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Performance Events

Unleash Your Bedlington's Instictive Abilities!

Performance Events Focus on a Bedlington's Natural Terrier Skills

The Need for Speed!
Fast and Furriest!
Happy Hunting!
Follow the Scent!

Discover Your Bedlington’s Inner Terrier Talents with Coursing Ability Test, FastCAT, Earthdog, and Scent Work!

Bunny On The Brain!

The Coursing Ability Test (CAT) is a performance event that showcases a Bedlington’s instinct to chase moving prey. Dogs run individually a looping course, pursuing a mechanical lure called a bunny. The lure machine pulls the bunny on a cord and simulates the movement of live prey. This test is timed, making speed and drive important factors.
 
Bedlington Terriers, originally bred to hunt small game, excel in this event due to their agility and speed. Their athletic build and history as hunters mean they are naturally adept at chasing and running, allowing them to perform impressively in both the Coursing Ability Test and FastCAT.
 
Dogs run individually on a 300 to 600 yard long course and must finish in less 1.5 to 2 minutes without stopping or losing site of the bunny.
Bedlingtons have a double suspension gallop where there are two moments when all four feet are off the ground in continuous one stride

Tally Ho! Let's Go!

Fast CAT (Fast Coursing Ability Test) is a timed 100-yard dash where each individual dog runs a straight course chasing a lure like a plastic bag or pom-pom. Their time to complete the 100 yards is recorded. The recorded time is converted to miles per hour and then multiplied by a handicap based on its height to calculate points.
Little training is needed, but dogs should be in good physical condition and comfortable with high arousal environments
Any dog at least 12 months old that is AKC registered (or listed through programs like FSS or AKC Canine Partners) can compete. Females in season are not eligible.
 
Dogs can earn titles by accumulating points:
BCAT: 150 points
DCAT: 500 points
FCAT: 1,000
FCAT#: For each additional 500 points after earning the FCAT title
Bedlingtons are capable of running up to 30 miles per hour

Get Down & Dirty!

The profuse top knot of hair protects the eyes from dirt and debris while persuing vermin above and below ground

Earthdog events are canine competitions designed to test the natural hunting instincts of the Bedlington Terrier and several other go-to-ground breeds. These events simulate the experience of hunting burrowing prey, like rats, by creating artificial underground tunnels or dens. During the competition, dogs must crawl, navigate bends, and maneuver through narrow, dark passages until they locate a caged rat at the end. The rats are kept safe and unharmed in protective cages, serving only as a scent and visual target to stimulate the dogs’ instincts.

Earthdog trials showcase the breed’s ability to work underground and demonstrate both speed and flexibility.

The Nose Knows!

A dog's sense of smell is estimated to be10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human

Scent Work challenges a dog’s natural ability to detect and locate specific scents hidden in various environments. The objectives for the dog is to use its keen sense of smell to find a target odor and then clearly indicate to its handler when and where the scent has been discovered. This sport not only taps into a dog’s instinctual skills but also builds teamwork and communication between dog and handler.

Scent Work is popular for its accessibility, fun, and the mental stimulation it provides for Bedlingtons. It is modeled after professional detection dog work, such as narcotics or explosives detection, but is practiced as a rewarding and enjoyable activity for pet dogs and handlers.

AKC PERFORMANCE EVENTS