HWA UpdateSummer, 2020
This digital newsletter goes out only by email to save $$.Feel free to read it, print it, share it, or (sigh) delete it.
Welcome to Our No-Nationals Newsletter!
HWA’ssummerdigitalnewsletterusuallycomesoutinJune,intimetobefullofnewsabouttheupcomingNationalsinSeptember.Unfortunately,HWA’sBoardandeventplannershadtomaketheharddecisiontocancelthisyear’sNationals.UncertainlyaboutthefluctuationofCovid-19andrisksofinter-statetravelandminglingwereconcernsforallofus.Throwinananticipatedsmaller-than-usualentry,andhavingashadowofaneventwasn’tfeasibleorworthwhile.So,HWA’sNationalscancellationisaddedtothatofsomanyothereventsduringtheselong,crazymonthsof2020.
Butweplantokeepgoingandmakethebestofthings.HWA’sBoardhasagreedthatwewillhaveourAnnualMeetinginSeptember,butitwillbeateleconferencemeeting,mostlikelycombinedwithourSeptemberBoardmeetingonaweekdayevening.We’lloffermembersanopportunitytojointhatmeetingwhenwegetclosertoit.
WeusuallykickoffourMembershipDriveforthecomingyearattheNationals,sowe’llstartout2021MembershipDriveinSeptemberbysendingnewmembershiprenewal/signupformsouttoouremaillistandwebsite.
SomeonesuggestedhavingaZoomBanquetsincewecan’tbetogetherforourNationals’Banquet.Asyetwehaven’thadmuchchancetodiscussifthere’sanappetiteforthat,butwewelcomedthesuggestion.Ifyouhavesuggestionsforthingstomakethisclubbetter,[email protected]
Andjoinusinhopingthenextyearwillbringresumednormallifeandeventsforeveryone.
Airedale Advice: Keep Going
Sincethestartofthepandemic,thousandsofwordshavebeenwrittenabouttocope.Aswehaven’tseenanyinterviewswithAiredalesyet,wethoughtwetakealookathowsomeAiredaleownersandtheirdogsarespendingtheirtime.
Airedalesandownersthatwerefieldtrainingbeforethepandemicaregraduallyreturningtotraining,eitherinindividualsessionswithatrainer,orinsmallgroupsworkingtogether.Even
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In This Newsletter:
Welcome................................................... 1Keep Going ............................................1-2Who Ya Gonna Turn To? ........................2-3ATCA Newsletter ..................................... 4
Don’t Miss This!Watch Out for That Snake! ..................5-8
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Who Ya Gonna Turn To?Facebook!
SaywhatyouwillaboutFacebook,butsincethestartofHWA’sFacebookpageinNovember2010,FacebookhasservedHuntingWorkingAiredaleswellasawaytocommunicatewithAiredaleownerswhoshareaninterestinAiredalesinthefield.HWA’sFacebookpagecurrentlyhas3,398followers.Themajority(2,223)areintheUS.Canada(145followers),theUK(143)andGermany(107)leadtheinternationals.
FacebookgivesusachancetoshareAiredaleadventuresandachievementsandtoaskquestions.HWA’smostFrequentlyAskedQuestionis:WheredoIgetanAiredalepuppyfromworkinglines?OuranswerisalwaysthatagoodstartingpointisHWA’sBreederReferralpageonourwebsite:https://www.huntingworkingairedales.com/breeder-referralAsecondstepwouldbetorefertoourwebsite’sLinks/Resourcessection(https://www.huntingworkingairedales.com/links-resources)tolookupthearticleintherightsidecolumnon“HowDoIFindaGoodAiredaleHuntingPup.”
AnotherrecentFacebookquestionwas:“Ihavea3montholdAiredalepup.HowwouldIgoabouttesting/trainingherforbirddogwork?”That’sabigtopic,butagain,ourwebsite’sLinks/Resourcessectionisagoodreferencesourcewitharticleson“HowDoIStartTrainingMyHuntingAiredale”and“HowDoIFindaLocalBirdDogTrainer.”
AnotherrecentFacebookquerywas“AnytipsonhowtodesensitizemytwoyearoldAiredaletothesoundofagun?”Sincethere’salotofonlineinformationonthistopic,theanswertothequestionwasintwoparts,asfollows:Thisisatopiclotsofproshaveweighedinon,soagoodfirststepissimplyGoogling"gunshydogtraining."Ifyourdogisnotyetgunshy,andyouwanttopreventhimbecominggunshy,there'ssomegoodadviceinthisarticlepostedbyGunDogSupply:https://www.gundogsupply.com/sws-gun-shy.html
Or if your dog is already gun shy, as a starting point have a look at an article posted by a professional trainer, such as the one posted on
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(KeepGoing,cont’dfrompage1)thoughmanyhunttestsandseminarshavebeencancelled,asfarasthedogsareconcerned,trainingisafungoalinitself.Sometimesthejourneyismorefunthanthearrival.
It’sahotsummer,sowaterworkisagoodalternativetogettingover-heatedinthefield.Introducingapuppytoswimmingworksbestwhentheowneriswadingintothewaterwiththepup,sothat’sacool-offbonusfortheowner.Eventhrowingbumpersforwaterretrievesorpracticingwaterblindscanberefreshingfortheownerwhenthedoggivesthatbigshakeafterhedelivershisbumper.
Withtheeasingofstay-at-homerulesinsomestates,someobedienceclasseshaveresumed.Whetherornotyou’reintofieldwork,Airedalesneedtolearnbasicobedienceconceptssuchassit,stay,come,andNO.Asonetrainernoted:“Withoutobedience,you’llhavealoosecannon…”Experiencedownersmaywellhome-schooltheirdogsonbasicmanners,butformalobedienceclassesgiveAiredalesanimportantchanceforsocialinteractionandworkingwithdistractions.
Airedaleshavealwaysbeengreatcompanionsforhikingandcamping,activitiesthatareevenmorepopularinthistimeofsocialdistancing.Ifyou’reheadingoutforsomewildernesshiking,youmaysharetheconcernofanHWAmemberfromColoradowhoaskedaboutexperiencesotherHWAmembershavehadwithsnake-aversiontraining(alsocalledsnaking-proofing)Airedales.Thatquestionledtothe“WatchOutforThatSnake!”featureonpags5-9ofthisnewsletter.
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Social distancing at its best.
(Facebook, cont’d from page 3)
Willowcreekkennels.net titled “How to Cure a Gun Shy Dog.” Seehttps://www.willowcreekkennels.net/learning-center
AnotherrecentFacebookquestionshowsAiredalesarethesameallovertheworld:“Ihavea12montholdAiredaleinNSWAustralia.She’sgreatdogapartfromwhenshe’sinhuntmodeshewillnotlistenorobeyanycommand.Isthisacommonthingwiththebreed?Andwhataresomesuggestionstohelpwiththisissue?Weliveonafarmandsoonasweareneararabbitholeshe’soffandonceshestartsshe’slonggonebythetimeshecomesback.”
Theanswer:Airedaleswithhighpreydrive,likemostdogs,wouldratherchasecrittersthancomewhencalled.Mostfielddogtrainersusee-collarsaslong-distance"leashes"toreinforcetheComecommandandpreventdogsfromchasingoff-game.E-collartrainingfollowssomestandardprocedures,soifyoudon'thaveaprototeachyouthehowtouseit,youcanlookupnumerousgoodvideosbyGoogling"e-collarconditioning."
InadditiontoaskingquestionsandgivingThumbsUp“likes,”HWA’sFacebookpagegivesAiredaleownersfromalloverthecountryandtheworldthechancetosharephotosandvideosoftheirAiredale’sexploits.Wesharesomeofthemonthispagewithyou.
Here’s a sample of photos posted by visitors to HWA’s Facebook page.
Hog hunting in southeastern US Goose in Saskatchewan
Ducks in Wisconsin Rabbit in New Zealand Boar hunting in Hungary
Coyote lure in Ohio Raccoon in N. Carolina
1st water retrieve in WA
Pheasant in California Grouse in northwestern US
“Ididn’tjointheATCAbecauseIhearditsmostlyforconformationpeople,”
afriendrecentlysaid.Maybeitstimetorethinkthat.
TheAiredaleTerrierClubofAmerica[ATCA]hasbeenourbreed’sparentclubsinceitsfoundingin1900.ItseffortstoexpandbeyondaconcentrationonconformationeventstobemoreinterestingtothewiderworldofAiredaleownersisshownbyaquicklookthroughthemostrecenteditionofthetheirquarterlynewsletter,TheAmericanAiredale.ThenewslettercoverandfeaturearticleshowcasesthefirstAiredaletoearnanAKCChampionTrackertitleaswellashighhonorsinseveralversatileperformancevenues.Inaddition,there’s:
! FourpagesofcoverageoftheATCA’sHuntingandFieldCommitteeatthehugePheasantFestconvention.
! HWAmemberDaleBurrierhasanexcellentarticleonhand-strippingAiredales,completewithphotosofvariousstrippingknives.It’snotjustforshowdogs.
! There’sapageontheAKC’sFamilyDogprogram,whichisaimedatfolkswhowanttobeactivewiththeirdogswithoutextensiveobedienceclasses.
! AninterviewwithHWAmemberLoriTayloronactivitiestodowithyourAiredaletokeepbusyduringthesedifficulttimes
! Anepisodeinthecontinuingseriesofadventures/observationsofcompanionAiredaleSabrinaGraceandherfamily
! Awrite-up/promooftheplansfortheAll-TerrierObediencetrialscomingupattheendofSeptember(unfortunatelynowcancelled).
! Acomprehensivewrite-upoftheweekofplannedeventssurroundingtheAiredaleSpecialtyweekendatMontgomeryCountyKennelClub,includingAll-TerrierAgilitytrials,obedienceandrallytrials,barnhuntandlurecoursing.(nowallcancelled)
! Andyes,tworeportswithphotosofAiredalecompetitionandwinnersatrecentconformationdogshows.
Soifyouhaven’tbeenpayingmuchattentiontotheATCA,nowmightbeagoodtimetocheckouttheirwebsiteatwww.airedale.orgIfyoubecomeamember,you’llhaveaccesstotheonlineversionoftheirnewsletter.However,membersmustpayan$18feeiftheyrequestaprintedcopy.Forthoseofusold-fashionedenoughtopreferpaper,itsworthit.
If you do not wish to stay connected through our HWA email mailing list, please contact HWApres@gmail to ask to be removed.
Appreciation to the ATCA Newsletter
Get-Acquainted Offer: AccordingtotheATCAwebsite,TheAmericanAiredalenewsletterisalsoavailabletonon-membersforanannualsubscriptionrateof$18.Tosubscribesendcheckormoneyorder(payableinUSfundsonly)withyourname,mailingaddress,ande-mailaddresstoTheAmericanAiredale,CirculationDept.,9762-230thStreetE,Lakeville,MN55044.
The back cover of the current ATCA newsletter is a great photo by Lori Taylor of playtime for her
Claire and her husband Ron Swisher’s Track.
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“WhenIheardtheoddbuzzingnoise,timeseemedtoslowdown.Suddenlytheprairierattlesnakecameintosharpfocus4feetinfrontofmeasitcoiledholdingitsrattleprominentlyintheair.Myflight-or-fightresponsekicked-inwithoutanyactivethoughtonmypart,andIwasbackingupasquicklyasIcould.Mynextactualthoughtwas‘Whereisthedog?’andIwasrelievedtoseehim75feetaway,apparentlyneverhavingseennorsmelledthesnake.Shiloh,my4-yearoldSearchandRescue-certifiedAiredaleTerrier,andIwererunningasearchtrainingexerciseinanopenmeadowoftheCibolaNationalForest.AlthoughIhadseenanumberofrattlesnakesintheopendeserts,foothillsofthemountains,andmeadowsofNewMexico,thiswastrulymyfirstcloseencounter.”
HWAmemberMaryWalkerwrotetheabovewhenaskedaboutsnakeencountersinthecourseofherSARwork.MaryhadrecentlysharedavideoofheryoungAiredalepracticingaSearchandRescuefindonourHWAFacebookpage.TheactiontakingplaceindrysouthwesternlandscapecoincidedwithaquestionfromMitchellStewart,anotherHWAmember,whoplanstodoalotofhikinginColoradowithhisyoungAiredalethissummer.“WhatdootherAiredalepeopledoaboutsnakeproofingtheirdogs?”heasked.Hewasreluctanttolethisdoghikeoff-leashuntilhecouldplanforitssafety.MaryWalkeragreedtoshareherexperiencesdoingSARworkinsnakecountry.
“Iamamemberofthewildernesssearchandrescueteam,SandiaSearchDogs,basedinAlbuquerque,NM,”Marycontinued.“Weroutinelyconductsearcheswithourdogsinthedesertandmountainenvironmentsofthestatewheretherearesevennativerattlesnakespeciesandonevenomouscoralsnake.Asaprecautioneachyearalldogsontheteamare‘snake-proofed.’Weworkwithaveryexperiencedsnakehandler/dogtrainer,JJBelcherwhorunsSublimeCanine,Tucson,AZ,andwhoconductsarattlesnakeavoidanceworkshopforourteaminlatespringeachyear.Iamnoexpertinthistraining,butbrieflyhereisadescriptionofwhatisdone.JJusesanelectroniccollaronthedogasheallowsthedogtosee,hear,andapproacharattlesnake.Asthedogapproachesandshows
interest,JJgivesthedogabriefshockwiththeintentofinstillinginthedogthatitwasjustbittenbythatsnake!Thetimingiscritical,andsoJJistheonlyonetoadministertheshock.Inadditiontoseeingandhearingtherattlesnake,itiscriticalthatthedogassociatethisavoidancewiththesmellofthesnake.Thedogispermittedtosmelltheareawherethesnakehadbeen,andthenJJletsthedogsmelltheskinsshedfromalargenumberofrattlesnakes.Afterthedogtakesagoodlongsniff(2-3seconds)ofthoseskins,itgetsanothershock.
“AlthoughIamunawarethatanyofmySARK9s(allAiredaleTerriers)haveencounteredarattlesnakeinthefield,itmaybecausetheyhavekepttheirdistancewhendetectingtheodor.Justtobecertain,eachyearIhaveJJBelcherre-checkmydog’savoidancetohisrattlesnakesandprovideanysupplementarytraining,ifneeded.Sofarnonehasbeenneeded.Eachdoghasrememberedtheodorandhasnointerestingetting‘bitten’again!“
HWABoardmemberCindyGreenhashadtomakevenomoussnakeawarenesspartofherdailylifeduetoherlivingcircumstances.Cindyagreedtosharesomeofhersnakeexperience.Shewrites:“IliveonwoodedpropertyinSouthCarolinawherewehavecopperheads,rattler,andcottonmouths.AllmyAiredalesovertheyearshavelearnedtobeverysnakesavvy.MytwocurrentAiredaleswillgiveaclearsnakealertsuchthatItrustwalkinginthewoodswiththem.Thesnakealertisverydistinct-theyfreezeat
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Watch Out for That Snake!Some Cautionary Notes for Airedales
Mary Walker’s Airedale Shiloh gets a snake-aversion lesson.
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(Snake!Cont’dfrompage5)
first,thengiveanintensealarmbarkwithagrowl.It’sverydifferentfromtheexcitedbark,tailwaggingandmovementwhenencounteringarabbitorbird,orthebarktheygivewhenrunningadeer.Itisnottrainedbyme.ButIknowthatdogsthatspendalotoftimeoutandaboutareverysavvyaboutallcreaturesandteacheachother.
“Ihavereceivedsometimelywarningsovertheyearsthathavesavedmefromsteppingonorreachingintoasnake.Ihavetrainedan‘out’whichislikeageneric“LEAVEIT!”Thisismypreference,butifIamnotpresenttheyoftentagteamkillthesnake.
“Ihavehadmanysnakeencountersovertheyearsanddealtwithdogsbeingbittenonseveraloccasions.Oftenthedogfortunatelyreceivesafalsebiteasawarning.Snakesdooftengiveafalsebitetoconservevenom.Itistermeda‘drybite,’andtheyareabletoapplyteethwithoutinjecting,whichissecondary.Iunderstandthisbehaviorevolvedsothatsnakescandiscouragecreaturesthatmaybeafterthemandconservepreciousvenomuntilabsolutelyneeded.Justmyexperienceandthewordoflongtimelocals-firstbiteisoftendry,andsecondbiteisrealthing.
“Therealthinggenerallyresultsinimmediateswelling.IkeepliquidBenadrylonhandfortheseemergenciesandhaveadosagechart.AdogthesizeofanAiredalecangenerallymanagethevenomfromabiteprovidingyouimmediatelykeeptheswellingfromrestrictingtheirairway(andusuallythebiteistothemuzzlebecauseAiredalesarebeingterriersandgettingatit).“EvenwithquickadministrationofBenadrylitisstillgoodtogetantibiotictreatmentforthebiteiflargeareaimpacted.Ialsokeepthisonhand.Wehavebeenyearswithoutafterhoursemergencyvetcareinthisarea,sowehavehadtobepracticedandprepared.“Andhavingbeenthroughthismultipletimesinthelast30plusyearwithdogsonthispropertyIdohaveaprettygoodfeelforwhendogisgoingtobeok.I’veonlymadeonelatenightjourneytogetemergencycarewithtwoAiredalesthattookmultiplebites.Onlyonebitewasvenomousandrightonnasalpassageway.
“Ionlyrecentlylearnedabouttheavailabilityofsnake-aversionclinicsinthisarea.Thisperson
andcliniccamehighlyrecommendedbyatrainerfriend,andthemethodusedwasoneIhadreadabout.Theyuselivecopperheadandrattlesnakesinascreenedcageforthetraining,andthenproofwithavigorous,non-poisonousuncagedsnake.Anecollarisusedfortheaversive.Thecorrectionlevelmatchestheintensityofthedogandisintendedtobeamemorable‘hellno’correction.“Iattendedthesnakeaversiontrainingduringthispandemicseason.Theychangedtheformatsuchthattherewasnotagroupgatheringnoragroupquestionperiod.Eachpersonwasassignedatimeslot,youwaitedinyourcaruntilyourtimeandthenreturnedassoonasyoursessionwascomplete.Allcommunicationandquestionswerehandledviaemail.
“About40dogs/handlersweresignedupthedayweattended.MostweresometypeofworkingdogsuchasRetrieversandSetters.AlsoinattendancewasasearchandrescueteamwiththeirBloodhounds.
“Itookmy9montholdTecklepup(wire-hairedDachshundspecificallyselectedforhuntingandtracking).Shewouldnotbeabletosurviveavenomousbiteatjustunder20lbs.Shehasquiteabitofpreydrive.Wearetrainingherfortrackingwoundedgame.sosheworksinheavybrush.Shemadeacoupleofgoesatthesnakesuntilthecorrectionwassuchthatsheranoff,laidinthegrassandwouldnotlookback.Notfuntowatchreally,butsheatehertreatassoonaswereturnedtothetrucksoshereadilymoved
onfromtheexperience.
“IwillsaythatnowthatIamawareofgoodsnakeaversiontrainingoptionsIwilldothiswithanyfutureAiredalepups.”
(Continuedonpage7)Cindy Green’s Teckle pup, Giddy, of
whom Cindy says,” If there were auditions for the part of Miniature Airedale, the Teckle would surely get the part.”
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(Snakes,cont’dfrompage6)
HWAmemberMichaelSiteshadaharrowingexperiencewhenhisAiredaleKiracameuponanestofsnakeswhilehiking.Michaelagreedtosharehisexperience:
“OnNovember24,2017,thedayafterThanksgiving,mywifeEliseandItookour7-year-oldKira(AirecraftKiraStellaSites,MH,MHV,MFT,GD,CGC)andour9-month-oldReeva(StillwatersReevaMia,SH,SHV,SFT)hikinginsouthernMissouri.
“Weliketohikeanddidsoateveryopportunity.Generally,weallowedbothdogstorunalongsideusandexplore.Wealwayskeptacloseeyeonthemsotheywouldnotwandertoofaroff.ItwasReeva’sfirsttimerunningfreely.ShekeptatKira’ssideandfollowedherlead.
“Itwasawarmdayinthe40’safterseveraldaysoffreezingtemperatures.Thetrailwasgenerallyrocky,paralleledtheSt.FrancisRiver,andcrossedacoupleofsmalltrailaccessparkinglots.Wehikedabout3milesupriverandturnedaroundtowalkbacktoourcar.About2milesfromourcar,Inoticedthatthetrailupaheadturneduphillandnarrowedwithlargerocksonbothsides.BothKiraandReevawerewalkinginthewoodsparalleltousabout10feetdownhill.Icalledthe‘girls’tocomeuptousonthetrailsotheydidnotgettrappeddownhill.Bothdogsleapedupontothetrailwhencalled.
“Kiraimmediatelystartedscreaming.Shewasterrified,shriekinginpain.Ihaveneverheardsuchasoundinmylife.Hershriekinggothigherpitched,louderandmoreintense.Shewasfavoringherleftfrontlegandbitingatit.AsEliseheldReeva,ImanagedtorestrainKiraandlookatherleg.Iknewitwassnakebite.Bloodyfurandseverepain.Weneversawthesnake(s).
“Itooksomegauzerollbandageandtieditaroundherleg,abovethebleedingareatorestrict,butnotstopbloodflow(wealwayscarryafirstaidkitwhenhikingawayfromhome).We
hadpassedatrailaccessareaahundredorsoyardsback.ItriedtopickupKira,buther64-poundweight,therocky,unevennarrowtrailandherwrithingwastoomuch.Icouldnotcarryher.
“Itookoffmyshirt,madeaslingandplaceditunderherfrontlegs.Isupportedherfrontendwhileshewalkedonherhindlegsallthetimescreaminginpain.Wemadeittothetrailaccessparkingarea.EliselaydowninthegrasstryingtocomfortKira.ItlookedlikeKirawasfadingfast.Wewerebothterrified.ElisemadesureKirastayedawakeasshekeptclosinghereyes.Iranthe2milesbacktoourcar.IspeedilydrovebacktoElise,KiraandReeva.BythistimeKirawasweakandherleg,coveredinblood,wasstillbleedingprofusely.
“WeputReevaandKiraintotheircrates.Weiced(fromourcooler)Kira’slegforafewminutesandquicklydrovetoaveterinarian’sofficewehadseenearlierthatmorning.Anoteontheofficedoorgavethenameofadoctoroncallduringtheholiday.Wecalledthenumberandleftamessage.Wewaited.Nothing.Nothingforever.Wedidn’tevengetareturncalluntil3dayslater.Afterwaitingafewminutes,IGoogledforanotherveterinarian.TherewasanumberforaDVMinalittletown10minutesaway.Icalledandsheanswered.
“Whenwearrived,theywerereadyforus.IcarriedKirainandlayedherontheexaminationtable75minutesafterthesnakebite.Kirawasinseverepainandstillbleedingprofusely.ThedoctorshavedandcleanedKira’slegwhileIheldherstill.Therewere6snakebitesonherleftfrontlegbelowtheelbow.Shehadsteppedintoapitofsnakes.Itallhappenedin1or2secondsasshejumped.
“Thedoctoradministeredanantihistamine,antibioticsandasteroid.Shesaidthatcopperheadsnakeswerecommonintheareawewerehikingin.Thatcertainlywasnotinthetrailguide.Shesaidthatwewereluckythebiteswerenotrattlesnakesorwatermoccasinsasthesewouldmostlikelyhavebeenfatal.
“ThedoctorgaveusaseriesofantibioticsandinstructionsforsoakingKira’slegaminimumof3-4timesadayfor20minutesinanEpsomsaltssolution.Thiswouldkeepthewoundcleanandhelpeasethepain.ShewarnedusthatKira
(Continuedonpage7)
Kira immediately started screaming. She was terrified, shrieking in pain.
I have never heard such a sound in my life.
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(Snake,cont’dfrompage6)
wouldbesoreformanydays,weshouldkeepactivitytoaminimumandthatmostlikelysomeskinwouldturnblack,dieandsloughoff.Wedrovehome,thankfulforanexperiencedDVMbeingavailableduringaholidayweekend.ThenextmorningwetookKiratoourlocalveterinarian.HeinspectedKiraandagreedwiththetreatmentplan.
“Epsonsaltssoaking3to4timesadayfor20minutesbecameadailyroutine.AtfirstKirafoughtitbecauseshewasverysore.Afteracoupleofdaysthepaineasedsomewhat,andsheacceptedthetreatment.Thissoakingtimealsoensuredthatwecontinuedtoinspectherwoundsforinfection.
“Afteraweekorsotheskinbetweenhertoesturnedblack,diedandbegantosloughoff.Itwasslowlyreplacedwithfresh,soft,pinkskin.WehadourveterinariancheckKirawhenherskinstartedtonecroses.Hesaidthiswasnormal,therewasnoinfectionandhealingwasproceedingasexpected.KiramadeafullrecoveryandwebeganhuntingwithherjustbeforeNewYears,5weeksaftertheincident.
Comments:! Eventhoughtheairtemperaturewas
typicallytoocoolforsnakestobeout,theymayhavebeenwarmingthemselvesonthesunwarmedrockyledgealongsidethetrail.
! Weneversawanysnakes.! Ithappenedimpossiblyfastwithout
warning.! Anyoutdooractivitywithyourdog
carriesrisk.Haveaccesstoafirstaidkitandlearnhowtouseit.
Somethingswelearned:! Alwayscarryafirstaidkit! PertheDVM,include“fresh"Benadrylin
yourfirstaidkitandimmediatelyadminister1pilltocounteracttheeffectsofthevenom.AvoidgettingbittenbyyourpotentiallydeliriousdogwhileadministeringtheBenadryl.
! TheDVMsaidusingrolledgauzeasaconstrictionbandandapplyingicewasanexcellentfirstaidproceduretoslowthespreadofthepoison.
! TheDVMtoldusthatthebleedingwascausedbyacomponentofthevenomthatthinstheblood.Sheclaimedthisresults
insomeofthevenomexitingthebiteasthewoundbleeds.
! Airedalesarebigandheavy.Bepreparedtorigsometypeofcarryingsystem.
! Whenawayfromhome,knowwhereemergencyveterinarianservicesareavailable;especiallyduringholidays.
! Hikewithachargedcellphoneformakingemergencycallsandnavigation.
! Ifpossible,haveacoolerwithiceinyourvehicle.
MaryWalker’sSARteamunderstandstheimportanceofbeingwell-preparedtodealwithsnakebites.Mary’steam’spracticesreinforceMichael’sexperiences.Marywrites:
“Inthe10yearsthatIhavebeenonthisSARteam,aSARK9hasneverbeenbittenbyarattlesnake.Nonetheless,wearealwayspreparedforthispossibility.MaryBerry,DVMandfounderoftheteam,recommendsthefollowing:Carrythedogoutofthefieldifpossible,todecreasetheirexertionandreducetheirheartrate,helpingtoslowtheratebywhichthetoxinentersthecirculation.Withthisinmindmostofushavesomekindofrescueharnessinourpackstocarrythedogoutofthefield.Additionally,Marysaysdonotcutthesite
(Continuedonpage8,leftcolumn)
Michael Sites and Kira at HWA”s 2019 Nationals, almost 2 years after her snake bite incident. Kira
won the Brown Bess Memorial Award for the highest scoring Airedale in the HWA Upland Test.
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(Snakes,Cont’dfrompage8)
ofthebitenorsuckanythingfromit,anddonottoapplyatourniquet.Itiswisetoknowwhichveterinaryclinicsinthetrainingareacarryantivenom,sonotimeiswastedgettingthedogtotherightplacefortreatment.Ideally,theantivenomshouldbegivenwithin4hoursofthebite.Lastly,itisimportanttonotethatthereisarattlesnakevaccine,butthereislittle-to-noinformationonitseffectiveness.Thismaybe,inpart,becausesnakebitesvaryintheamountoftoxinreleased,andadog’sreactiontoabitewillalsovarydependingonthetoxinload,makingitdifficulttoknowhowmuchprotectionthevaccineisproviding.”
VenomoussnakesarefoundinmanypartsoftheUSinavarietyofenvironments.TaketheadviceofHWAmemberswithsnakeexperience:Watchoutforthatsnake!
Did You Know?SummariesofHWABoardMinutesfromourteleconferencemeetingsarepostedintheMemberssectionofourwebsite,www.huntingworkingairedales.comSoifyou’reamemberwho’swonderingwhat’sgoingoninsidetheclub,that’syourinsidelook.Ifyou’veforgottentheMemberSectionpassword,[email protected]
We’ll be back!9