ASHCROFT BEDLINGTONS

Crosswicks Farm in Crosswicks, NJ is the site for many earth dog activities during the year. The New Jersey Beanfield Earthdog Club (NJBEC) website will have a calendar of events. Each Memorial Day weekend, they hold a training day and a fun day for earth dog enthusiasts. In May 2009, a few Bedlington Terrier folks got together to have some fun with their dogs.

In Introduction To Quarry 1, the dogs are allowed to see and encouraged to display interest in a rat in a cage that's brought close up and personal. The dogs see the previous canine get excited, and it builds their anticipation. After each dog has expressed strong interest, they take turns going through a short, straight tunnel where they can see the rat at the end.

Next, a small turn is added, and they're encouraged to enter the tunnel without being able to see the rat, make the turn, and at the end the rat is behind bars and the owner encourages the dog to "work" the rat - vocally, with paws and with teeth....

Laverne and Vanassa

Magic and Diane

Karen and Orion

If successful above ground, the owner and dog can try IQ2 - release from a distance to a longer, below ground tunnel with a turn to negotiate. Ch Ashcroft Orion advanced to that level his first day!

Ch Ashcroft Orion did so well, he was able to try the JE (Jr earthdog) workshop where he traveled 30 feet underground around 3 turns to work a rat. He's still a quiet worker, and needs to practice locating the tunnel entrance, but he did a fantastic job his first day earth dogging!