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| I’m
interested in working my terrier; what do I need to know to
get started doing earthwork? |
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| The desire to enter an earth or
rock den in search of quarry is innate in most Jack
Russells.
Everything about this terrier is designed with
earthwork in mind.
It never ceases to amaze me how they are seemingly born
knowing exactly what to do when the situation presents
itself! However,
if you’re inexperienced in the field, there is much to learn
and it’s best to get started with an experienced person before
trying to go out on your own. |
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| First and foremost, your dog
depends on you for its safety. There is a proper way
to introduce your dog to live game, dangers to know how to
avoid, and various contingencies to plan for that a
knowledgeable person in the field can advise you on to make
earthwork a fun and safe activity for both you and your
terrier.
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| A complete listing of
JRTCA-sanctioned Working Judges is provided in each issue of
True Grit, the club's bi-monthly magazine sent
to all members.
Feel free to give one of these experienced earthworkers
a call. They are
happy to volunteer their time in an effort to help get novice
terriers and their owners started in the
field. |
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| What are the
some of the dangers one might encounter doing
earthwork? |
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| Jack Russells are not expected
to tangle unnecessarily with their opponents. Traditionally, in
England they were used to bolt the Red Fox from his den so the
mounted hunt could continue the chase. This required that the
fox be unharmed.
Experienced Jack Russells can usually manage to bolt or
hold at bay our North American quarry: Red Fox, Grey Fox,
woodchucks, and raccoons without getting hurt, although the
potential is there.
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Encountering other wild animals
such as skunks, porcupines, coyotes, poisonous snakes, or even
some insects can be deadly. There’s also the risk
of your dog being trapped below ground when entering earth and
rock dens in pursuit of these quarry. Having the right
tools, the know-how, and taking decisive action in an
emergency situation are the keys to avoiding tragedy and
minimizing the potential dangers of
earthwork. |
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| What type
of equipment is required to do earthwork and maintain safety
out in the field? |
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Being prepared for every
possible contingency in the field requires having the right
tools and equipment needed to handle various kinds of
situations.
Although items in a hunting kit may vary during
different seasons and for different terrains, some essentials
include: |
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Large and
small shovels
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Post hole
diggers
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Hunting
knife
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Limb
saw
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Wire
cutters
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Flashlight
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Towels and
blankets |
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Plenty of
fresh water and high energy food
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Cellular phone
and emergency vet numbers
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First-aid kit
with items for both you and your terrier
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Electronic
terrier finder and collar, plus extra batteries for
both |
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| What are
electronic terrier finders and collars and where can I
purchase them? |
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| To lose your terrier in the
ground can be alarming even for the most experienced field
workers. If you
want to work your dog in the field, investing in an electronic
terrier finder and collar is a must! Not to be confused
with the tracking collars used on hounds working above ground,
this collar and locator box tracks the location of the terrier
underground. The Deben Electronic
Terrier Finder and Collar can be purchased at the JRTCA Store
on their Web site. |
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| Do I need a
hunting license to work my terrier? |
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| Game laws vary from state to
state. Depending
on how “hunting” is defined in your state regulations, you may
be required to obtain a hunting license to work your
terrier. It’s
also possible that putting a dog in the earth could be illegal
in your state. So
check with your state’s Department of Environmental
Conservation to learn the legal aspects of hunting that apply
to the area where you live. |
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