Brief Explanation Page

Conformation

The conformation class is held to determine how closely the dog meets the breed standard. It is judged on correct stucture, movement & breed type for each breed. The ultimate goal of the conformation class is to determine if the dog/bitch is correct for the breed & good enough to be bred. It must be remembered though, that this one judge's opinion for that day. But the judges are usually very knowledgeable dog people whose opinion means allot. For Russell Terriers, winning conformation classes is only one aspect to consider, when thinking of breeding. The breed was originally created as a  hunting dog. It was bred based on its hunting ability. If the dog was physically unable to work the quarry then it also wouldn't have been bred (form follows function). The terriermen in England bred their best hunters together regardless of looks. All that mattered to them is if the dog could & would do the job that was set before them. The size of their chest & willingness to hunt, is what best determines if the dog will be able to work. Ideally the chest size should be no bigger than 15" and it should be oval shaped and flexible. If we lose the dog's desire and ability to hunt, we lose the breed. For those of us who cannot or choose not to hunt their dogs, impartial judging by an expert who understands the whole Russell Terrier breed type is essential for going forward with our beloved breed.

Go To Ground (In AKC, Earthdog)

GTG classes serve to test to our dogs gameness. They are meant to be a simulation of a real settee. The ARTC classes consist of above ground boxes, covered with brush or hay. The tunnels are usually 10' to about 45' (novice, open & advanced). A rat is at the end of each tunnel. The tunnels are scented with rat scent for the dogs to follow. (The rat is in no way harmed during the test. He is kept safely in a steel cage). The dogs are allowed a certain amount of time, usually about 1 minute to reach the end of the tunnel. When at the end, the dog is supposed to work the rat (bark, scratch, whine, dig) for about 3 minutes in order to pass the test and receive their GTG certificate. There are usually 3 types of certificates given, Novice, Open & Championship. For competition, the dogs with the fastest times are awarded ribbons. (Speed is not something truly desired in a real hunting situation. It is better to have a more cautious dog that would safely enter the earth instead of blindly bolting in to who knows what!)

Racing

Racing is no doubt the most fun event at the trials. The dogs are put into a special race box. Each gets their own stall, the gate is lifted and off they go! The dogs are supposed to run to the end chasing the lure (a fox tail). This is also a test for gameness and prey drive. They must go through the hole at the end in order to finish the race. The hole is made by stacking bales of hay and leaving just enough room for one dog at a time to follow the lure through. (The ARTC now uses a specially made foam barrier instead of hay bales). All dogs are muzzled during the race. These terriers get so excited about following the prey, sometimes they can turn on each other and fight. A terrier of the right temperament really shouldn't do this but we must take proper precautions. Steeplechase is exactly the same except the dogs have to jump over hurdles following the lure. Sometimes for fun on hot days, we put a water barrier in the race:

Lure Coursing

Our Terrier Luring coursing is different from racing in that the dogs run one at a time with no box and no muzzle. The course is not straight as in a race. The dogs are timed for the fastest speed. Sometimes we add jumps and tunnels, just for fun. Some of the dogs will do Lure Coursing that won't race because of the muzzle and box. It is allot of fun to watch these guys play!

Agility

Agility is usually one of the Russell's favorite events. This requires training and obedience from your dog. Agility classes are very popular and offered all over the U.S.

Agility is sort of an obstacle coarse for dogs. They must go through weave poles, over the dog walk, jumps, tunnels, an A-frame, the teeter and other things. The dog with the fastest time and the least amount of faults (errors) wins. It is a great sport for our dogs and good exercise for us! It is also so much fun.

This page was last updated on: September 30, 2007