AKC Earthdog Tests

Sporting dogs have their AKC Hunting Tests. Coonhounds have their AKC coon hunts. Sight hounds compete for their AKC Field Championships. Herding dogs can earn AKC herding titles. And NOW short legged terriers, as well as dachshunds, can have their day in the sun (or darkness to be more accurate!). The AKC Earthdog tests have arrived.

Breeds eligible to participate are Dachshunds, Australian, Bedlington, Border, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, Fox, Lakeland, Norfolk, Norwich, Scottish, Sealyham, Skye, Welsh, and West Highland White Terriers.

The purpose of the earthdog tests is to offer these breeds a standardized gauge to measure their natural and trained hunting abilities when exposed to a hunting situation. Through a gradual progression of introduction to den work and quarry, the dog must demonstrate it is capable of being trained to follow game and work its quarry.

Most importantly, the Earthdog tests are non competitive. They are a sport and all participants must be guided by the principles of good sportsmanship both in and outside the test field. In other words, your dog can never be better than John or Jenny’s little Border. You and your dog are a team that passes or fails. No rating systems, no scores to contend with, and no ego trips. Sound too good to be true? Here’s the “catch”: the only way Earthdog titles may be earned is through training and dedication by the owner, coupled with the natural ability of his dog. Qualifying scores, not subjective judging, make the Earthdog tests the challenge for dog and owner.

Dandies six months of age or older and registered with the AKC are eligible to compete. Spayed, neutered, limited registered Dandies and Dandies which have been granted Indefinite Listing Privileges (ILP) as well as acceptable foreign registered Dandies all may participate.

Put away the tailored show outfits and replace them with jeans and sweatshirts. Non-slip comfortable shoes may be replaced by boots and Nikes or Reeboks. Ladies may forego hairspray for themselves and their dogs. Hats and caps may be worn for comfort or shade by any handler. Can you possible imagine the fun and comfort all rolled into one day of pleasure with your favorite Dinmont?

Most dogs will enter the Introduction to Quarry class to begin the program. It is a schooling class which is the dog’s first exposure to entering the earth and working game, but does not earn a title. The Introduction to Quarry class is a simple ten foot long den, nine inches square, with one ninety degree turn. The dog is expected to enter the earth and begin working the quarry, a cage of rats, within 2 minutes. The dog must work the rats for 30 seconds in order to earn a passing score. Since the rats are securely caged behind a set of quarter-inch steel bars, work in all classes is defined as barking, digging, growling, lunging or any form of action which indicates the dog’s interest in the quarry.

The first degree earning class is the Junior Earthdog class which is run in a thirty foot long den with three ninety degree turns. The dog must perform in this class with no assistance from the handler. To earn a qualifying score in the Junior Earthdog class, the dog is given 30 seconds from the time he is released by the handler 10 feet from the entrance to reach the quarry. He must then work the quarry continuously for 60 seconds. The dog must pass this class twice under two judges to earn his JE degree.

The Senior Earthdog test is a more realistic den design and offers the dog many of the challenges he might face in a real hunting situation. The dog is released 20 feet from the mounded vertical entrance to the earth, and has 90 seconds to reach the quarry. The Senior den is thirty feet long with three ninety degree turns but adds a dead end sleeping den and an unscented false exit to the basic den design. Once the dog has reached the quarry and worked the rats for 90 seconds, the handler is required to call the dog out of the den. The judge removes the quarry and seals the quarry end of the den. The handler calls the dog. If the dog passes this class three times under three judges, he earns the title Senior Earthdog. (SE).

The Earthdog test program also includes a Master Earthdog Test which has a more complex hunting situation. The dogs are braced and are required to work a 100 foot scent trail past an unscented false den to a partially blocked working den. The dogs then work the den singly. The Master Earthdog den is the same design as the Senior den with two important additions. The ME den has two internal obstructions to challenge the dog. One obstruction is a 6 inch loosely mounted artificial root which the dog must clear. The other obstruction is a constriction point where the den narrows to 6 inches in width. Both these obstacles present a difficult not impossible challenge to the dogs. The ME test is open only to those dogs who have earned their SE degrees, so the first Master Earthdog tests will not be held until late 1996.

At the completion of each of the phases of Earthdog tests, the judge will mark the judging form to indicate pass or fail. After all dogs have competed, the judge will announce the names of those dogs which have qualified. Again. ...no placements, no one scores higher than anyone else, no bragging rights unless of course the dog qualifies.

How does one even begin to train their Dandie? Ideally it is preferable to attend play days or workshops offered by local terrier or dachshund clubs. Depending on one’s location, this may be next to impossible without a great deal of travel involved. However the miles and hours devoted will be well worth the time.

Because I am one of those who has no local or even close club to work with, I train at home with rats purchased from a pet shop. I introduce the dogs to a caged rat. Small cages may be used as well as large hamster balls. Encourage the dogs to roll the balls or push the cages. I have yet to find a Dandie who was NOT interested in the rat.

From the rat introduction I move to training using an above ground den with no turns. The caged rat is placed at one end of the tunnel and covered with a blanket. The dog is then introduced to the liner (9 inches square and 10 feet long). Each dog is different and many ways must be tried to encourage him to actually go into the tunnel. Never force him in, but encourage him the second he shows interest in entering. Have a helper shake the cage so the dog can see it. When he finally does run through the tunnel, pull the cage so he can chase it after completing the run. When the idea of entering the tunnel is set in his mind, leave the cage in place so he can “work” the quarry.

Before advancing to the next tunnel, I scent the above ground tunnel with “eau de rat” (rat droppings soaked in water an applied to a towel which is dragged through the tunnel). This teaches the dog to associate the scent with his game in anticipation of future work in underground earths.

I then introduce the “find the mouse” command as I release the dog into the tunnel. Gradually I move my point of release farther and farther away from the entrance to the 7 tunnel.

It may take weeks of work. It may take only hours, depending on the dog. Once he knows and enjoys this exercise I move the training to an under ground tunnel with only one ninety degree turn. Once this is mastered, I have found my dogs will eagerly negotiate any tunnel. (Not to mention that Larry is not keen on having the entire property occupied by underground “earths”.)

Let me warn you, however, some of my dogs just do not like earth work. If they do not like it, they probably never r will like it. Forcing a dog to participate defeats the purpose. Just as some children do not like to get dirty, some Dandies are equally as “prissy”.

Old Buckwheat (Ch Derrydown Mr. McTavish C.G.) at twelve years of age, still got excied when he heard the command “find the mouse”. The day he earned his American Working Terrier Association Certificate of Gameness will always be as fondly remembered by me as the day he completed his Championship. To be honest, it was more exciting!

This winter has brought forth a new challenge to the hunting instincts of the Schooner Dandies. I have been able to introduce the command “leave it” into their vocabulary. This will be very useful in the Senior Earthdog tests. An unbelievably docile possum has made nightly visits for cat food every evening since fall. He will press his nose on the patio door if the resident cat has not left him goodies. At first it was irritating; now it’s almost endearing, he accepts pats while he ears and ambled across the deck on a lead loosely placed around his neck. Buckwheat has visions of the BIG mouse in his sleep, while Bubba leaves no doubt of what he would do if release from the “leave it” command

One last word of warning to those who may want to try “earthdogging”. House your rats separately in aquariums Peaches and Sport produced more rats than we needed for training. I took baby rats to the local pet shop more than once. Most pet shop proprietors will gladly take rats back after training. They do make wonderful pets (if you don’t have a houseful of Dandies to pester them). Do NOT name your rats or they will become family members!

This should answer any questions from animal rights activists. The rats are not harmed. Many actually sleep through their stints as quarry during terrier trials!

Try earthdogging. Your Dandies will love you for it. If given the choice of trotting around the show ring or digging after rats, I guarantee the latter is preferred by our canine crew.