For generations small terriers and
Dachshunds were bred as hunting dogs to track game above and below
ground; to bark at their quarry in the den and to bolt or draw it for
the hunter. Now these wonderful little d
ogs are very suitable as family
pets, however, they sometimes have to be trained not to bark at every
little noise and not to dig in the yard or garden. Barking and digging
are what they were bred for all those years, so now AKC has developed
the three levels of Earthdog tests for these game little dogs. Few
small terriers and Dashshunds are regularly hunted to ground by their
owners in natural hunts, but the AKC Earthdog tests allow these game
little dogs an outlet for their excess energy and instincts in a way
that benefits the dogs and the owners.
Earthdog involves recreating the actual hunting environment for the dog. A tunnel of a specified length and depth is p
laced into the ground
with a cage of rats (quarry) at its far end. Each dog entered in the
event is placed at the entrance to the tunnel and is judged on the
amount of time it takes to reach the rats and on its enthusiasm
(digging and barking) as it works to get to the rats in the cage. Of
course, the rats are protected and are in no danger. Earthdog is an
event that is intended to preserve the natural instincts bred into
small terriers and Dachshunds many years ago.
The STCGW is very involved in Earthdog. We hold 4 Tests a year. Two in May and two in September. The Tests are held in Hedgesville, WV at a beautiful site generously donated by one of our club Members. We are set up to run the IQ, JE, SE and ME Tests. Practices are also held between Tests.
IQ (Introduction to Quarry)
The requirements for the IQ test is a 9 X 9 inch liner set to provide a tunnel approximately 10 feet long with a 90 degree turn. The IQ test is a simple instinct test and a non-qualifying title class. The dog has 2 minutes from the time dog enters tunnel to the quarry and work the rats for 30 seconds.
JE (Junior Earthdog)
The den for the JE test also is a 9 X 9 inch liner with a 30 foot tunnel and 3 90 degree turns. The tests also consists in two parts. The approach to quarry (30 seconds) and works the rats (60 seconds). The JE test needs two qualifing ribbons to earn the AKC title JE.
SE (Senior Earthdog)
The SE den has a 9 X 9 inch liner with a main tunnel approximately 30 feet in length. It will have 3 90 degree turns, a false exit and a false den. The SE test has 3 parts. The approach to quarry (90 seconds) work the rats (90 seconds) and the recall with handler having control of dog (90 seconds). 3 qualifing ribbons earns the AKC title SE.
ME (Master Earthdog)
The Master test is designed to come as close to a natural hunt situation. Our Master den is our SE den with modifications. STCGW uses a constriction point and a roller point. The ME is worked with 2 dogs (bracemates). The braces are random drawn 15 minutes before the beginning of the test. The braces hunt to den entrance. First dog to mark den entrance is the first dog to work. The second bracemate is tied close to entrance by handler and must honor while first bracemate enters the den and works the quarry. Dog has 90 seconds to reach the quarry and 90 seconds to work the rats. At this time the handler has 15 seconds to retrieve dog from den. The dogs are then switched and test continues for second bracemate. The dogs are judged on their hunt instinct, marking the den, entering the den, working the rats. retrieving the dog and honor. For the ME title you need 4 qualifying ribbons.
ogs are very suitable as family
pets, however, they sometimes have to be trained not to bark at every
little noise and not to dig in the yard or garden. Barking and digging
are what they were bred for all those years, so now AKC has developed
the three levels of Earthdog tests for these game little dogs. Few
small terriers and Dashshunds are regularly hunted to ground by their
owners in natural hunts, but the AKC Earthdog tests allow these game
little dogs an outlet for their excess energy and instincts in a way
that benefits the dogs and the owners. Earthdog involves recreating the actual hunting environment for the dog. A tunnel of a specified length and depth is p
laced into the ground
with a cage of rats (quarry) at its far end. Each dog entered in the
event is placed at the entrance to the tunnel and is judged on the
amount of time it takes to reach the rats and on its enthusiasm
(digging and barking) as it works to get to the rats in the cage. Of
course, the rats are protected and are in no danger. Earthdog is an
event that is intended to preserve the natural instincts bred into
small terriers and Dachshunds many years ago. The STCGW is very involved in Earthdog. We hold 4 Tests a year. Two in May and two in September. The Tests are held in Hedgesville, WV at a beautiful site generously donated by one of our club Members. We are set up to run the IQ, JE, SE and ME Tests. Practices are also held between Tests.
IQ (Introduction to Quarry)
The requirements for the IQ test is a 9 X 9 inch liner set to provide a tunnel approximately 10 feet long with a 90 degree turn. The IQ test is a simple instinct test and a non-qualifying title class. The dog has 2 minutes from the time dog enters tunnel to the quarry and work the rats for 30 seconds.
JE (Junior Earthdog)
The den for the JE test also is a 9 X 9 inch liner with a 30 foot tunnel and 3 90 degree turns. The tests also consists in two parts. The approach to quarry (30 seconds) and works the rats (60 seconds). The JE test needs two qualifing ribbons to earn the AKC title JE.
SE (Senior Earthdog)
The SE den has a 9 X 9 inch liner with a main tunnel approximately 30 feet in length. It will have 3 90 degree turns, a false exit and a false den. The SE test has 3 parts. The approach to quarry (90 seconds) work the rats (90 seconds) and the recall with handler having control of dog (90 seconds). 3 qualifing ribbons earns the AKC title SE.
ME (Master Earthdog)
The Master test is designed to come as close to a natural hunt situation. Our Master den is our SE den with modifications. STCGW uses a constriction point and a roller point. The ME is worked with 2 dogs (bracemates). The braces are random drawn 15 minutes before the beginning of the test. The braces hunt to den entrance. First dog to mark den entrance is the first dog to work. The second bracemate is tied close to entrance by handler and must honor while first bracemate enters the den and works the quarry. Dog has 90 seconds to reach the quarry and 90 seconds to work the rats. At this time the handler has 15 seconds to retrieve dog from den. The dogs are then switched and test continues for second bracemate. The dogs are judged on their hunt instinct, marking the den, entering the den, working the rats. retrieving the dog and honor. For the ME title you need 4 qualifying ribbons.