My Bit of Earth

Terrier Play

In addition to our scooter-buying and parade-going, Moses and I spent part of the weekend at the Heartland Spring Terrier Trial.

Yesterday, we did some go-to-ground and a barn hunt.  Moe got through the GTG in 6 seconds, which was good enough for second place. 

He probably would have placed in the barn hunt as well, had I not screwed up.  The point of the barn hunt is to see how well you communicate with your terrier.  A rat is hidden in one of several tubes in a barn-like area, and the dog has to sniff around and find it.  When you think your dog is acting like he's found the tube with the rat in it, you say so.  The idea is to both pick the right tube, and to do it quickly.

When I released Moe he went straight to the correct tube, but he didn't indicate as strongly as he usually does, so I encouraged him to check out the other tubes.  He still didn't seem too excited about any of them--and after a minute of wandering around the barn stall, I was totally stumped--so when he went back to the first one I decided to just pick it.  Wouldn't you know it, that was the right one!  If I had just trusted him, we probably would have done really well.  I'm going to try hard to remember that next time!

Today he won first and second place in his two races, and (for the very first time ever) was able to figure out the super go-to-ground!  Super GTG is a more complicated version of regular GTG--the tunnel has multiple entrances and exits, and has some uphill and downhill parts.  I've entered Moe at every Jack Russell trial we've been to, but he just gets so excited when he knows we're doing earthdog that sometimes he has trouble engaging his brain.  He's never been able to even get to the rats before. 

Today he ran into the obvious entrance like gangbusters as usual, but--when he realized that wasn't going to get him to the rats--he really stopped and thought about it and used his nose to sniff out the right entrance instead.  He found the rats in just over a minute, which was good enough for fourth place.  I'm hoping this is a sign that he's maturing a little bit.

All in all, not a bad trial for us.  :)

A Bad Day Earthdoging...

We got up early this morning and drove to Iowa for the Central Iowa Dachshund Club's fall trial.  To make a long story short, Moe got disqualified...for fighting.  It was almost the same thing that happened in California (except this time the other dog was completely innocent).  Moe had his head inside the false den, the other dog tried to squeeze in beside him, and Moe turned and snapped and snarled.  It got broken up quickly, but as it was definitely more than just a "hey back off". 

I spent most of the drive home psychoanalyzing.  I wouldn't call Moe an aggressive dog.  He's great with people--even kiddos--but even I have to admit he's developing a real problem with other dogs.  He doesn't seek fights, but if he's already excited (doing earthdog, playing fetch) and another dog goes after something he wants, watch out! 

He hasn't always been this way though--when we did his early obedience classes he did well with other dogs--which really has me trying to think about when exactly it started.  Was it because of what happened at the last trial?  Bad habits learned at doggie daycare?  Bad habits learned from squabbling over toys with Porter?  Just him growing up and into a more dominant dog?  All of the above?

But in the end, I guess it doesn't really matter.  Regardless of the cause of the problem, we have some serious socialization and obedience work to do before Mr. Moe gets to play at earthdog again.

The Heartland Harvest Hunt

Our first frost was glittering on the ground early this morning, as Moe and I headed out for the Heartland Working Jack Russell Terrier Club's "Heartland Harvest Hunt".  We've only been to this trial twice now, but both times it's really been very nice.  As the only Welshie for miles Moe is pretty recognizable, but several of the club members remembered my name too and I'm incredibly more nondescript!

We started the day with a little racing.  Last year Moe raced in the novice class, and--due to his lovely long legged-ness--won pretty decidedly.  This year he was bumped up to the regular adult class and didn't have such an easy time.  He stayed with the pack well enough to come in fourth in both the flat race and the hurdles, but in comparison to the front runners it looked like Moe was moving in slow motion.  (I was a little glad.  Don't get me wrong, I like to win, but it's better when it's a little more hard fought.)

Next we did some go-to-ground.  Moe had a try at the super go-to-ground (which is an extra complicated go-to-ground maze) but couldn't quite figure it out.  He busted through the regular tunnel though--it took him 6.6 seconds to get to the rats, which was a good enough time to earn first place in the open adult class.

All in all it was a lovely day, more pictures here.  Stay tuned for the conclusion of Moe's 2007 earthdog season next weekend in Iowa!

Master Test with Drama

Today we went back for the second day of the Golden Gate Dachshund Club earthdog test.  It was the first time I had entered Moe in a master test and we were up first--needless to say, I was a little nervous.

Because I haven't talked about the master test yet, a little explanation....

This is What a Senior Earthdog Looks Like

Part of the reason we chose to visit Nice Dad and Nice Step-Mom when we did was because the Golden Gate Dachshund Club was having an earthdog trial nearby this weekend.  If you will recall (see here and here) when last we discussed the subject, Moe needed one more leg to earn his senior earthdog title.

As you can guess from the title of this post, he qualified...squee!!!   But (as anyone who does pretty much any dog event will tell you) there was, of course, much more to the story than that. 

Textbook Earthdogin'

Moe and I took a mid-week weekend today, and went to an earthdog trial held by the St. Louis Dachshund Club. 

The drive was too long--as usual--and I got a massive sunburn, but Moe was amazing.  It was as if he's been studying the rule book behind my back.  He went straight to the tunnel, got to the rats in 11 seconds, was "the most enthusiastic worker of the day" (quoth the judge), and still made it back to me in 13 seconds when I called him.  I think he's finally got this senior earthdog test figured out. 

Needless to say, he passed with flying colors, and we were both well rewarded for our efforts.  I got the shiny green ribbon above, and Moe got a fuzzy new squeaky toy...which he was so pleased with that he squeaked it most of the way home.

Now we just need one more leg (i.e. he has to do all that one more time) for his senior earthdog title.  There aren't anymore tests in our area until it gets cooler in the fall, so we're hoping to finish up Labor Day weekend when we're planning to attend a test while visiting Nice Dad in California.

One Leg, One Miss

The whole clan (being myself, Sweet Husband, and Porter House) accompanied the Wee Welshman to Iowa this weekend for an earthdog trial.

The short version:  We got one leg (out of three that we need to get) towards his senior earthdog title!  And, not only did he earn it, he earned it with style!  (I am a proud, proud mama.)

For the longer blow by blow, read on....

How To Build A (Passable) Earthdog Practice Tunnel From One Piece of Plywood

For the past year or so, I've had to drive all the way to St. Louis (about 10 hours, round trip) for Moe to practice earthdog.  Missouri Earthdogs has a very nice set of tunnels there, and it's been a lot of fun meeting new people.  However, after the last long driving day a few weeks ago I decided it was time to build some tunnels a little closer to home.

Most earthdog tunnel plans that I've found online seem to be for people with lots of space and room to bury them.  Since I have neither, some modification was in order. 

Earthdog Fun Day

We made the long drive to St. Louis today for a Missouri Earthdogs fun day.  Despite the unseasonable cold (my car thermometer said it was 28 degrees), we made some good progress with the Wee Welshman.  We're working on his senior title--the most difficult part of which is that, after he gets to the rats and barks at 'em for awhile, the rats get pulled out of the tunnel and Moe has to come back to me when I call him.  Moe seems to be under the impression that if he just sits there and barks long enough, the rats will come back; this makes it very difficult to get him to recall properly.

But today, for the very first time, he came back when I called him.  He didn't come back immediately, or even in a short enough time that he would have gotten a leg on his title if today had been a real match.  But he did come back--which made it a very good day.  More pictures (including some very flattering ones of me with my head in the hole) here.

A Wee Bummer

Today we went to St. Louis for an AWTA (that's American Working Terrier Association) trial.  It's about a 4 1/2 hour drive, and the trial started at nine, so you can guess about what time we had to start out.  To add to that it was cold!  Cold, cold even.

But I was still excited to go.  AWTA structures their test in three levels (Novice, Open, and Certificate) and if you pass one level you can bump up to the next level that same day (unlike AKC).  The Open and Certificate level tests are very similar to the AKC Junior Earthdog test--which Moe passed quickly and easily--so I was almost positive that he would go all the way through all three levels without any trouble.  That's what you get for taking things for granted!

He passed the Novice level swimmingly, no troubles, no problems, no sign of anything to worry about.  Then we went on to the Open tunnel.  This is Moe going into the Open tunnel--there are a few more pictures here.

He charged in like gangbusters as usual, scrambled into the tunnel for about the count of ten, and then scrambled right back out.  For a second I thought he might go back in, but when he spotted the judge and went over to say "hi", I knew we were done for.

Between the drive and the cold, I have to say I was a little disappointed--especially because I know this is something he can do.  But, as Sweet Husband consoled me on the way home, who knows what Moe was seeing in the tunnel that might have spooked him.  And as big as he is (much to big to actually hunt real quarry) even a slight constriction in the tunnel would probably be enough to make him unsure.  Maybe this tunnel was so much darker than the Jack Russell tunnels a few weeks ago (which are covered with hay as opposed to buried in the ground) that that threw him off.  Or maybe he just wasn't feeling it today....

But really--I have a happy, tired Moe snuggling with me on the couch, Sweet Husband and I had some nice conversation on the road, and we know what we need to work on for next Spring.  So, although it was definitely a wee bummer that he didn't qualify, to paraphrase a popular saying:  even a bad day earthdogging is better than a good day doing a lot of other things.

The Heartland Halloween Happening--Day 2

We went back this morning for more terrier fun.  Moe did the "Super Go-To-Ground" first (an earthdog tunnel with lots of twists and turns and several entrances and exits).  He didn't think twice about going into the longer tunnel, but, once inside, he couldn't quite figure out what turn he was supposed to make to get the the rats.  He had a lot of fun looking though.

Then we did some terrier racing.  As a "colored terrier" (aka not a Jack Russell) Moe races in the Novice class at Jack Russell trials, even though he's super tall.  He won first in both the flat race and the hurdles, and so was the Novice Racing Champ of the day!  More pictures of both days are here.

The Heartland Halloween Happening--Day 1

After spending all day Friday a-bed with a yucky tummy, it was awesome to get outside today for some terrier fun.  The Wee Welshman and I went to Ottawa for the Heartland Halloween Happening, a Jack Russell trial held every year by the Heartland Working Jack Russell Terrier Club.  The weather was gorgeous, and Moe had a blast participating in all of the terrier events.  He took first place in the novice agility on-lead (in which I almost didn't enter him because we haven't practiced since last summer); second in open adult go-to-ground (similar to earthdog, he made it through the tunnel in 8.5 seconds), weinner bobbing (think bobbing for apples, but with hot dogs), and in the lickiest terrier contest (yup, just what it sounds like); third in the barn hunt (wherein I had to recognize which tube a rat was in based on his reaction); and fourth in the Halloween costume contest (I think we got jipped because the judge didn't know who Harry Potter was.) 

Whew--it was a lot of fun, and the Welshman is now completely crashed out in his chair.  We go back for more tomorrow!

A Doggie Playground and A Pretty Backyard

Earthdog tunnels, agility equipment, and a nice looking garden--all in one place, living together in harmony?

Yes way!

Mad Crazy Terrier Fun

The Wee Welshman and I found a Jack Russell terrier club nearby.  Less than an hour drive, and we had a great day practicing go to ground and running in some terrier races.

Of course he blasted through the tunnels in go to ground practice.  His fastest time was something like 3 seconds. 

And surprisingly, Moe didn't object to the muzzle that's worn for racing.  He wasn't a fan of the starting box, but that was understandable as he's a bit taller than your average Jack. 

More pictures here.

Moe Speaks: I Love Rats--Not Wisely, But Too Well....And I Look Good

We went to St. Louis for earthdog this weekend. I had a ton of fun and I think Mom did too. She said we didn't get any legs for my Senior title, but we both learned a lot.

The first day I had a little trouble finding the entrance. I sniffed around awhile and finally saw the door, but it was longer and darker than any tunnel I've been in before. I went in cautiously, but then I couldn't find the rats. I found some hay that smelled like rats--I wondered if maybe the rats had run away. I went back out of the tunnel to ask Mom where they had gone to. She wasn't very helpful, but then I sniffed again and found them further up the tunnel. Unfortunately, by that time the judge had already said "time's up".

They let me bark at them for awhile though, which was the best part!

But then the judges took the rats away--they've never done that before. I kept barking and barking to tell them I wanted them back, but Mom was whistling and clapping and talking. I think that may have distracted the judges.

After we had lunch, we met up with the other Welshies there. After we took some pictures--8 Welshies in one place is a picture taking occasion!--Nice Lucy (of WYSIWYG fame) did a Welshie grooming class. She was super-nice, and I was really happy that Mom was learning how to take care of my coat.

But then Lucy put me on the table and started stripping my hair! I wasn't sure about it at first. It certainly felt good to get some of the old hair off, but I felt like I needed to make at least a few token protests. So I whimpered and yelped and tried to jump off the table, but eventually I settled in and let her work. She was just using me to teach, so she only did a little, but I look so much better! She made my face look right for once. Mom paid close attention so hopefully I will no longer have to suffer at the groomers.

After the grooming we went sightseeing a little. I saw the most water I've ever seen--Mom said it was called "the Mississippi". I dipped my toes in and made a video....

Then we walked up and stood by this big, shiney, metal arch. We were having fun there, but it got really cloudy so we had to leave.

We stayed the night at Mom and Dad's friend's house. He has a nice beard like me, only his is very red. I think Nice Redbeard and I could have been good friends, but by then I was too tired to be friendly--I crashed out.

In the morning we went back for more earthdog. It was raining really hard so we had to stay in the car until it was time for my test. 

I was better the second time. I went straight into the hole as soon as Mom released me. But it was really muddy in there from the rain. It was long and dark, and I thought I remembered that there was another tunnel entrance somewhere else. So I backed out of the long tunnel and went around to the shorter way on the outside. I thought I was being really smart, but for some reason I don't think Mom was very happy that I did that. Once I took the short cut, I found the rats real quick. I barked at them for awhile, but then those darned judges took them away again. I don't understand it. And Mom yelled and whistled and clapped again--I think the rain was making her a little weird. I just knew that if I barked long enough those rats would come back, but Mom eventually came and pulled me out of the hole. 

I was muddy! Mom said she wished she had had the camera because, even though I didn't qualify, I looked like I had really put up a really good fight.

And for the next few months we're going to work on recall, recall, recall. I think Mom's even going to let me practice with my rat Poppy--she said, "It's time for Poopy to start earning her vegetables."

I really love going to play with the rats!

Proud Parent of a Junior Earthdog

The Wee Welshman and I traveled to Iowa this weekend to attend an earthdog test. What is this earthdog-thing, you ask? Well, it goes something like this....

Most terrier breeds were originally bread to search out and kill vermin and/or to flush out foxes and other quarry when hounds chased it into its den. Earthdog tests are meant to emulate that type of work. Generally speaking an earthdog "den" is begun by digging trenches in the ground. The sides and roof are made with a plywood "liner" which is then covered over to create an underground tunnel. At one end of the tunnel--behind bars so they don't get eaten--are rats in a cage. The terrier is released at the other end and (hopefully) makes it's way to the rats. Once there the terrier has to "work" (bark, bite, or paw at) the rats for a set length of time.

There are four different levels a terrier can work up to. The first is called Introduction to Quarry, then Junior Earthdog, Senior Earthdog, and Master Earthdog. As you go up each level the tunnel gets longer, the terrier has a different length of time to get to the rats, and the terrier has to work the rats for longer. Also, for each step up the terrier has to "qualify" one extra time.

For example, this weekend Moe did Intro and Junior. For Into he had 2 minutes to get through a 10 foot tunnel to the rats and had to work them for 30 seconds once there. He only had to do this one time to qualify. For Junior he had 30 seconds to get through a 30 foot tunnel and had to work for 60 seconds once he got to the rats. He had to do this 2 times to get the title. In Senior obstacles get added to the tunnel and the dog has to do it 3 times, and for Master the dog is released a long ways away from the tunnel and actually has to find the tunnel. A Master dog has to qualify 4 times to get the title.

So now that you (hopefully) understand what earthdog is--our weekend.

We stayed in Stuart, Iowa which is West of Des Moines. It was kind of a pretty little town, but there wasn't much there--lots of corn fields, a tiny old-school downtown.

This is the Junior Earthdog den from far away. Everyone else has to stay 100 feet away while each dog is taking the test so I didn't really get any good close up pictures. But you get the idea kinda-sorta. The tunnels were literally in the middle of a sheep pasture. The Wee Welshman had a great time eating and rolling in the sheep poop.

This is me and Moe with our judge, Carol Anderson, accepting his ribbon for the 1st leg of his Junior Earthdog title on Saturday. That morning he had done ok on the Intro tunnel, but when we got to the Junior he was a little unsure about the longer tunnel and it took him 29.5 seconds to get to the rats. Phew--just under the wire!

Once the tests were over for the day (and after a shower and a nap) Moe and I did a little exploring. We found a little state park, Nations Bridge park, just up the road from our hotel so we went for a little walk along this stream there.

Purple flowers along the stream.

We found these tracks in a soft spot along the stream. I'm not good enough to tell what they were. A few were definitely dog tracks, but some had really long claws. They were almost what I thought beaver tracks would look like?

Moe sniffing new smells. I was a little worried about how he would do being in a strange place and staying in a hotel, but, other than a few middle of the night trips outside, he did very well.

Saving the best for last! Here's me and Moe with judge Jim Moore as we got the ribbon for his Junior Earthdog title. By the time we got to his last test--he did one Intro and one Junior each day--he wasn't messing around. He got to the rats in under 9 seconds, and barked and dug well for the entire 60 seconds.