The BTCA Working and Hunting Certificates

Border Terriers were bred, first and foremost, to be working terriers. The purpose of the BTCA working/hunting certificate program is to identify Border Terriers that demonstrate instinctive working-terrier abilities and behavior (in traditional or non-traditional settings) in order to protect and preserve such qualities.

The complete rules for all certificates can be found in the Policy and Procedure Manual section 2-16

The application for all certificates can be found in the Policy and Procedure Manual section 3-05

 

Example Certificate -- Click image for larger version

 

WORKING CERTIFICATE

The purpose of the Working Certificate (WC) is to demonstrate that the Border Terrier has the conformation, instincts, and courage to successfully work dangerous quarry in a traditional, natural setting underground. The Border Terrier must enter the natural burrow of a formidable underground quarry (e.g. adult fox, otter, badger, raccoon, woodchuck or a specially approved species) without encouragement. From there he is to either bolt or draw the quarry or hold it at bay until dug to.

 

Current Dogs to Date that have Earned This Certificate

Handler	Dog	Year
Karen Fitzpatrick	Ch Rainsbarrow Lapsana	2001
Judy Todd	Ch Stonecroft Raising a Tally Ho SE	2008

FIELD GAME CERTIFICATE

The purpose of the Field Game Certificate (FGC) is to demonstrate that the Border Terrier has the instincts and courage to confront and attack dangerous earth-dwelling quarry in a nontraditional situation. This certificate includes dogs who may not be small enough to work underground, who do not have the opportunity to work underground, or who perform the function which is often called "draw dog" or "seizer dog". To earn this certificate, the dog must face formidable quarry (ie. adult raccoon, fox, otter, badger, or woodchuck) in a confined space, hold it steady for capture or dispatch, bolt it (away from, not past, the dog), or take hold and draw it or hold it for diggers. The dog must do this on multiple different occasions.

 

Current Dogs to Date that have Earned This Certificate

Handler	Dog	Year
Jean Clark	Ch Digmoors Beko ME	2001
Joe Schrimpf	Teaberrys Kona Expresso ME CD AX AXJ TT FM	2001

FIELD SPORTING CERTIFICATE

The purpose of the FSC is to demonstrate that the Border Terrier has the versatility and instinct to successfully adapt to locating, catching, retrieving, or, if appropriate, dispatching, nontraditional quarry for food, fur, vermin control, or scientific study in an above ground setting. The dog must be used regularly for hunting above ground game or vermin. Examples are flushing and retrieving upland birds, retrieving waterfowl, locating and capturing armadillos, treeing/spotting squirrels for shooting, and locating and killing rats, but many other kinds of hunting might qualify.

 

Current Dogs to Date that have Earned This Certificate

Handler	Dog	Year
Judy Todd	Stonecroft Rhys ME TDIA CG	2001
Jo Ann Frier-Murza	Lothlorien Scrimmage ME	2002
Kim Carpenter	Ch Skyline Written in the Stars ME NA NAJ CGC	2005
Kim Carpenter	Foxglove Harriet Potter JE CGC	2005
Nancy Hembrow	Am/Intl Ch Sunkist Groovy Rudy ME CD NAJ OA CGC	2005
Nancy Hembrow	Tweed Hill A Saint She Ain't NAJ CGC	2005