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,feelfreetoletusknowbyemailingHWAinformation@gmail.com

Andjoinusinhopingthenextyearwillbringresumednormallifeandeventsforeveryone.

Airedale Advice: Keep Going

Sincethestartofthepandemic,thousandsofwordshavebeenwrittenabouttocope.Aswehaven’tseenanyinterviewswithAiredalesyet,wethoughtwetakealookathowsomeAiredaleownersandtheirdogsarespendingtheirtime.

Airedalesandownersthatwerefieldtrainingbeforethepandemicaregraduallyreturningtotraining,eitherinindividualsessionswithatrainer,orinsmallgroupsworkingtogether.Even

(continuedonpage2,rightcolumn)

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

1

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

(continued on page 3, left column)

(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.

2

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.

4

“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

(continuedonpage6)

Watch Out for That Snake!Some Cautionary Notes for Airedales

Mary Walker’s Airedale Shiloh gets a snake-aversion lesson.

5

(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.”

6

(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.

7

(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.

8

(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,contactusathwainformation@gmail.com

We’ll be back!9