American Working Terrier Association
Encyclopedia
The American Working Terrier Association (AWTA) was founded in 1971 by Patricia Adams Lent to encourage and promote the ownership and working of earthworking terrier
s of correct size, conformation and character to be usable for their intended purpose. The organization currently includes about two hundred members. The group sanctions terrier den trials put on by local groups across the US
. The AWTA is unusual in that since its inception, it does not require that dogs be purebred, it welcomes all breeds of small working terrier
s as well as dachshund
s and it has no headquarters or employees.
The American Working Terrier Association produces a quarterly newsletter
. Its web site http://www.AWTA.org contains Association information and a list of upcoming den trials.
and Cairn terrier
s as well as Border terrier
s. She worried that the small Kennel Club
terriers would lose their desire to work and become mere companion animals. She stated, "The main objective of the AWTA is to encourage owners of the "working terrier" breeds into the field with their dogs."
The AWTA is important organization in the history of working terriers, not only because it was the first American group dedicated entirely to the working terrier, but also because Ms. Lent developed den trials their rules. The AWTA den trial has been the foundation for all such activities in the US. The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America
go to grounds, begun in 1976 and later the American Kennel Club
earthdog trials in 1994, both use the same type of equipment and rules begun by Pat Lent. All three use buried wooden lined tunnels with right angled turns and caged lab rats at the end for the terriers to work. The rat
s and terriers are separated by a barrier of wooden dowels or bars, the terriers can smell the rats, but not reach them.
, or indeed even be purebred
. The trials are not a competition, they are an activity with a qualifying or non-qualifying scoring system. Their purpose is to allow the terrier and owner to have fun, while encouraging them towards the ultimate goal of getting the terrier into the field.
The American Working Terrier Association issues Certificates of Gameness to dogs qualifying at their den trials. Working Certificates are awarded to dogs that work quarry
in a natural den, when witnessed by another AWTA member and approved by the AWTA Trustees. AWTA also issues a Hunting Certificate to a dog that hunts above ground quarry regularly over a period of a year.
Terrier
A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, very active and fearless dogs. Terrier breeds vary greatly in size from just a couple of pounds to over 70 pounds and are usually categorized by size or function...
s of correct size, conformation and character to be usable for their intended purpose. The organization currently includes about two hundred members. The group sanctions terrier den trials put on by local groups across the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The AWTA is unusual in that since its inception, it does not require that dogs be purebred, it welcomes all breeds of small working terrier
Working terrier
A working terrier is a small type of dog which pursues its quarry into the earth. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the name dates back to at least 1440, derived from early modern French terrier - from the medieval Latin terrarius from the Latin terra .With the growth of popularity of...
s as well as dachshund
Dachshund
The dachshund is a short-legged, long-bodied dog breed belonging to the hound family. The standard size dachshund was bred to scent, chase, and flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals, while the miniature dachshund was developed to hunt smaller prey such as rabbits...
s and it has no headquarters or employees.
The American Working Terrier Association produces a quarterly newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
. Its web site http://www.AWTA.org contains Association information and a list of upcoming den trials.
History
Patricia Adams Lent has owned and raised LakelandLakeland Terrier
The Lakeland Terrier is a dog breed, which takes its name from its home of origin, the Lake District in England. The dog is a small to mid-size member of the Terrier family. While independent in personality, it interacts well with owners and all family members, and is mostly hypo-allergenic...
and Cairn terrier
Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is the oldest of the terrier breeds, originating in the Scottish Highlands and recognized as one of Scotland's earliest working dogs...
s as well as Border terrier
Border Terrier
The Border Terrier is a small, rough-coated breed of dog of the terrier group. Originally bred as fox and vermin hunters, Border Terriers share ancestry with Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Bedlington Terriers....
s. She worried that the small Kennel Club
Kennel club
A kennel club is an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the breeding, showing and promotion of more than one breed of dog...
terriers would lose their desire to work and become mere companion animals. She stated, "The main objective of the AWTA is to encourage owners of the "working terrier" breeds into the field with their dogs."
The AWTA is important organization in the history of working terriers, not only because it was the first American group dedicated entirely to the working terrier, but also because Ms. Lent developed den trials their rules. The AWTA den trial has been the foundation for all such activities in the US. The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America
Jack Russell Terrier Club of America
The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America is the largest Jack Russell Terrier club and registry in the world, and is the National Breed Club and Registry for the Jack Russell Terrier in the United States....
go to grounds, begun in 1976 and later the American Kennel Club
American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official...
earthdog trials in 1994, both use the same type of equipment and rules begun by Pat Lent. All three use buried wooden lined tunnels with right angled turns and caged lab rats at the end for the terriers to work. The rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s and terriers are separated by a barrier of wooden dowels or bars, the terriers can smell the rats, but not reach them.
AWTA activities
The AWTA was from the beginning inclusive of all small earthworking terrier breeds. In 1972 dachshunds were allowed to participate as well. The terriers need not have a pedigreePedigree
Pedigree can refer to the lineage or genealogical descent of people, whether documented or not, or of animals, whether purebred or not. This can include:-Concepts and documents:...
, or indeed even be purebred
Purebred
Purebreds, also called purebreeds, are cultivated varieties or cultivars of an animal species, achieved through the process of selective breeding...
. The trials are not a competition, they are an activity with a qualifying or non-qualifying scoring system. Their purpose is to allow the terrier and owner to have fun, while encouraging them towards the ultimate goal of getting the terrier into the field.
The American Working Terrier Association issues Certificates of Gameness to dogs qualifying at their den trials. Working Certificates are awarded to dogs that work quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
in a natural den, when witnessed by another AWTA member and approved by the AWTA Trustees. AWTA also issues a Hunting Certificate to a dog that hunts above ground quarry regularly over a period of a year.