Elmo's Big Break

Elmo had his television debut on the Animal Planet cable network. A crew from the show Breed All About It filmed Elmo for an episode devoted to Airedales. The show is still being rerun occasionally, or you can buy the tape here.

 

 

 

Vote for Elmo! Animal Planet is sponsoring a poll to choose the top dogs from the Breed All About It series. The ten most popular will have their shows rebroadcast March 5-9. Click on the bone to go to the voting page, and look for Terriers.

Vote early, vote often, and pay no attention to those other breeds.

A Registered Therapist

As a member of Therapy Dogs International, Elmo visits retirement and group homes weekly, where he performs tricks and dispenses good cheer. Elmo also visits schools and is available for weddings and bar mitzvahs.

Elmo is also a member of the Delta Society's Pet Partners program.

He Knows the Drill

Elmo is a member of the Doggie Drill Team organized by the Animal Protection Society of Orange County.

The drill team appears in local parades. Here he is with Ruth in the Hillsborough Christmas Parade.

Leader of the Pack

This is Elmo on his first backpacking trip, in the Shining Rock Wilderness area of Pisgah National Forest. Elmo hiked all the way to the summit of Cold Mountain with us.

Elmo's backpack is the Trekker™ from Wolf Packs, Inc. He's featured on their website here.

Born to Surf

Here's Elmo when he was a pup, near his birthplace in Morehead City, NC. Elmo was born June 1996 and now weighs 55 pounds. He was bred by Linda Baake of Lynaire.

Linda breeds champion show dogs, but that's not Elmo's style. He has a wacky left ear, giving him a comic appearance that matches his personality.

Groomed for Success

You may not see Elmo at Westminster, but he still cleans up nice.

Elmo is usually groomed at Bed and Bone in Mebane, NC.

Lori Valentine and Kathy Dowd of MoonDance Airedales are also excellent groomers, and authors of the Airedale FAQ.

 

Not Just a Pretty Face

After taking Obedience I, II, and Canine Good Citizenship classes at the APS, Elmo attended acting classes at the Bon-Clyde Learning Center in Sanford, NC.

Elmo can do a variety of tricks and tasks. Here are a few:

• Balance treat on nose
• Crawl on the floor
• Dance on hind legs
• Do the wave
• Fetch the paper
• Figure eight between legs
• Give you a hug
• Mail a letter (really!)
• Peekaboo
• Play dead
• Put toys in basket
• Roll over
• Say his prayers
• Speak Ruth's name
• Spin in a circle
• Take a bow

Will Work for Food

As you can see, Elmo will endure pretty much any indignity to further his career.

Meet Elmo!

For more information, please contact Ruth at ruthw@mindspring.com.