Our Mission Statement:
HWA, Inc. is dedicated to maintaining and promoting the Airedale Terrier as a versatile hunting and working companion dog.
Airedales are intelligent, hearty and extraordinary hunters.
The roots of the Hunting Working Airedales, Inc [HWA] organization grew from friendships among members of the Airedale Terrier Club of America (ATCA) who used their Airedales for recreational hunting.
Three ATCA member breeders were instrumental in promoting the renewed interest in hunting Airedales: Stephen Gilbert (Ohio); E. Forbes Gordon (Texas); and Simon “Park” Peters (Michigan).
By 1985 the three men had determined that there was significant interest among their fellow Airedale breeders to explore to what extent the Airedale maintained the hunting instincts and abilities of the breed’s founding stock. At the ATCA’s 1985 General Meeting, a motion was approved for the formation of the ATCA Hunting/Working Committee.
The first official action of the ATCA Hunting/Working Committee was to request that the American Kennel Club admit Airedales to AKC Hunt Tests. Airedale breeders valued AKC recognition of Airedales as hunting dogs because hunting was part of the breed’s heritage. In addition, AKC hunt titles earned by Airedales would appear on AKC pedigrees, and thus take their place with any conformation or performance titles earned.
The American Kennel Club declined to open its Hunt Tests to Airedales, but suggested that the Hunting/Working (H/W) Committee develop its own hunt test using AKC Hunt Tests as models.
In 1986 the H/W Committee held its first national Hunting/Working Weekend. This event brought together Airedales and owners interested in testing the breed’s versatility in hunting upland game, waterfowl, and raccoon. Through the H/W Weekends (and year-long efforts between them) the H/W Committee pursued the goal of promoting Airedale hunting activities.
By 1989 the H/W Committee instituted AKC-approved “Guidelines for Experimental Hunt Tests.” Those guidelines, and further consultations with AKC officials, led to the development AKC-approved official ATCA Hunt Tests and Hunt Titles in 1993.
In 2000, the ATCA Hunting/Working Committee presented the AKC with a fully-developed “Proposal for Admittance of Airedales Terriers to AKC Hunt Tests.” It was denied. However, the Committee continued to develop its programs through its national and regional hunt tests and workshops.
In 2007, the Hunting Working Airedales, Inc. organization was incorporated separately by the then-members of the ATCA Hunting/Working Committee. By 2009, after almost 25 years of continuous effort, the HWA members applauded the achievement of their long-term goals of having Airedales admitted to both the UKC’s Hunting Retriever Hunt Test program and the AKC’s Spaniel Hunt Test Programs.
2010 was a banner year for HWA members and their dogs ~ topping it off with Deanna Corboy-Lulik's "Kaleigh" winning
THE FIRST AIREDALE TERRIER MASTER HUNTER title in August.
Every year, Airedales and their owners proudly achieve even more titles & accolades.
2011 & 2012 were also extraordinary ~ especially at our 26th & 27th Field Nationals ~ with many dogs achieving new & additional titles. Our tradition marches on, and our 2013 & 2014 events were also fantastic. In 2015 HWA celebrated it's 30th year, and our Field Nationals were held in Sept. 2015!
© 2016 ~ Hunting Working Airedales, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Website created & maintained by Andrea Shaw • andrea@callmyadagency.com
PLEASE VISIT OUR 2015 FIELD NATIONALS PAGE & OUR PHOTOS' PAGE FOR MORE INFO & TO SEE PIX.
As always, our weekend events are full of excitement, accomplishments & camaraderie ~ and fun is had by all!
The annual H/W Weekends, which would later alternately be called “H/W Nationals” and eventually, “Airedale Field Nationals,” provided the opportunity for Airedale owners to learn from sporting dog experts invited to conduct workshops and judge the tests. The input of the gun dog experts was instrumental in the steady improvement of participating Airedales and their handlers. Many Airedales earned ATCA-sponsored Hunt Test Titles in Upland Game (Flushing), Retrieving, and Fur (tracking raccoons).
HWA's 30th ANNUAL FIELD NATIONALS were held
in September, 2015 at the
Holly HIlls Game Preserve, near Chillicothe, Ohio.
HAVING REACHED OUR 30-YEAR MARK IN 2015,
HWA IS STILL GOING STRONG AS WE ROLL IN TO 2016!
And... you can click HERE to access our 29th annual HWA Field Nationals' page (held in September 2014), and to view the events' marked catalog.
Entries for the
2016 Fun in the Field
weekend event
closed on March 21st.