Earthdog Dog Primer I

Hello everydoggie,

Again, I must apologize for our absence. Our mother will NOT relinquish her computer for any amount of time, and I fear that Katherine, Zorra, and I will need to hold a bark treat sale so we may purchase our own!

At any rate, some of you were asking about my experience with Earthdog and what exactly it is. Well, here is the "official description" of this sport:

The purpose of non-competitive Earthdog tests is to offer breeders and owners of small Terriers and Dachshunds a standardized gauge to measure their dogs' natural aptitude and trained hunting and working behaviors when exposed to an underground hunting situation. The noncompetitive program begins with a basic introduction to den work and quarry and progresses through gradual steps to require the dog to demonstrate that it is willing to perform the required tasks including seeking its quarry, locating and working it underground.

- AKC

Quarry for EArthdog is a typically a rat. Here, you can see I am getting acquainted with Mr. Rat. We became fast friends, of course. I wanted to follow him everywhere.



Hello, Mr. Rat. I find you very interesting and very intriguing!!


Mr. Rat... I am not sure you should go into this tunnel-like thing. I should try to stop you.



You are just insistent on going in there, aren't you. Well, I shall follow....



Here I come, my new pal! It is a little snug, but I can crawl in right behind.




THERE you are, my good friend. That was fun chasing you through the tunnel.



I certainly had a good time, didn't you?



(note: No rats were harmed in this practice. In fact, they could care less if the dogs were barking and chasing them at all).

Enough for today. I have much more to tell you, including how I went down in the ground tunnel for my new pal!