The Earthdog Trials are noncompetitive venues for Cesky terriers, small terriers, and Dachshunds. The Earthdog tests offer breeders and dog owners a standardized gauge that assesses their Cesky terriers and other dogs trained and natural working and hunting abilities, by exposing the dogs to a specific hunting situation. If you are interested in getting your Cesky terrier started in Earthdog tests, get a book of regulations from the American Kennel Club.
In 'Go to Ground' trials or Earthdog tests, they bury and scent man-made wood bottomless tunnels/den liners. At the end of the den, they use a live animal, protected from injury, as quarry. The purpose of this test is to evaluate your dogs' willingness to enter, find the quarry, and indicate where it is located. The beginning of these tests is for basic introduction with no credit towards title. A dog must advance through a number of steps to demonstrate his training abilities. Both the American Working Terrier Association and the American Kennel Club offer Earthdog Trials and hunting events and titles.
For dogs to be eligible to participate in the Earthdog tests held by the American Kennel Club, they must be six months or older and registered with the AKC. They allow spayed or neutered dogs. Purebred dogs with 'Indefinite Listing Privilege' numbers are also eligible to participate. Some of the numerous breeds that can participate in the American Kennel Club Earthdog tests include:
Australian Terrier
All Dachshunds
Border Terrier
Cesky Terrier
Lakeland Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Norwich Terrier
Smooth Fox Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Unlike the American Kennel Club, the American Working Terrier Association Earthdog tests do not allow any mixed breeds and have fewer breeds that they do allow.
Junior Earthdog is the beginning level where your Cesky terrier earns his first title. In thirty seconds, your dog must travel a den thirty feet long that has three or more right angles. He must work the rats for sixty seconds, at the end of the tunnel, until the handler removes him without injury. To receive his Junior Earthdog certificate, he must complete this two times under two different judges. After completing this, your terrier can take his Senior Earthdog test and his Master Earthdog test.
The American Working Terrier Association has a Hunting Certificate that member's dogs are able to earn for above ground hunting and/or drawing prey from the earth to either specific or multiple quarry. Dogs issued this certificate must regularly hunt quarry for a full year or a season depending upon the state hunting regulations. The Hunting Certificate application must include a detailed, written hunting report of the Cesky terriers experience along with the signature of one witness, the dogs' owner who was with the dog during the hunts, and a filing fee of five dollars.
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