- What exactly is a Fun/Play day?
- Who would I contact for more information ?
- What do you mean by a dog trial?
- What are the basic rules of Conformation?
- What are the basic rules of go-to-ground?
- What are the basic rules of Racing?
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- What are the basic rules of Agility?
- What are the basic rules of Puissance (High jump)?
Fun Days are just what the name implies, these are non-competitive practice days.
Fun Day events usually include some of the following: Racing, Go-To-Ground, Super Go-To-Ground, Ball Toss and Puissance (High Jump).
The registration desk opens around8:30 - 9:00 AM.
In the hot summer months the first event we start with is racing which gets going around 9:30 – 10:00 AM, so that the dogs are finished before the Noon-Day sun gets too hot.
The Fun Days are an all-day affair, the last event usually wraps up around 3:00 or 4:00 PM.
A "token" is used for each event. The cost of tokens to members are $5.00 each or 10 for $40.00. Non-members must pay $7.00 per token after the first visit.
Our Welcoming Committee is on-hand to help you complete your entry form, explain how each event works and answer any questions that you might have.
Everyone is welcome to stop by and watch the days events, so come out and experience a great time for all! Also, other terriers are welcome to participate in the days events.
If you can't find what you are looking for on this site, our secretary, Skiff, would be happy to answer any questions you may have. click here!
Because the MWJRTC is an affiliate club of the JRTCA, we hold trials that are sanctioned by them. (sanctioned means approved by and following the trial guidelines of The JRTCA—The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America). Sanctioned trials include: Conformation, Racing, Go-To-Ground, and may have Super Go To Ground, Barn hunt, Ball Toss, Puissance (High Jump) and Agility. The registration desk opens around 7-7:30 AM and the last event wraps up around 5:00 PM. You can sign up for as many events as you care to; the cost to participate in each event is normally between $10.00 and $12.00 a class.
The JRTCA
The JRTCA is The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America. They are our parent club that is based in Maryland. They have been in existence since 1976. The JRTCA has 6,009 members as of 3/1/02. Check out their website at www.terrier.com
The MWJRTC and the JRTCA are against any type of all-breed registry. Please help to support this effort.
The purpose of Conformation within the JRTCA Trials is for the judge in the show-ring to view those terriers entered, and from each class, choose the terrier that is most conformationally correct and most suitable for earthwork. Unlike the other events offered at the trial, which are based on each terrier's willingness and ability to perform, conformation is subjective. It is based on the educated opinion of the Conformation Judge.
Conformation classes are grouped under three main categories: Open Classes, Working Classes and Miscellaneous Classes. Open Classes are divided by gender, height and coat type. Also included in this category may be classes such as 'Bred by Exhibitor' & 'American Bred'. Working Classes are also divided by gender, height and coat type but are limited to those terriers that have earned a JRTCA Natural Hunting Certificate. Miscellaneous Classes include 'Child Handler', 'Junior Handler', 'Bronze Medallion', 'Veteran'and 'Family' Classes. Also in this category are '4-6 month puppy class’.
Ribbons are awarded for 1st through 6th place. The 1st and 2nd place terriers from each class advance to compete in either 'Best Of' or 'Championship' Classes, at which time trophies are usually awarded.
On the morning of the trial, each participant will check in at the registration booth and will be given a trial packet. Within the packet there will be a list of the events in which each of your terriers is entered, along with a numbered armband (one per dog entered) which must be worn by the exhibitor when entering the show-ring. A person called a ring steward will be standing at the entrance to the conformation ring. It is their job to check off the entrants, record placement by the judge and assist the judge in any other manner requested.
Once in the ring, all exhibitors will be asked to move their terriers around the ring and then to stop and 'stack' their dog (walk it into a standing position). The judge will then have the first exhibitor in line bring their terrier out. The judge will examine the terrier (coat, teeth, bite,span of chest, etc.) and will ask the exhibitor to walk their dog away from, across and back toward the judge, usually in a triangular pattern, in order to check the dog's gait and movement.
Always keep the terrier between you and the judge so that he will have an unrestricted view ofthe dog. Once your dog has been examined, thank the judge and move to the end of the line and wait quietly until all the dogs in the ring have been reviewed. After the judge finishes his examination, he may have all exhibitors move their dogs around the ring again or he may immediately pull dogs to the middle of the ring. When he does this he has begun to make his final placement selection. Those not pulled to the center of the ring will usually be dismissed at this point.
When the judge has determined the final order of finish he will present the ribbons and in the case of a Championship or Best Of Class, the trophies will be presented at the same time.
Some important points to remember:
1. Have your terrier accustomed to walking on lead and standing still for you before you show in conformation. While showing in conformation is good experience for you and your dog, it is not the time to be trying to walk your dog on lead for the first time.
2. Use a show lead or a very fine choke chain show lead--not your regular collar full of dog tags.
3. Dress neatly but not as if you were going to a fashion show. You do Not want to distract attention from your terrier by wearing a lot of jewelry, full skirts, etc.
4. Treats or small toys are acceptable for getting and holding your terrier's attention. Use very small bits of treats that are quickly chewed and swallowed by the dog or toys that are very small and do not squeak loudly enough to be a distraction to the other terriers.
5. Be polite to the judge, the ring steward and the other exhibitors at all times!!
6. Have FUN!! A little healthy competition is good, but winning a ribbon isn't everything.
Go-To-Ground is a competition that makes use of the terrier’s natural ability to follow the scent of quarry. The terriers enter man-made tunnels, one at a time. The dog is released approximately 2 feet from the entrance of the tunnel when told to do so by the judge.The dog must have all four feet on the ground when it is released.
At the exit point there is a cage that contains one or more rats. The judge sits at the exit point with a stopwatch and times each terrier from the moment it is released until it reaches the caged rats. It is then timed on how long it 'works' the rats. Working consists of barking, baying, whining, staring or digging at the rats. The terrier must complete the tunnel in 30-60 seconds and ‘work’ for 30 –60 seconds depending upon which go-to-ground class they are competing in. Each terrier has a score sheet on which the judge will record the time it took to get through the tunnel and if the terrier has passed or failed this portion and whether it passed or failed working the quarry for the specified time. The appropriate score sheet will be in the trial packet. Hand the score sheet to the den steward when it is your turn to release your dog. Pick up your score sheet from the judge when you pick up your dog. All dogs which successfully 'worked' the rats for the required amount of time are then placed in order of fastest times through the tunnel to determine the order of finish.
Classes for this event are divided into several categories:
» Pre-novice puppy: for pups ages 4 to 6 months.
» Novice puppy: for pups ages 6 to 12 months who have not scored 100% in this class at a previous JRTCA or AWTA trial.
» Novice adult: for JR's over 12 months of age which have not score 100% in this class at aprevious JRTCA or AWTA trial.
» Open puppy: for pups ages 6 to 12 months that have scored 100% in the Novice Puppy class.
» Open adult: for JR's over 12 months of age that have scored 100% in the Novice Adult class.
Once your terrier has achieved 100% in this class at a sanctioned trial the terrier can no long participate in this class.
The next step would be to obtain a Trial Certificate which allows your dog to compete in the Championship Go-To-Ground Classes, this is done by submitting a copy of the qualifying score sheet along with the $15.00 filing fee to the JRTCA office.
Championship Go-To-Ground Classes:
» Puppy championship: open to pups ages 6 to 12 months that have earned 100% in the Open Puppy class.
» Under 10" up to 12-1/2" Championship Certificate: open to adult JR's 10" up to 12-1/2" who have scored 100% in the Open Adult class and have received their JRTCA Trial Certificate.
» Over 12-1/2" up to 15" Championship Certificate: open to adult JR's who are over 12-1/2" up to 15" who have scored 100% in the Open Adult class and have received their JRTCA Trial Certificate.
» Veteran Class: open to JR's over 6 years of age which hold a JRTCA Trial Certificate.
Some important points to remember:
1. Schooling at a trial prior to competition is not permitted.
2. When waiting your turn to compete in this event, please be very quiet and keep your terriers quiet so that the judge and the terrier competing are not distracted.
3. When your dog is in the tunnel you may shout commands and encouragement, but you must remain at the entrance until the judge calls you to pick up your dog.
4. If you wish to discuss your dog's performance with the judge or to school your terrier, you must wait until all entries have gone and the Go-To-Ground competition is officially closed.
The racing division consists of two events: Flat races and Steeple chase races (also called hurdles).
Within each event there are classes so that the terriers compete by age, gender and height. Each 'heat' (race) consists of up to 6 JR's. Each dog will be assigned a colored racing collar. Each dog in a given heat wears a different color. The racing judge will record the results of each heat by the color the terrier is wearing. Heats are established prior to the trial, making it necessary to pre-enter the racing event. Post entries are not accepted for racing.
When your heat is announced, take your terrier immediately to the 'on deck' area next to the starting gate. There you will be given your colored collar and you will draw a number (1 through 6) to determine which gate to load your dog in. You must have your terrier muzzled before the race runs. The race will not be delayed for a dog to be muzzled. No figure 8 muzzles are allowed; plastic basket muzzles are strongly suggested.
When all of the dogs are loaded into the starting gate, the racing steward will signal the lure runner that all are ready. The lure will start and the front of the gate will come up, releasing the terriers. The dogs will chase the lure down a 75-yard fenced track. At the end of the track are bales of straw with an opening big enough for one dog to pass through at a time. Behind the bales is a large 'catch pen' with 6 people ready to catch the dogs in the order in which they come through the opening. It is not the fastest dog to the bales that will necessarily win--it is the first dog through the opening and into the catch pen that wins the race.
As soon as you have placed your dog in the starting gate, proceed to the catch pen area to retrieve your dog when the race is finished. Depending on the number of entries in your class, 1st, 2nd & possibly the 3rd place finishers may advance to a semi-final or final racing heat.
The dogs that place 1st in the final heat of their class will advance to a Championship race. Championship races are divided by height and usually consist of 4 dogs, 2 females and 2 males. All of which have placed 1st in their particular racing class for flats and steeplechase (i.e. the 1st place winners from the short dog and short bitches classes for both flats and steeplechases will advance to the 10" up to 12-1/2" Championship race). The Championship races for the puppies are usually run first because they run over the shorter hurdles, not to exceed 8” in height. For the adult dogs the hurdles will be a minimum of 8” and maximum of 15” in height. The Championship races for all terriers other than the puppies are run after all of the Steeplechase races are complete and they are run over hurdles. At the discretion of the judge, a heat may be re-run if one dog interferes with another. A dog jumping another dog may be disqualified. A race will always be re-run if a dog catches the lure.
Some important points to remember:
1. All dogs racing must wear a muzzle; the plastic basket muzzles are strongly advised. No figure eight muzzles will be allowed. Also, get your dog accustomed to wearing a muzzle and have your muzzle ready. If your dog is difficult to muzzle, make sure you have help.
2. Be ready for your race! If you are not, your dog may be disqualified.
3. The judges' ruling is always final!
Agility is an obstacle course that can be performed on lead or off lead and is a timed event. JR’s are usually great agility dogs because it keeps them moving and JR’s are very active dogs.
Terriers individually follow a lure over a specially designed high jump. The jump is continually raised giving the terriers repeated tries. Knocking down the jumps disqualifies the terrier and this continues until all terriers have been disqualified except for one
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