Airedale Terrier was originally bred as a working dog, excelling at hunting otters and rats. Later, during World War I and II, Airedales demonstrated their bravery and versatility as messenger dogs, delivering vital communications across dangerous battlefields. They also served as Red Cross dogs, helping locate and rescue wounded soldiers. Their reputation as reliable, intelligent, and resilient working dogs was rooted in these roles.

Would today’s Airedales be capable of fulfilling these demanding roles? Are modern Airedales, many of whom are bred for the show ring still able to perform tasks that require the same level of endurance, intelligence, and versatility? While they retain the physical characteristics of the breed, do today’s breeding practices emphasise working ability and temperament as much as appearance?

This eye-opening piece by Terrierman aka Patrick Burns, who runs the blog Terrierman’s Daily Dose, dives into the divide between show dogs and working dogs, raising important questions about how breeding for the show ring may be harming the functional abilities of many breeds. By prioritising aesthetics over ability, are we creating “counterfeit” versions of once-reliable working breeds? Have Kennel Club standards deviated too far from what these dogs were originally meant to do?

Let’s discuss whether the obsession with appearance has led to the decline of working dogs as we know them, included the Airedale terrier. Share your thoughts in the comments!

Read the full article here.

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Note: This text was initiated and written by the author with reference in “Terrierman´s” article. AI tools was used to enhance language and readability. 
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Published on the Facebook group European Airedale breeders, September 19, 2024 (link)