Terriers have become popular pets for people in all places, and it’s really no wonder why. They are spunky, stubborn characters that bring tons of entertainment to our lives. Most terrier owners, and owners of other small hunting breeds such as Dachshunds, find themselves with a great natural pest control – their dogs! Many terriers have kept their desire and ability to hunt small vermin, just like they were originally bred to do years ago. There are many hunters out there who use their dogs in real life, but some of us are homebodies that don’t particularly feel like dealing with dead rats and rabbits. So what kind of things can we do to help our dogs live out their genetics?
Lucky for us, the American Working Terrier Association began their underground Earthdog den trials back in 1971. Even better, they’re still going on today! Alongside AWTA, AKC holds Earthdog trials in the United States as well. While they have slightly different rules, titles, and testing variations, they are both fun and typically test for the same thing – hunting instinct.
But what exactly is Earthdog? Earthdog is a hunting dog sport developed specifically for terriers and other dogs that were bred to hunt vermin. These breeds include our Jack Russells, Dachshunds, Yorkshire Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, and many more. In a trial, dogs are sent into man-made, underground dens to hunt vermin, or “quarry.” The quarry is usually rats kept in a wire cage. This cage is placed at the end of the tunnel, and the dog must use his nose to locate it. Once the dog finds the quarry, he must work it. The work is defined by a number of behaviors, such as barking, scratching, pawing, and digging. Most active behaviors that show the dog’s interest in the prey are suitable. But don’t worry; neither the dogs nor the rats are endangered, as they do not actually come into contact with each other.
Although Earthdog trials are considered noncompetitive and simply intend to test a dog’s working ability, there are titles offered in the sport. In AKC, there are four titles that dog/handler teams can earn. These include the Introduction to Quarry (IQ), Junior Earthdog (JE), Senior Earthdog (SE), and Master Earthdog (ME). The IQ is just as it sounds; it’s the dog’s first run in a 10-foot tunnel with a wire cage of rats at the end. The handler is able to talk to and encourage the dog in this test. The others levels get more complicated the higher you go, with ME runs reaching 100-300 yards.
