Earthdog
EARTHDOG
by Lou Herczeg

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Introduction
You may ask, "Could my Westie be an Earthdog?" Westies were bred as a type of hunting dog: they pursued the prey into ground, located the prey in its natural den and barked underground to let the handler know where the prey was located. Then the handler dug down to capture the prey. Over time, however, in the search for the picture perfect Westie; some of this natural instinct was lost. If you have a Westie who likes to bark at critters that invade your backyard and possibly even chase those critters, chances are, though, your Westie may have some natural instinct that could be developed. If your Westie is given a chance to bark and chase those critters, a natural hunter may emerge.

When to start training
Some Westie breeders will start a form of underground or tunnel work when their pups are starting to become active and playful. Westie pups love to play games like running and chasing and even hide and seek. A large, cardboard shoe box with a hole cut out on either side will allow the pups to start to get familiar with being in semi-dark enclosed areas, to crawl through the box or even hide inside. A piece of PVC pipe that is six inches in diameter by about twelve or fifteen inches will allow the pups to learn to run through a tunnel. (Make sure the PVC pipe is securely fastened to the side of the pen so that it does not roll around.) When the Westie pups start to grow, a piece of six to eight inch diameter by three to ten feet in length, plastic, corrugated drain pip (found at most plumbing supply stores) can be used as an above ground, backyard tunnel. Westies love to play chase and run through the tunnel.

AKC Earthdog Tests
If your Westie has exhibited any natural hunting instinct, you can enter an AKC Earthdog Test. The purpose of these tests is to offer breeders and owners of small Terriers and Dachshunds a gauge to measure their dog's natural and trained hunting abilities when exposed to a simulated hunting situation. Not only are Earthdog Tests fun for dogs but also they provide an opportunity for you to observe an exciting dog performance event. So, if you give your Westie a chance to "get down dirty", you just might be surprised.

Other Performance Events:

• Agility
• Obedience
• Tracking
• Rally

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