Callum the Airdale

A recent encounter with a boisterous Airedale on a beach near Berwick.

They are wonderful dogs with a great afinity with people and if well looked after, a love for families and children. It's such a pity they are not so 'fashionable' these days.

My first encounter with the Airedale was very memorable and a turning point in my young life.

I had just taken on the role of local paperboy and as a dog lover, I was looking forward to meeting all the characters that inhabited the neighbourhood but my naïve enthusiasm was soon dented and re-shaped.

I delivered the People’s Friend to the home of a Jack Russell terrier that chewed it into confetti as soon as it hit the doormat but offered nothing more than a fleeting nipped ankle to humans.

Unlike his more intimidating neighbour who was a psycho biter, a characteristic shared by his family. No amount of dog psychology or distracting treats worked on this guy or its owners. He rarely got his paper delivered but then they never paid the newsagent, so that seemed fair to me. I was simple in my judgements then.

The greatest challenge and respect was Callum the Airedale, he was big, confident and smart. When first we met, I immediately got the impression that I was facing real intelligent here and his apparent mood swings and dynamic attitude changed depending on whether he was with his owner, a sweet old lady or whether he was on his own in the garden and by default, on guard.

His owner was keen that Callum and I should be friends because, much to her surprise, she had had some issues with delivery people in the past. She took time to introduce me to Callum and vice versa and, like many delinquents, he behaved well in the presence of his owner.

The relationship between Callum and I was not conflict, it was a chess match with diplomacy and negotiation surrounding my right to enter and cross his domain. I had to earn the right of passage and show due reverence and respect. If not, he would show me his displeasure with a stiffening of his body and an intransigence that meant ‘Too much! Cease and desist, now’

Perhaps I was wrong but I never challenged him when he was in this mood and would leave and re-visit later to start the respectful dance again.

One day he was nowhere to be seen. So I walked boldly up to the open door and as I held out my arm to deposit the magazine on the porch table, he was there. Standing quietly and looking at me in his curious but firm way. I was exposed, with my arm outstretched hovering over the table, still holding the magazine and just in front of his muzzle.

Looking me square in the eye, he slowly moved his head forward and gently gripped my arm. I was speaking quietly to him, as always. Continuing the dialogue that we had started on day one, only this time I was sounding more than a little nervous.

The duty of the paperboy was to deliver and for some reason I had the view that ‘whatever happens, no-one will be able to say that I did not deliver this magazine.’ It’s strange how your mind thinks when it’s in the eye of, or in this case the mouth of, the storm.

Not to startle him, I half slid, half dropped the magazine slowly onto the table with as little movement and noise as possible and told Callum that he could let my arm loose now because I was leaving. 

Still watching me closely he considered my request for few moments and then did just that, not quickly or suddenly but with the same slow controlled motion he had used to ensnare me. I slowly walked backwards for a couple of steps and then turned and walked calmly but shakily, down the path.

When I got to the gate he was still watching me and I swear he winked as I smiled back at him and walked away. After that we were the best of friends, but always on his terms.