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Dog Sports 101: Earthdog

Written by: Scott H
Scott Haiduc is the Director of Publishing for iHeartDogs, iHeartCats and The Hero Company. When not working, Scott spends his time on the farm, taking care of his animals and crops.Read more
| Published on March 12, 2014

shutterstock_178918364Terriers 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.shutterstock_140546860

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.

While mixed breeds are not currently permitted in Earthdog trials, with the exception of certain mixed breeds in AWTA trials, almost any purebred terrier or Dachshund can enter. Since Earthdog is more of a temperament and working ability test than a sport, these limitations help keep it a suitable test for the accepted breeds. So if you have a feisty terrier that needs a healthy way to get his energy out, keep Earthdog in mind. It’s a great way to have fun and watch your pup’s instincts take control. Besides, we all know our terriers have plenty of spirit to spare!

 

 

About the Author

Katie is a professional dog trainer located in Southern California, with a background of experience as a veterinary assistant as well. She has trained and competed with multiple breeds in AKC Obedience and Rally, agility, herding, Schutzhund/IPO, French Ring and conformation. She has been involved in dogs since she was a child, and specializes in protection dogs, working dogs, and aggression issues. You can visit her website, Katie’s Dog Training, to find out more information about her training and accomplishments. When she’s not helping others and writing, she’s out on the field with her Belgian Malinois and Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

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