People are crazy for their pets--if the millions of dollars spent on pet food, toys and health care are any indicators.

Of course, we haven't spent that much on our first Airedale and our current Rescue Dale, but darned near. This year I succumbed to buying a "dog holiday costume" for poor Emma, who may be wondering about the turn of luck that sent her to our house four years ago. My dad, the former cowboy whose dogs were not pets but working dogs, would sneer mightily at putting an elf hat and holly collar on a dog, much less spending good money to do so. What can I say in defence of my choice to humiliate an unusually patient and almost long-suffering Airedale Terrier? I did it because I could. Hardly the decent thing, but it is what it is. Our first Airedale wouldn't have had it for one second. She was the queen and a rather surly one who loved to eat twenty dollar bills and the DH's white handkerchiefs, preferably unlaundered. Also, she would have eaten the elf hat and holly collar in the wrapping to avoid any undesired dog dress-up aspirations we might have had. That sort of thing just wasn't on with Haynes's Glenne Glee out of Grand Champion Rondo Von Garnsey and Jerzac's Katie My Lady.

Now, Emma the Rescue Airedale out of who knows what is of a more tolerant temperament. Could be because she spent a year and half among Pugs after being rescued from the pound by a Pug lover who fostered her until she came to us. Due to that experience, she will still snort and snuffle-wheeze like a Pug on occasion, which is very unAiredale-like but great fun. Before that we think she was on her own a good bit after being raised with a mastiff and dropped off at a neighbor's house while her owners went on vacation. They never came back to get her or the mastiff. So, considering Emma's sorry past, it's no wonder she takes with supreme patience and humility our dressing her up, brushing her teeth, combing her ratty beard, showering her regularly and pressing cookies upon her after every trip outside. We've given up trying to teach this old girl some Airedale tricks such as clicking her teeth and raising her top lip in a truly horrifying smile like our Glenne the Perfect Dale did.

After Emma came to our house, for the first two weeks she was very reserved, quiet and too cooperative. It was weird and we were worried. This dog looked like an Airedale, with stand up Scottie ears but beautiful color. But she acted like a Pug on Prozac. Then I put out the Christmas decorations, setting a stuffed, fabric Canada goose on a wreath "nest" on the living room floor as a last decorative touch. Emma got up from her bed, strolled over to it, snatched it up by the long neck and shook it to death or pieces, all in about ten seconds. Yup, this was indeed an Airedale. Except when I yelled, she obediently dropped the head and neck and returned to her bed. Unlike any Airedale I'd ever known. Emma's sister, as we refer to our departed first Airedale now, would have swallowed the pieces and headed to the Christmas tree for the next course. She did so love handmade wooden ornaments from Germany. So tasty, apparently.

Since that first Christmas goose attack, Emma has laid a lip on tinsel garland or the odd ornament, but will always "leave it", if you catch her. We'll take Emma as she is and bless the day she came to add Airedale joy to our lives.

Wishing you Airedale joy and the best of the Season!
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmelinda