Felix, our "only-child" Airedale, is the epitome of spoiled. He's just turned 21 months old and weighs in around 95-100lbs. He is certainly a "typical" Airedale, chock full o'personality. He is incredibly intelligent, very food motivated (which helps with training - he can have "selective" hearing) and I have managed to fall so very in love with our silly boy, in a short amount of time.
He came to us at the end of April through the NW Airedale Rescue, and his diet left a lot to be desired - not because I am knocking the cheaper pet foods, but because he had some gastro issues that made curbing him rather gross. We do feed him a grain-free food (Nature's Domain Turkey Sweet Potato - Costco) and his treats are knuckle bones, twisted pork skins and Blue Dog Bakery cookies. M.A. also bakes dog cookies, but when we catch them on sale, the Blue Dogs are just as good.
We've tried the hooves and he loses interest. Kongs? Pulleeezzeeee - he puts the "power" in power-chewer. We have a couple of bones that we fill with peanut butter and toss in the freezer - he has to work longer to get it all out.
He loves raw veggies - I learned quickly that he adores cucumbers, carrots and sweet potatoes. I had the makings for a cucumber salad on the butcher block, left the room and came back to his having eaten three whole cucumbers!
Having come through rescue, you're never sure what kind of issues you may come across - we're so lucky that he has such a sweet disposition and is very social. He has a fan club at the dog park and a "girl friend" Lucy, at the dog-sitter. He comes to my office a couple of times a week and everyone just loves to see him come bounding in the door.
Its really fun to watch his personality develop - he has recently started being more vocal - not barking, but more grumbling and warbling. He just keeps me laughing.
He must know I am typing about him - he has just brought his "baby" and nosed it into my lap... that's my cue for play time!
