All Events

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   A dog show kind of look like a beauty pageant, it’s not: 

Your scottie is not being compared to other dogs,  

he or she is measured how closely he or she conforms to the standard of our breed. 

Why? Form follows function, and  the closer your scottie’s 

appearance is to the breed standard, the better the ability 

to produce the next generation of healthy dogs.

AGILITY

Agility could probably be considered one of the more athletic events you can 

do as a team with your Scottie. It is also probably one of the most popular

dog sports! It requires speed, skill, and coordination between the dog and handler. 

In an agility trial, your Scottie would demonstrate its agile nature and versatility

by following cues from the handler (a.k.a. you) through a timed obstacle course of 

jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and other obstacles. 

The goal of agility is for you and your Scottie to navigate a numbered series of 

obstacles so that dog and handler run the course without any mistakes 

and in the shortest period of time. The handler generally is running along 

with the dog issuing verbal commands or hand signals to communicate which 

obstacle to do next. As you can imagine, agility is great for building 

a better relationship with your Scottie!

There are many classes and levels for agility. For more information on AKC agility, please visit: https://www.akc.org/sports/agility/

BARN HUNT

As a dog/handler team, your Scottie finds rats hidden in a maze of straw bales; you call the ‘find’.

And yes, rats are always safe in aerated tubes, and never harmed.

Barn Hunt events include a pass/fail instinct class for novice teams, 

and more challenging classes using additional diversions and multiple locations.

Barn Hunt is an independent sport, but titles are recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Learn more: https://www.barnhunt.com/

EARTHDOG

The Scottish Terrier was bred to “go to ground” to hunt vermin such as mice, rats and badgers. 

Like other terrier breeds that hunt underground, the Scottie is categorized as an earthdog. 

Hunting prey this way requires to the dog to navigate through tunnels, often in total darkness, 

digging out the tunnel if it is too small, and following the prey via scent. 

In real life scenarios, often the human hunter would use a shovel to dig out the dog and the prey.

The Scottie’s structure was designed to help it be effective to hunt underground. 

Its short stature allows the Scottie to navigate small tunnels. 

Its large chest and firm keel allows the Scottie to both rest on its chest while 

digging and provide for good lung capacity. 

The large muzzle, large teeth, and strong neck make it easier to dispatch prey.

The strong hind legs help the scottie to pull his prey out of the tunnel. 

The Scottie tail is strong, well attached, so that a human hunter can pull 

the Scottie out by the tail if needed. 

VENUES

There are two venues you may test the gameness of your Scottie. 

The American Working Terrier Association (AWTA) was the first 

organized group to have awards for going to ground. 

The AWTA was founded in 1971 by Patricia Adams Lent 

to help and promote the breeding, hunting, and ownership

of terriers of correct size, conformation, and character to perform as working terriers.

The AKC Earthdog tests also provide a yardstick to how good of a hunter your Scottie is. 

As performance events, they are non-competitive and each terrier is judged on its own abilities 

for searching and locating the prey underground. More info about each venue, 

and locations of future tests, can be found via the websites below:

AWTA: https://www.awta.org/

AKC Earthdog: https://www.akc.org/sports/earthdog/

OBEDIENCE

Obedience has been around for about eight decades, 

so it is one of the AKC’s oldest sporting events. 

Competing in obedience events present an opportunity 

for the handler and dog to demonstrate their skill as 

working as a team. Depending on the level of competition, 

examples of exercises you and your Scottie would demonstrate include: 

walking on- and off-leash, retrieving and jumping, 

and demonstrating your Scottie’s ability to stay. 

Moreover, it “is essential that the obedience dog demonstrates 

willingness and enjoyment while it is working with the handler.”

To learn more about AKC Obedience, 

visit: https://www.akc.org/sports/obedience/

RALLY

AKC Rally® began in 2005 as a complement to AKC obedience trials. 

Since then, it has grown into its own, stand-alone sport where participation

by the greater dog community increases each year. 

It’s a perfect entry sport for those teams who are new to dog events, 

but who also want to teach basic obedience and develop a stronger bond with their dogs.

AKC Rally entails walking with your Scottie on a numbered course that has 

between 10 and 20 stations. Unlike traditional obedience events, 

the handlers can use multiple verbal commands and/or hand signals 

to encourage their dogs to complete the tasks designated at each station. 

This flexibility tends to lend itself to a more relaxed atmosphere 

and rapport between dog and handler. While some consider Rally to be an 

easier alternative to competition obedience, others would argue it provides 

a challenging way for teams to test your scottie’s talents and the teamwork skills between you.

To learn more about AKC Rally, visit: https://www.akc.org/sports/rally/

SCENT WORK

Scent Work is based on the work of professional detection dogs 

(such as drug dogs and service dogs), 

who detect a wide variety of scents and substances. 

In AKC Scent Work, your Scottie searches for cotton swabs 

scented with essential oils (Birch, Anise, Clove, and Cypress). 

The cotton swabs are hidden in a pre-determined search area. 

When he finds the scent, your Scottie will communicate the find to you; 

you call it out to the judge.

https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-scent-work/

TRACKING

Your Scottie’s sense of smell is 100,000 times stronger than humans, 

making him well suited for Tracking.

This non competitive event has your Scottie follow a path to find articles 

placed along the way. It’s a perfect way for you and your dog to enjoy 

many hours together, outside in the fresh air, honing his natural abilities.

Before you take a Tracking Dog test, you’ll need to be certified by an AKC approved judge

Dog shows were originally organized as a 

place for breeders to gather to have their 

breeding stock evaluated by someone 

experienced and knowledgeable in their 

respective breed. Now dog shows run the 

gamut from formal events to agility and 

herding trials. The most popular dog shows 

are known as conformation shows. 

At these shows, dogs are awarded points 

based on how closely the dog compares to 

the written standard of its breed. 

These descriptions are known as the breed standard      

All of the characteristics that define the ideal 

specimen of the breed are listed in the standard.   

The Specialty Show is a dog show put on by a club 

devoted to a single breed of dog. 

The Specialty show is conducted and points are 

awarded to the dogs just as it would occur 

in an all- breed show. The only difference between

a Specialty show and an all-breed conformation show

is that there is no variety group or Best-in-Show competition.

There are however, many other classes offered 

at a Specialty show. For example, a Specialty 

show may offer a Veteran Class and Sweepstakes classes. 

The Veteran class is open to dogs and bitches 

seven years of age or older. The winner of this 

class is eligible to compete in the Best of Breed judging. 

The Sweepstakes classes are offered in conjunction 

with regular classes, but no championship points 

are offered or awarded. The winners do not go on 

to complete for the Best of Breed. 

These classes allow breed enthusiasts additional 

opportunities to evaluate what lines within the breed

are producing outstanding quality dogs, 

and it offered exhibitors additional classes to showcase their dogs.   

All clubs sponsoring an American Kennel Club championship show must issue   

what is called a premium list. A premium list contains all of 

the information needed to enter the show. It also states the fees, 

judges and prizes that will be offered.