Terrier Lover

Earth Dog Trials or Den Trialing

Do you have a terrier? Does your little dog love to hunt down and chase small vermin? Dumb question. We are talking terriers. There is an event that will suit your terrier to a T. It allows them to do chase down a rat, satisfying their age-old instinct. It allows them to meet other terriers – which may or may not be a good idea. It also allows you and your pet to have some quality time bonding together in a sport he or she loves best. This is Earth Dog Trials or Den Trialing.

The sport of Earth Dog Trials is open to terriers. This includes most breeds and Dachshunds. However, certain organizations have exceptions. These are not uniform. It is a good idea to check first before registering your pet for a competition.
Earth Dog Trials are simulated hunting events. It is a “go to ground” competition. The idea is for your terrier to find his or her way into a tunnel, making it through to the end. At the completion, the dog will find a caged rat. Your dog must then “work” the rat.

The tunnels are all made. They vary in length with the organization. The American Working Terrier’s Association’s (AWTA) tunnels range from 9-by-9 to 30’ while the AKC’s tunnels are 10 feet and up. Both associations implement bends in the tunnel to test the dog’s skills in finding the rat. Both do not allow actual kills. It is all about finding and working the prey.
In the AWTA trials, your dog may qualify to enter the Novice Class or the Certificate of Gameness (CG) competition. The Novice Class is a 1-minute test dashing through the tunnels to the lure. Your dog either passes or fails. The CG tunnels are 30’ and your terrier must travel the length in 30 seconds to reach the rat. He or she must then work it for another minute.
The AKC has a more complicated system of 4 levels. This includes an introduction to Quarry. This is a 10’ tunnel with a 2 minute finding time and a 30-second working time. The Junior Earthdog (JE) allows no commands during the run through a 30’ tunnel. The dog has 30 seconds to reach the rat and must work for 30 seconds. To become a JE, your dog has to perform 2 tests for 2 different judges.

Another higher level is the Senior Earthdog (SE). The dog has a 20’ starting pint for a 30’ tunnel. There is a false den. The handler actually calls of the dog after the location of the quarry before allowing the animal to return to work it again. The animal has to find the prey within 90 seconds and work it for the same amount of time. After 3 tests for 3 different judges, your dog can gain its SE.

The last level of class is the Master Earthdog (ME). It is similar to the SE trial. It differs in set up with the addition of a false visible door along with the actual, hidden entrance. A scent indicates one from the other. Dogs are worked in pairs. They need to find their way past the deceit to the rat.
Training for Earth Dog Trials is hard, unless you have plenty of back, side or front yard and can dig it up for the laying of a network of tunnels. It is a sport suitable and loved by terriers. It is also a competition in which you learn as you go along.

Information provided by Larry Swantek of Oh My Dog Supplies, check out our cool variety of car seat covers for dogs online.

(Thanks, Larry!)

Also, be sure to check out my post: Border Terriers are Real Earthdogs

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I hope you enjoyed this Terrier Training info on Terrier Lover! Until next time…

Love Your Terrier,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Looking for a sport for your dog or a great game? Check out this awesome resource:

For every dog there is a sport that provides a perfect outlet for his intelligence and energy. A smart, focused Border Collie or Corgi might be an excellent agility athlete… For every dog there is a sport that provides a perfect outlet for his intelligence and energy. A smart, focused Border Collie or Corgi might be an excellent agility athlete, while a scrappy little terrier satisfies his tunneling instincts in Earthdog trials. An eager-to-please, alert Poodle or Golden Retriever might shine in obedience, while a crowd-loving Whippet or Pit Bull mix thrives on the excitement of disc dog events. All-American mixed breeds can prove their mettle in almost any sport; find the right fit for your dog and watch him shine!brbriCanine Sports & Games/i presents the full range of possibilities and identifies canine abilities, instincts, and personalities that work well with each sport. Not sure about competitive sports? Swimming, hiking, and skiing are excellent opportunities for humans and their dogs to have fun together. And Canine Good Citizens, therapy dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs earn the respect and love of the people whose lives they touch. Enthusiastic owners will find suggestions for every kind of canine.brbrBasic training and obedience are necessary before beginning any organized sport. Fundamental commands, nutrition and fitness, and injuries and aging are all covered in an overview that prepares readers and their dogs for the challenges of competition. The heart of the book is a sport-by-sport examination of 19 games, obedience competitions, and tests of instinct. Each sport is described in full, with information on history, complete rules, required equipment, how to begin training, safety reminders, related organizations, achievable goals and titles, and amusing or inspiring anecdotes  everything dogs and their people need to get down to some serious playtime!brbrstronguPraise:br/u/strongKristin Mehus-Roe delightfully  and thoroughly  unleashes the true nature of dogs: born jocks and masters of movement. Arden Moore, editor of iFido Friendly/i and author of iThe Dog Behavior Answer Bookbrb

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