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Earthdog Test Weekend comments 2006

Earthdog
Western Pennsylvania Earthdog Club
August 19-20, 2006 at Woodside, Champion, Pennsylvania

By Karla Deithorn, AKC subject matter expert*

The Western Pennsylvania Earthdog Club held its Earthdog tests Aug. 19-20 at Woodside in Champion, Penn. Club members were present in force! Bob Patterson, the club's recording secretary, zipped around the grounds preparing den areas and providing miscellaneous necessities. Cookie Nee, club vice president, and Marge Snyder, president, made sure exhibitors and judges had plenty to eat and drink. Bob Fensterer and his wife, Marsha, did a superb job at the secretary table taking entries and answering questions. And all the other club members made the exhibitors feel right at home.

Judge Brenda Weintraub started the events on Saturday morning with a Master class of three braces. Her walk-up through the lower hayfield included some natural dens that made it interesting for the dogs. Weintraub only had one qualifier, but Judge M.A. Klein had three qualifiers the second day. Scenting conditions on Sunday were better, which seemed to help the dogs on their walk up through the woods.

On Saturday, Randy Eltringham did a great job judging the Junior class. Klein and Eltringham judged the Senior classes on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Both days a few of the dogs passed, and others are sure to pass at upcoming trials.

On Sunday, after Hannelore Heller got a Senior leg on her standard Longhaired Dachshund, we were all treated to some birthday cake after we sang, "Happy Birthday" to Hannelore. We celebrated her 80th birthday one day early! It is such a joy to see someone of Hannelore's stature out competing with her show dogs in Earthdog tests.

Klein judged Introduction to Quarry (IQ) on Saturday. The exhibitors always enjoy her help regardless of whether they qualify. On Sunday, Brenda Weintraub, another judge well-loved by novices, judged IQ.

As usual for the Western Pennsylvania Earthdog tests, we were treated to the pyrotechnics of a summer mountain thunderstorm. Despite the thunder and lightning, the rain created the good scenting conditions for the Sunday Master class dogs to have more success in their quest for Master legs.

It has been a long time since I have been able to run my own dogs in Earthdog, and it was great to feel the thrill of earning a leg toward a title again!

If you can fit it into your 2007 schedule, watch the club's website for its spring training weekend and 2007 summer Earthdog tests.

*Editor's note: AKC Subject Matter Expert Karla Deithorn attended this event as a participant. She has been participating in Earthdog Tests and Dachshund Field Trials for more than 20 years. 

Earthdog Test Weekend comments 2005

From:

To:

Ms. Elizabeth Patterson

Dear Sandy, Bob P, Marge, Cookie,

Jo, Bob F, Mick, Monica, Marsha,

Joyce, Jeff and all the Champions

Of the Champion Earthdog Club,

            Please accept my sincere thanks for making possible the best earthdog weekend I've ever attended! It just couldn't have been better.

            Our day in the field on Friday brought rewards in seeing our dogs work effectively, even when we couldn't. The large percentage of dogs passing each test on both days was gratifying. The evening storm added some zest to the matter. Mick's feast is a legend. It all went off without a hitch thanks to the seamless teamwork of you Champions.

            Still, with all that excellence was a lot of good fun and good sport with good people. That's hard to equal and impossible to surpass. Hannelore's dog bringing home a textbook perfect performance on her birthday was the crown jewel.

            Someone asked me if I was a member of your club and I answered, "No, but I'm envious." You folks are just good at doing this.

            I don't care what the AKC calls it, you really are a champion earthdog club. Thanks for inviting me. If any of you find yourselves in the Big Apple, bring a dog for some rat hunting. The welcome mat is always out.

            Thanks again for your hospitality.

.                                                                              .

Earthdog Test Weekend comments

I would like to pass on my sincerest thanks to EVERYONE who helped me with the 'FEAST'.  I especially want to thank Jeff Parobek, Cheryl (Richard's wife), Cookie and Toni, Marsha and Bob Fensterer, Bob and Sandy Patterson and any club members who brought one of the wonderful salads, etc that added so much to the meal.   I couldn't have done it without all of you.

    Mickey Keller

Earthdog Test Weekend comments

Buddy our JRT had a great time at the august weekend. We enjoyed it too! He earned his first Junior Leg at Woodside and his Title the following weekend at Frey's Farm. We look forward to visiting again. Please add us to your event e-mail list.

Bill

M.A. Klein Weekend feedback from a Jack Russell Terrier Owner

Twenty five years ago, I acquired my first Jack Russell Terrier, joined the national breed club and began to work terriers in the earth. I was lucky to hunt with some of what were probably  the best terrier people in this country at that time. We entered our share of earth dog events and had great fun doing what terriers do best, but we never had any training in how to properly enter a terrier to quarry.

As time passed, we moved on to other activities in dogs but were never without a JR. Recently, we become aware of the Western PA. Earthdog Club and made a reservation in the Introduction to Quarry class sponsored by this club and instructed by M.A. Klein.  What a pleasure it was to train with such a knowledgeable person and  my Jack Russell, who has only known agility competition as terrier 'fun', has found a new way to express himself! I was really impressed by the thoughtful, progressive training approach taken with each applicant and  was astonished at the awakening of the dormant instincts of this middle aged Jack Russell. The fire still burns!

Until now, I was unaware that there is actually an orderly process to start earth dogs to quarry. No hit and miss with this group. These are earth dog enthusiasts with structure and purpose and their dogs are serious workers who know how to get it done.

We are anxious for more  earthwork and are looking forward to entering  our first earth dog test sometime this summer.

Thank you Western PA Earth dog Club and thanks M.A., for a wonderful day full of fun and  information on how to DO IT IN THE DIRT!

Mary Potter and 'Gizmo'