Earthdog
Albany Capital District Dachshund Club Holds First Earthdog Test

The Albany Capital District Dachshund Club held their first Earthdog Tests at the York Estate in Otego, NY on August 28 and 29. They have started their Earthdog career with a BANG!

The Master course is one of the best in the country. The start was in a huge unmowed hayfield with unused natural dens and a lovely hedgerow with a stone wall. The dogs had to negotiate a field of tall grass; find the false den in the middle of the field and then go over a small knoll to the edge of a hedgerow where the den sat. The knoll kept the dogs from seeing the den too soon and the natural scent trails in the hayfield kept them hunting strongly. No dogs qualified in Master Saturday and three qualified on Sunday.

On Sunday Brace 1 in Master had a lovely hunt. The dogs quartered the field well and the Dachshund, Piccolo found some mice to hunt. The Norfolk, Lucy, owned by Sue Ely, found some unoccupied feeding dens the woodchucks had used earlier in the season. The two dogs then hunted over the knoll down to the den and worked around the den nicely together.

Brace 2 on Sunday was a Border and a Norfolk. Ollie, the Norfolk, hunted close to start but then caught the scent of something in the hedgerow. It took some calling to get him back to check out the false den. Then when they reached the main den, the Border, Summer, marked. Ollie decided to let Summer work that den, when he caught an interesting scent from the empty pasture through the hedgerow. Peggy had to trek over to get him. He had made up his mind HIS find was better than the rats. He may have failed the ME test that day, but he sure enjoyed himself!

Most of the dogs who failed in Master both days did so due to a reluctance to negotiate the den more slowly. Oftentimes, dogs become conditioned to only turning at corners due to the den configuration in Junior. The ACDDC den forced the dogs to look more carefully for the main run since there was a bedding area at the end of a five foot unscented tunnel straight off the second turn and a ten foot unscented false exit with a 90 degree turn off the corner opposite the rats.

For their first Master Earthdog test, ACDDC did a beautiful job and they were fully prepared with tools to make the necessary adjustments to the Master den on Saturday morning.

The judges both days on the walk up did a nice job of educating exhibitors on what their dogs were doing. And everyone seemed happy with their runs.

The Senior earth was in the same den as Master. It stayed shady all morning and afternoon, which made it comfortable for the judges, handlers, dogs and rats. There was also plenty of shade for those in the holding area.

The Intro to Quarry den was behind the two tents so that those dogs and handlers had plenty of shade as well. For the Junior den, which did not have natural shade, the club provided large umbrellas for those waiting their turn. The Junior den also offered an excellent knoll for spectators to observe the dogs doing their thing without disturbing them.

The club had breakfast and lunch available and the "cafe area" was lovely. The tables were in a large screen tent and the food was outstanding. The piece de resistance was a Saturday night Pig Roast!

The ACDDC Earthdog Tests are a wonderful addition to the EDT circuit in the Northeast with a dynamite Master course; gourmet quality food; and a club that is well organized and caters to the exhibitors. Don't miss the next Albany Capital District Dachshund Club Earthdog Tests!

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