Fox Terrier Versatility
Conformation
Conformation events (dog shows) are intended to evaluate breeding stock. The dog's
conformation (overall appearance and structure), an indication of the dog's ability
to produce quality puppies, is judged. This is based on what is called the "Standard".
CH High Mountain Duece’s Wild JE NA NAJ NJP CGC
Agility
Agility is a sport designed to demonstrate a dog's willingness to work with its
handler in a variety of situations. It is an athletic event that requires conditioning,
concentration, training and teamwork. Dog and handlers negotiate an obstacle course
racing against the clock.
The AKC offers three types of agility classes. The first, Standard Class, includes
contact objects such as the dog walk, the A-frame, and seesaw. Each of the contact
obstacles has a "safety zone" painted on the object and the dog must place at least
one paw in that area to complete the obstacle. The second is Jumpers with Weaves.
It has only jumps, tunnels and weaves poles with no contact objects to slow the
pace. The third is FAST, which stands for Fifteen and Send Time. This class is designed
to test handler and dog teams' strategy skill, accuracy, speed and distance handling.
All classes offer increasing levels of difficulty to earn Novice, Open, Excellent
and Master titles. After completing both an Excellent Standard title and an Excellent
Jumpers title, handler and dog teams can compete for the MACH - faster than the
speed of sound! (Master Agility Championship title.)
Obedience
Demonstrating the usefulness of a dog as a companion to humankind, AKC Obedience
is a sport with rules, regulations, judges, conditioning, training, placements and
prizes. Dog and handler teams are judged on how closely they match the judge's mental
picture of a theoretically perfect performance as they execute a series of specified
exercises. Accuracy and precision are essential, but the natural movement of the
handler and the willingness and enjoyment of the dog are very important.
Each level of obedience competition - novice, open, and utility - requires mastering
a specific skill set, which increase in difficulty, before advancing to the next
level.
Novice Class demonstrates good canine companion skills such as heeling, both
with and without a leash, coming when called, standing for a simple physical examination,
and staying in both a sit and a down position with a group of dogs. In the Novice
Class, dogs earn an AKC Companion Dog (CD) title after receiving a qualifying score
under three different judges.
Open Class is more challenging as more exercises are done off leash and retrieving
and jumping challenges are added. In the Open Class, dogs earn an AKC Companion
Dog Excellent (CDX) title after receiving a qualifying score under three different
judges.
Utility Class, includes scent discrimination, directed retrieves, jumping
and silent signal exercises, is the most challenging class. In the Utility Class,
dogs earn an AKC Utility Dog (UD) title after receiving qualifying scores from three
different judges. Upon completion of the UD title, dogs may earn the Utility Dog
Excellent (UDX) when they receive qualifying scores in both Open B and Utility B
at 10 separate trials.
Obedience Trial Championship (OTCH) title is often referred to as the "PhD"
for dogs, is the highest obedience honor a dog can receive. To obtain an OTCH title,
a dog and handler team must earn 100 points by placing first, second, third or fourth
in the Open B or Utility B class. Three first places must also be awarded from the
Open B and Utility B classes.
Earthdog
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 dogs 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.
Introduction to Quarry
The initial test is the Introduction to Quarry (IQ) where the dog is introduced
to a 10 foot tunnel with one right angle turn and at the end is a cage of rats behind
a set of bars. There is a scent trail of rat scent leading into the tunnel and to
the rats. At this level the handler can encourage the dog into the tunnel and the
judge may help get the dog working at the rats by shaking the cage or making a noise
to incite the dog's instincts.
Junior Earthdog
The first level where a title is earned is the Junior Earthdog test where the dog
may earn a Junior Earthdog title (J.E.). The dog must travel a 30 foot den with
at least three right angle turns in 30 seconds; work the rats at the end of the
tunnel (in a cage behind bars as in IQ)for 60 seconds; and then allow the handler
to remove him without injury to the dog or handler. Once the dog completes these
requirements twice under two different judges he will receive the title of J.E.
and receive a Junior Earthdog certificate from the AKC.
Senior Earthdog
The second level of Earthdog test is the Senior Earthdog test where the dog may
earn a Senior Earthdog title (S.E.). The den is 30 feet with at least three right
angle turns and there are the added distractions of a false, unscented exit and
an unscented bedding area with used rat bedding at the end. The dog has 90 seconds
to travel the tunnel length and get to the rats; must begin working the rats within
15 seconds of arriving at the end of the tunnel; and must work the rats for 90 seconds.
At the end of the 90 seconds the rats are removed and the dog must recall from the
den to the handler within 90 seconds. Once the dog completes these requirements
under two different judges at three different tests, the dog will be designated
a Senior Earthdog (S.E.).
Master Earthdog
The final level of the Earthdog test is the Master Earthdog (M.E.) title. The dog
must actually hunt his way to the den with a bracemate 100 to 300 yards. On the
way he must investigate an empty, unscented den when the handler asks him to. Then
both dogs must find the entrance to the den and mark it decisively so that there
is no question the dog is indicating an active den. The den itself is like the Senior
den with the addition of two obstacles: a 6 inch diameter PVC pipe crossways in
the den to simulate a root and a narrowing down to 6 inches for a distance of 18
inches. The Master competitor has 90 seconds to get to his quarry; must work the
rats for 90 seconds and must allow himself to be removed from the den by his handler
within 15 seconds. While one dog is working the other dog is staked out and must
wait his turn with minimum amount of noise while his bracemate works the quarry.
Once a dog successfully completes all parts of the Master test four times under
three different judges the dog shall be designated a Master Earthdog and may continue
to compete at all three levels at Earthdog tests.
Few small terriers and Dachshunds 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.