It was one warm July night
in 1991. that one precious look of two dark
eyes „under the brows“imprisoned my heart
forever. That night, in the arms of my
father, the first Airedale terrier arrived in
our home. He walked in bravely, with that
adventurous spirit of the breed, playful,
gentle, jolly, prancing around, and he
started the ruling of the breed that he
represented so perfectly in my life. From
that day on, even though I love all dogs, I
adore one breed, and one breed only.
And that isn’t my fault...
I just surrendered in front of the will of
the dogs that made my life more beautiful,
richer, and more perfect. Where Airedale sets
his foot, he rules!
Airedale is Airedale is Airedale...
Even though the whole dog world puts
a crown on his head claming that terriers are
kings of all breeds and that Airedale is the
king of all terriers, H.M. the Airedale would
found himself offended if he knew that we
compare him with other dogs. In years of his
presence as a recognized breed on this planet
he was trying, with all his skills and good
points to assure us that he is much more than
JUST a dog (it was by some dreadful mistake
of mother nature that she put him in a four
legged body). Well, it is a wide known FACT
that world is spinning around him. Isn’t it
obvious that he is the most beautiful, the
most intelligent, the smartest, the best, the
strongest, the most skillful, the bravest,
the...?????? Shhhhhhhhhhh. Please. Don’t
spoil that to him. With all his good points,
a little vanity is quite understandable.
So, the battle was lost even before it
started, and I couldn’t do anything else but
to dedicate myself to the breed.
In that distant year of 1991. we
didn’t have Internet here, and no literature
could be found. But, Pako was there, right
beside me. So, I learned from him and he was
an outstanding teacher. Because of him, so I
could provide him the best care, I started to
get literature from abroad, I contacted
breeders in Europe, went to the „dog academy“
in Belgrade, asked around, bothered Yugoslav
breeders, watched, learned, I was a sponge
for any knowledge about Airedales. With
Internet at hand I spent hours and hours
surfing through anything that involved
Airedales and dogs in general. Still, my best
teachers were and are my dogs...
Pako, the first and unique, typical
Airedale by character and temperament, the
main „guilty part“ for my involvement with
the breed. Bubica, girl that had every known
behavioral disorder known to dog lovers, and
by that my most important teacher of them
all. Dzips-Ups, the only dog I have ever
known that had no mean bone in her body.
Endzi, my gentle angel that opened so many
doors for me, my special girl. Firga,
predominant, overprotective boy with golden
heart. Sirano, alien dog, always in a world
of his own. Gvozdencica, my little perfection
that didn’t get a proper chance to shine with
all her colors. Roxitoxicilin, the best
remedy for sour heart and queen mother of new
„golden“ age of the kennel. Latekijana, the
measurement for silliness, my gentle clown
and teddy bear. Kjaca, proof that lots of
love and care and work always pays back
hundreds of times. Dzoca, playful puppy
caught in a body of a grown up dog.
Livingstone, breeder’s dream come true.
Shane, breeder’s dream come true – part two.
Mrvica, great dog in a small package, hearty
girl. Dvrca, our mascot and rocket dog...
And they make me learn more and more,
improve myself more, get to know breed even
better, find finesses, discover secrets, see
mistakes, admit them and set them right.
During these seventeen years of involvement
with the breed I learned a lot. My life is
enriched with lots of friends, Airedale
owners through out Europe, USA, Australia,
Japan, and South African Republic...
Airedales opened so many doors for me,
brought so much joy into my life, enriched my
life beyond believable. Because of them (and
I can say that without any doubt) I am a
better man (OK, I am woman, I know).
If I say that I am very professional in my
work and involvement with breed, but that I
am pretty much the amateur as a breeder,
maybe someone would not understand.
Puppies from our kennel go to their
new homes completely dehelmetized, vaccinated
and re-vaccinated, micro chipped, fed with
Purina Pro Plan Puppy optistart from their
fourth week, completely socialized. They are
growing up beside my bed (and, yes, I admit,
they sleep in that same bed with me), in
constant contact with people and world that
surrounds them, they have a
biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig yard to run and play
in. They grow under the „special“ care and
hawk eyes of other dogs in our home. They are
totally into music, fuss, noise, we put their
little (master)minds at different tests, test
their agility and character... They are much
loved, spoiled rotten, and cared for. And we
miss them so much when they are gone to
conquer new worlds. And those „new worlds“
must reinsure me that those pups will live
surrounded with lots of love, care, happiness
and will live a wonderful lives of house
pets. Show results are cherry on the top, but
they are not the main reason why these
puppies are born. And, because of that, the
main role in choosing new owners for them
plays the reason for getting a dog.
With my dogs I visited so many
dog shows all over my country (ex and how it
is today), about ten European countries, tree
European and one World dog show, lots of club
shows and breed specialties. We brought home
lots of cups, diplomas, awards (and we dust
them regularly), we achieved so many things,
gained so much successes, made friends with
people and dogs, and still, the BIGGEST
reward of them all is, when we are
comfortably stretched over couch, their heads
in my lap, and we travel on the wings of
love. And, at the end of the day, that is
what gives a sense to it all.
So, if you think that dogs are,
above all house pets and our friends, and
what we, people ask of them to achieve comes
in the second place, than you are more than
welcome in Pako’s Dream Land! Please, do come
in, if you don’t mind wet nose pokes, wet
beards, muddy paw prints on the floor, hawk
eyes that spy on every bite you take and lots
of looong, undocked tails that crush
everything that stands in their ways. Of
course, the best places on the couch and best
seats are already taken.
I use this opportunity to say THANK YOU to
some wonderful people without whom the dream
about Pako’s Dream Land as it is today would
never come true.
To my daddy who listened the tales
and stories about this breed and knew that it
was just right for me, and had so much luck
for Pako to choose him. He was my faithful
Sancho Passa on our first dog shows. His love
for dogs was undying. To my grandmother who
allowed her house to get occupied by
Airedales and who was a mother goose to our
dogs when we were not at home. They are
greatly and sadly missed, and I am sure that
they watch over us from somewhere above.
To our dear Veca who was more than ready to
play a part of doggie chauffeur to dog shows
all over the Europe. Even she strayed to the
world of Welsh terriers, her first love were
Airedales, and we all know that first love
never dies. She helped us on countless
occasions and without her everything would be
less interesting.
To Boda & Kiki who are more than friends.
They made our family larger. They are always
here when it is rough and they knew how to
share our happy moments with us. Because the
share one beautiful vision with us and no dog
show is too far or too difficult to reach.
To my Jesica because she stopped by a lost
creature with an Airedale puppy in it’s first
walk on one warm July night and helped me
with first advices. For all those summer
nights of walking feet in Belgrade. For one
beautiful friendship to witch even borders
and distance and lack of time can do no harm.
For the most comfortable bed in Skopje, most
beautiful window and warmest, biggest heart
that I know.
To Tasha whose Boxers I adore and who is with
us in all that happens through the years. She
is a friend, buddy, colleague, Sancho Passa.
Because she opened a door to the world of
Boxers for me, those sweetie pies of puppies
that she doesn’t let me steal (who could
resist them?). Because she never stopped at a
doggie tale.
To Sandrica because she let me in a magical
world of different creatures landed to this
earth – Afghan hounds. For one beautiful
friendship and many traveling together. To
her mom Zora for opened doors of their
wonderful home. To Sandrica for her patience,
her wonderful imagination, hard work, her
great will to create this beautiful, magical
site. You are the BEST!
To Miro & Zeljka from „Stubak“, wonderful
people who make us feel right at home on dog
shows in Croatia. Their warm home, their
precious love toward dogs, their relation to
life and people inspire us and make us better
people.
To Zoran Jaksic who taught us what a vet
should be.
To Lale & Barca, wonderful people,
outstanding vets who are always there for us,
even when it is hardest, they fight along our
side and they don’t give up even when it
looks hopeless.
To my dear colleges Mirjana Toncic and
Vladimir Pijunovic who enrich wonderful world
of Airedales in our country and who make time
on dog shows too short.
To Ariana for my Roxane and Anna for my
Latekijana. Thank you for breeding two such
special dogs.
To all those wonderful people in whose homes
live, run, bark, crush things and love all
our puppies that left our homes. Thank them
for caring so much and giving so much love to
them. For all of them, I know that everything
I do is worth doing.
To
all people that I didn’t mentioned but who
touched our lives in some way, made it richer
and better.
Last, but not least, thank to my mom, without
whom nothing would be possible. Even though
she grouches sometimes, my dogs are in safest
hands there is when I am not here. They are
surrounded with love, care and lots of
treats. Thank her for all support, ideas,
rolled up sleeves, financing, making me keep
on, sharing of laughs, tears, winnings,
loosing, doubts, decisions... For sandwiches
and pastry she makes and which keeps us going
on maratonic dog shows. For a welcome she
gives to everybody that comes into our home.
For a voice of reason and everything she did,
does and will do for Pako’s Dream Land.
And thank to Pako, Rubi, Dzipsi,
Firga, Sirano, Endzi, Gvozdenka, Roksi,
Latek, Kjara, Dzoli, Livingstone, Shane,
Mrvica and Dvrca, because they are the most
deserving for everything.
