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About Earthdog Trials

This is what terriers are all about. We're ratters. American Kennel Club created the AKC Earthdog trials to show we still have what it takes. Earthdog trials are a lot of fun. This is how it works. You follow the scent of the rat down into a small tunnel. Mom says it's 9x9 inches, I have to duck and crawl along, but I fit. You go through the tunnel and at the end is a caged rat and you get to bark and dig at it. There are four tests, Intro to Quarry, Junior earthdog, Senior earthdog and Master earthdog, and only three titles. You don't get a title for the Intro to Quarry.
Intro to Quarry
Intro to quarry is for beginning dogs to get a taste of the work. They have a shorter tunnel to go through and judge is allowed to help. The tunnel is 10 feet long with one 90 degree turn.
Junior Earthdog (JE)
The junior test is harder in that the tunnel is 30 feet long with three 90 degree turns. To get your JE you have to qualify in the Junior earthdog test two times.
Senior Earthdog (SE)
The senior test has a tunnel is 30 feet long with three 90 degree turns, a false den and exit, and the really hard part is your mom has to call the you out of the tunnel. But the rat is removed from the tunnel before your mom calls you otherwise we'd never come out. You have to have earned at least a JE title to enter this class. To get your SE you have to qualify in the Senior earthdog test three times.
Master Earthdog (ME)
The Master test has a tunnel is 30 feet long with three 90 degree turns, a false entrance, den and exit. You have to go to the right entrance, and honor another working dog. Which really means you have to wait and let another dog work with not being too noisy. You have to have earned at least a SE title to try this test. To get your ME you have to qualify in the Master earthdog test four times.