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

AwardedCertificateDog's NameOwner
2001Working CertificateCh Rainsbarrow Lapsana
Ch Rainsbarrow Lapsana
Karen Fitzpatrick
2008 Working CertificateCh Stonecroft Raising A Tally Ho SE
Ch Stonecroft Raising A Tally Ho SE
Judy Todd
2001Field Game CertificateCh Digmoors Beko ME
Ch Digmoors Beko ME
Jean Clark
2001Field Game CertificateTeaberrys Kona Expresso ME CD AX AXJ TT FM
Teaberrys Kona Expresso ME CD AX AXJ TT FM
Joe Schrimpf
2002Field Sporting CertificateLothlorien Scrimmage ME
Lothlorien Scrimmage ME
Jo Ann Frier-Murza
2003Field Sporting CertificateStonecroft Rhys ME TDIA CG
Stonecroft Rhys ME TDIA CG
Judy Todd
2005Field Sporting CertificateCh Skyline Written in the Stars ME NA NAJ CGC
Ch Skyline Written in the Stars ME NA NAJ CGC
Kim Carpenter
2005Field Sporting CertificateAm/Intl Ch Sunkist Groovy Rudy ME CD NAJ OA CGC
Am/Intl Ch Sunkist Groovy Rudy ME CD NAJ OA CGC
Nancy Hembrow
2005Field Sporting CertificateFoxglove Harriet Potter JE CGC
Foxglove Harriet Potter JE CGC
Kim Carpenter
2005Field Sporting CertificateTweed Hill A Saint She Ain’t NAJ CGC
Tweed Hill A Saint She Ain’t NAJ CGC
Nancy Hembrow
2012Field Sporting CertificateCan.Ch. Jansim Norbury Gremlin
Can.Ch. Jansim Norbury Gremlin
Tony Hunt
2014Field Sporting CertificateHoundhollow Start Me Up UD RAE MX AXJ EF ME CGC TT BTCA-VX
Houndhollow Start Me Up UD RAE MX AXJ EF ME CGC TT BTCA-VX
Susan Friedenberg
2021Field Sporting CertificateJansim Shot in the Dark
Jansim Shot in the Dark
Tony Hunt
2022Field Sporting CertificateGambrinus Jigger in a Pint RA, ME, CAX, TKN, BCT
Gambrinus Jigger in a Pint RA, ME, CAX, TKN, BCT
Susan Storey
2022Field Sporting CertificateLionridge Ghillie RN, CGC, TKA, RATN, BN, JE, V
Lionridge Ghillie RN, CGC, TKA, RATN, BN, JE, V
Laura Speight
2023Field Sporting CertificateFirelands Copperfield BN RN FDC NE BCAT ACT1J CGCA TRN ATT
Firelands Copperfield BN RN FDC NE BCAT ACT1J CGCA TRN ATT
Amanda Bruder, Jillian & Ella Plummer
Ch Digmoors Beko ME FGC enjoying retirement

Ch Digmoors Beko ME FGC enjoying retirement

Ch Stonecroft Raising a Tally Ho SE working to earth

Ch Stonecroft Raising a Tally Ho SE working to earth

Lothlorien Scrimmage ME CD FSC rat hunting

Lothlorien Scrimmage ME CD FSC rat hunting

Can Ch Jansim Norbury Gremlin FSC flushing grouse

Can Ch Jansim Norbury Gremlin FSC flushing grouse

Stonecroft Rhys ME TDIA CG a job well done

Stonecroft Rhys ME TDIA CG a job well done

Lionridge Ghillie ready to work

Lionridge Ghillie FSC ready to work!