Working Certificate (WC):

Awarded to dogs whose owners are AWTA Members in good standing at the time of qualifying work. A terrier or dachshund can earn a WC to each of the following quarry worked in a natural earth: woodchuck, fox, raccoon, badger, aggressive possum, and other quarry found acceptable by the Trustees on review of an application submitted by a member for earthwork done to that quarry. This does not include work in a drain or otherwise man-made earth. The dog must enter the earth without assistance. If the dog is actively marking a restricted or impeded entrance to an earth, removing a restriction, such as a stone or root, is allowed. However, no further assistance, alteration or enlargement of the entrance to the den is permitted. The dog must enter far enough to be completely out of sight when a person is looking down the hole. The dog must locate the quarry in the earth completely on its own without encouragement (dog or human) . Simple verbal communication from the handler to the dog is allowed. Loud, frenzied, or excited verbal encouragement intended to work-up the dog is not allowed. The dog must work alone (only one dog in the earth), must work down to the quarry and cause it to bolt, or draw it from the earth. If the quarry does not bolt or is not drawn, the terrier or dachshund must work in a manner sufficient to allow diggers to locate and dig to the quarry. There is to be no doubt that the dog is right up to the quarry while marking. A visual positive identification of the quarry is required.

The terrier or dachshund must work by the above rules and another AWTA member must witness the dog’s work. A WC application, which includes a written, detailed report of the hunt, bearing the signatures of both the owner(s) who were present and at least one witness, along with the filing fee ($5.00) must be sent to the Hunting and Working Certificate Secretary. The WC application must be submitted within one year of the hunt. The H& WC Secretary will send a copy of the report to each of the Trustees fro their review and approval. A unanimous approval is required to award the Working Certificate. Reason(s) for disapproval will be sent to the person requesting an evaluation. When more than one person owns a dog, the only name(s) that will appear on the working certificate are those of the owner(s) who were present when the certificate was earned.