Earthdog Ins and Outs: Guiding Natural Instincts for Success in Earthdog Tests and Den Trials

Ch 1. Terriers and Dacshunds-Earthdogs to the Bone
Ch 2. The deep roots surrounding earthdogs
Ch 3. Artificial den trials in the USA.
Ch 4. Artifical earthdog trials worldwide - Germany, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ukraine, and Georgia. Quite amazing the different den types that are used. The Danes for example use live foxes.
Ch 5. Earthdog breeds-designed for work. Covers over 30 breeds including the Jack Russell Terrier.
Ch 6. Selecting a breed and puppy.
Ch 7. Entering a puppy or novice dog.
Ch 8. Advanced Work-digging deeper
Ch 9. Exhibiting at trials and tests
Ch 10. Show Time-how to host a den trial.
Ch 11. Field work-the real thing for your buddy.
Appendix A - Care of rats and making scent.
Appendix B - Building tunnel liners, obstacles, and cages.
Appendix C - Sources of Information.
Appendix D - Glossary of Working Earthdog terms

Except for the cover the photos are black and white but there are plenty of them within the 256 pages. I think a must for the serious earthdogger.


Knowledgeable and Informative!   July 10, 2001
Tammy Van Poele (Alvinston, Ontario Canada)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

This is a good one. Lots of info on getting started. A definit must to any earthdog enthusiast. A real asset to anyone just starting out or someone who is already involved just to learn more.


Thorough, cover to cover   September 22, 1999
broc@verinet.com (Loveland, Colorado)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

Book gives an excellent history of working terriers up to today's terriers as we know them. It has well researched documentation on each breed and its origin. Comprehensive in the explanation of terrier hunting, performance events, both in the US and abroad. Outstanding chapters on selecting a puppy, training, terrier/dachshund organizations, and many other items of interest to both the earthdog novice and enthusiast. I have read/studied almost every book in print (current and discontinued) concerning working terriers and I would rank this book as the "bible" in it's relationship to the others.


A must-have for all terrier/dachshund owners.   April 10, 1999
12 out of 12 found this review helpful

This book is written in a way that will appeal to all actual and prospective terrier owners. Frier-Murza adds depth and breadth to our basic understanding of terriers. For depth, the book covers the history of terriers (with many quotes from the 2nd century BC to the present). Illustrations from hunts in 16th century France are especially interesting. It also discusses the social forces that resulted in the emergence of today's breeds (about 30 pages). Being bred for earth work is the reason for the terrier's independence and ability to figure things out for itself, as well as the terrier's interest in chasing, tugging, etc. While actually working earth dogs is not for everyone, understanding our dog's drives and why they were bred to be the way they are can make each of us a more sensitive owner. For breadth, 29 different earthdog breeds are also highlighted in a section the brings out the working character and history, as well as the functional strengths of each breed (over 100 well illustrated pages). Breeds covered include the AKC working terriers as well as breeds like the German Jagdterrier and the American Feist and Rat Terrier (illustrated on the lap of Teddy Roosevelt). These 29 breed summaries are grouped by the regions (also described) in which the breeds emerged, thus placing them in historic and geographic context. Compared to Migliorini's book, Frier-Murza takes a more comprehensive and accurate view of both the history of the terrier's and also breed history. For example, Migliorini gives only 25 (smaller) pages (with larger type) to breed descriptions, compared to the 100 pages Frier-Murza provides. The book is very handsomely produced in near coffee table format. The hard cover book (with oversize pages) contains extensive photos. The photos are very clear, illustrative, and well produced


Property Concern   April 7, 1999
2 out of 9 found this review helpful

I submitted a review of this book earlier tonight. It is part of a larger review that I have submitted to the "borderline", the official publication of the Border Terrier Club of America. However the content is reduced and reorganized. I submit it with the understanding that your property rights in the review do not prevent such non-profit use of similar language/ideas elsewhere.