The Aircastle Name & Crest...

The symbols of quality

From time to time people will ask from where the Aircastle name arose. Most kennel names are an amalgam of the originators names as in D-Ray or Sterling. Some are drawn from the kennel’s locality such as Bay Breeze or Briarwood. And others have more ethereal names like Whisperwind, Graphic or Unique. Aircastle originates from the mythical land of Utopia. In 1993, after attending a college class on various untopic visions throughout the ages, one of the studies involved the English translation of Sir Thomas Moore’s Utopia. In the book, the capital city was called “Amaurot”, which translated literally is “City in the Sky” or “Castle in the Clouds”. The translator of the version I read chose to use the name “Aircastle” in place of Amaurot. But how did this relate to a pack of wild Shelties and Poodles? Well, looking more closely at the story, one finds that everyone in Utopia had a purpose. They all lived communally, and everyone contributed with their best work. Meals were taken together within the city, and everyone lived a blissful existence in harmony and peace. In the kennel, everyone has their purpose also. Some do conformation and others obedience, with the select best contributing puppies, titles and fun. We all live together in our home, and everyone works in the ring, or as therapy dogs, and all help to bring up the new generations in the ways of all good dogs. Mealtime is a communal event, and everybody seems happy and in good harmony with one another. Thus, it must be Utopia, and so, Aircastle got its name. With the name, it also seemed right to create a crest. But such a moniker couldn’t be just a pretty picture. The crest had to carry the full weight of Aircastle’s history, and so, over the years, the it has changed little but to add those aspects that reflect our growing accomplishments. (Click here to view the Notoriety page.) To begin, one can see the two dogs that represent our present breeds. To the left is the Poodle, and to the right the Doberman. Their placement is due to the timing of their arrival. Originally the crest only sported two Shelties, seeing as Aircastle began with that breed. When Verily came to the kennel, a Poodle was added in place of the right-hand Sheltie. Because we no longer breed Shelties, in our most recent update, the left-hand Sheltie was replaced by the Poodle, and a Doberman was added to the right-hand side. The Old English type face remains as a tribute to our Sheltie heritage. The date the kennel was established is noted above and between the two dogs, and directly below them is a rosette over-top of a dumbbell. The colors of the rosette signify the AKC’s Best of Variety, and there is writing on one of the tails. In the center of the rosette itself it has the date 1994, and on the center streamer it says, “BBRV”. This signifies Aircastle’s first Champion, CH Bay Breeze Resounding Verily, who completed her title in 1994, winning Best of Variety in her final show. Finally, below the shield, is our motto, “Engenium Ante Copian”. Seeing as Sir Thomas Moore’s Utopia was originally written in Latin, it seemed fitting that our motto should be also. The translation is, “Quality Before Quantity”, which is our promise to our breeds, our sport, and to those who are chosen to foster and love each of the pups we have brought into the world over the past quarter century. Eventually the service and therapy dog tributes may be added once there’s a way to tastefully incorporate them. And so, now you know all about how our name and how our crest came into being.