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 BTCA offers three types of Certificates
- WORKING CERTIFICATE
- FIELD GAME CERTIFICATE
- FIELD SPORTING CERTIFICATE
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.
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.
FIELD SPORTING CERTIFICATE
The purpose of the Field Sporting Certificate (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 Working and Hunt Certificates
Ch Digmoors Beko ME FGC enjoying retirement
Ch Stonecroft Raising a Tally Ho SE working to earth
Lothlorien Scrimmage ME CD FSC rat hunting
Can Ch Jansim Norbury Gremlin FSC flushing grouse
Stonecroft Rhys ME TDIA CG a job well done
Lionridge Ghillie FSC ready to work!