Tampa Bay Terrier Club Work Day

Today we traveled north to Ocala to the Tampa Bay Terrier clubs work day. Next weekend they are having a 2 day Earth Dog test, and today they dug all the tunnels and set up the test sites.

One thing I learned.... this earth dog stuff is hard work for the club members! I was impressed with the number of people who showed up, shovels in hand to help dig the tunnels. Everyone was friendly, and we learned a lot about this new sport (new to us!)

Here are some club members preparing the site for the Master ED test. They rented a small back hoe to dig some of the tunnels out. I don't know everyones name... but Carol Simpson, a judge for next weeks test, was directing the digging.

Below is photo of some of the members who showed up to dig and lend support. Jim (my hubby) is the guy in the heavy coat and hat.

Here's Jim lending a hand placing a portion of the tunnel for the Senior test.

Below is Teri Beverly directing the shovelers. Teri was everywhere, digging, carrying and then helping folks do a bit of tunnel work with their dogs.

Here's Jim and Scooter waiting for their turn to run.

Both Tess and Scooter did pretty good and we were told that how they performed would be good for the real test. Tess even chewed through one of the dowels that separates the dogs from the rat in a cage.... everyone told us this was a badge of honor! Scooter did what any good little BT would do... he went right down the hole, to the rat and tried his best to "git em". Good boy Scoots!

Here is Tess's dowel.....

Both of our BTs work for the real deal on our farm in PA. Tess has a total of 15 groundhogs to her name, Scooter helps and becoming quite the little hunter. We hope to take them both on to the Master level in this earth dog stuff.....stay tuned!

We also watched a BIS BT do his turn in the tunnels. Now that was pretty cool. It was very nice to see a dog that has been that successful in the show ring be out in the dirt doing what he should be bred to do! Now, if we could just get our GWP owners to do the same with their dogs!!!!!