Earthdog

Border Terriers were developed in the border country between England and Scotland.  Their conformation, type, size, and coat serve the purpose for which they were bred, and that is to "go to ground" in the Earth to bolt from the dens or kill ,fox and badger that were, and still are, serious threats to the livestock of the farmers and shephards of the region.  Border Terriers are a working breed that still retain the instincts that they were bred for.  To test that instinct and give the terriers a chance to do what they were bred for the AKC has developed an Earthdog Test.

There are three levels for which titles are awarded, Junior, Senior and Master Earthdog.  Junior Earthdog consists of a 30 foot tunnel with three turns and the quarry (caged rats) at the end.  The rats are behind bars so the dogs cannot hurt them.  The dogs have to enter the tunnel, get to the quarry, and work the quarry for 60 seconds.  There are time limits and rules that the dogs don't know anything about, so it can be quite entertaining to get your dog to earn a title!!  Pip is still working on Junior Earthdog.  He has passed the test once, and needs one more pass to get his Junior Earthdog title.

I have a problem.  Not Pip.  When Pip was 4 months old he negotiated a Master Earthdog setup and worked the rats for the proper amount of time.  He was a maniac!!!  He wanted those rats so bad!  Every time we practiced he would have passed the test.  When it came time to really take the test he had realized that he never got those rats by barking, digging, biting, etc.  He tried to go in another way to get them and failed the test.  Now, most of the time, he just works a little and gives up or just sits there and stares at them.  He knows he can't get them.

So, I have made my own tunnels for practice and have made the quarry end bars so that he can break them down and get to the quarry.  We have practiced a few times and have since taken two tests, but he still wont work them long enough.  We will let a few months go by and practice again and see how we do, but for now the tunnels sit out in my Bunny Barn.  If you would like to come and practice, drop me a line, I would love to help.  Below are some pictures of my tunnels:

Four, 5-foot tunnels.  Made out of 10x2 shelving, tops out of plywood to cut down on the weight.

Three of the tunnels have an opening in the side to facilitate turns.  The last tunnel is straight to the quarry.

The Quarry End with the tops removed.  I have used 3/4 inch dowels for the bars and cut them short.  I drop them through the holes in the top into shallows depressions in the bottom 2x4.  I use the piece of plywood with the other dowels to hold down the dowels in the tunnel while Pip works them.  He could easily pick them up, through the holes and remove them.  The smaller dowels in the sides are to hold the whole thing in place as Pip could also move it forward as he works.  When I feel he has worked enough, I gently lift the top with the holes and the dowels in the tunnel drop loose when Pip works them.  This setup is to make Pip think that if he works hard enough he can actually break through the bars and get the quarry during an Earthdog test.  I haven't perfected it yet, I think I need to make the tunnel dowels slightly longer as, so far, Pip has broken through in SECONDS!!

There's no rats in here!!!!

All you can see is my rear end as I am VERY FAST!!!!

Well, there were no rats in there, so I've turned around and am coming back out.  I'm trying to find their scent, though, they should be here somewhere!

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