Take on the challenge
Make your Terrier a Field Champion!
Interested in proving your terrier has what it take be a champion? Click below to submit the information necessary to certify your hunts with your terrier.
Lets Get To Work!
What is a PTCA Work Certificate?
A PTCA Work Certificate serves as documentation of hunting done by your terrier. Simply fsend in a detailed report of your outing (photos, video or upload other content) and our board directors will then review all documents. Upon a unanimous approval the PTCA will certify the work. Below are Titles terriers can earn!
Titled Patterdale Terriers
PTCA Working Earth terrier Certificate
PTCA Working Earth terrier Certificate
PTCA Working Earth terrier Certificate
**PTCA Working Earth Terrier Certificate (WETC)**
**Working Earth Terrier Certificate Qualification**
The PTCA Working Earth Terrier Certificate (WETC) is awarded exclusively to dogs owned by PTCA members in good standing at the time of qualifying work. To receive this prestigious certificate, the handler must submit detailed 3 reports of separate successful hunts and thus obtained 3 work certificates that constitute what is outline in the Accepted Quarry and Accepted Work outlined below
**Accepted Quarry**
The WETC is issued to terriers that successfully work in natural earth to the following quarry: woodchuck/groundhog, fox, raccoon, badger, aggressive opossum, nutria (no less than 15), and other quarry deemed acceptable by the PTCA Board of Directors upon review of submitted reports.
**Accepted Work**
The work must be done in natural earth, excluding drains or man-made dens. The dog must enter the earth independently without encouragement from other dogs and work far enough into the earth to be out of sight. The dog must locate and engage the quarry on its own, with only minimal verbal direction from the handler. Frantic or excessive encouragement is prohibited. While locator collars are not required, they are highly recommended.
The dog must work alone, either bolting the quarry or holding it at bay until the diggers can reach it. The work must demonstrate the dog’s ability to engage directly with the quarry, which must be positively identified. Each hunt must be witnessed by at least one other PTCA member.
**Applying for the WETC**
To apply, handlers must submit reports of 3 separate hunts, each including a detailed account of the work performed, signed by the owner and a PTCA member who witnessed the hunt to obtain the Working Earth Terrier Certificate. The reports must be submitted within one year of the hunt. **The PTCA will waive the 1 year limitation until 2027 January 1st**. Each report must be accompanied by a $10 administrative fee. Upon approval, the dog will receive the PTCA Working Earth Terrier Certificate notation in the PTCA Database, and the dog’s registration with the PTCA will be provided at no additional charge if the dog is not registered.
**Approval Process**
Each report will be reviewed by the PTCA appointed Board, with unanimous approval required for the certificate to be awarded. If a report is disapproved, reasons will be communicated to the applicant.
**Issuing the WETC**
Upon approval, the certificate will be mailed to the applicant. If the dog is co-owned, only the names of the owners present at the hunts will appear on the certificate.
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This structure ensures that the PTCA Working Earth Terrier Certificate remains a mark of genuine working excellence, recognizing only those terriers that have demonstrated consistent ability in the field across multiple hunts.
PTCA Hunting certificate
PTCA Working Earth terrier Certificate
PTCA Working Earth terrier Certificate
**PTCA Hunting Certificate (HC)**
The PTCA Hunting Certificate (HC) is awarded to dogs whose owner(s) are PTCA members in good standing during the entire period of qualifying work. The purpose of this certificate is to recognize terriers that demonstrate the control, instincts, and courage to engage quarry in diverse hunting scenarios, particularly in areas where traditional below-ground earthwork is impractical. To receive this prestigious certificate, the handler must submit detailed 4 reports of separate successful hunts and thus obtained 4 work certificates that constitute what is outline in the Accepted Quarry and Accepted Work outlined below.
**Accepted Quarry**
The HC is issued to terriers used for ABOVE GROUND hunting of quarry such as: woodchuck/groundhog/marmot, fox, raccoon, badger, nutria (no less than 15), armadillo, rabbit, squirrel, opossum, muskrat, mongoose, feral pig, flushing and/or retrieving upland birds, or other quarry found acceptable by the PTCA Board upon review of an application submitted for non-traditional hunting work. Certificates may be awarded for specific quarry or multiple quarry types.
**Accepted Work**
Examples of acceptable hunting work include, but are not limited to: retrieving waterfowl, treeing/spotting squirrels for the gun, drawing quarry from dens after locating and digging to it, locating and dispatching rats, or clearing barns of pests like raccoons or opossums. The primary objective should be the purposeful pursuit of quarry, whether for food, fur, pest control, or scientific study. The terrier must assist the hunter in locating quarry and facilitating its capture by legal hunting methods, or in appropriate cases, the terrier should take the game independently.
**Applying for the HC**
The HC application requires a detailed narrative describing at least four (4) hunts in which the dog actively participated, signed by the owner(s) who were present and by at least one (1) witness (a PTCA member) who can attest that the dog is regularly hunted. The application must be submitted with a filing fee ($10.00). The application should be submitted within one (1) year of the end of the hunting season or the end of the qualifying period. **The PTCA will waive the 1 year limitation until 2027 January 1st** Permission to publish the hunt details should be granted if the applicant wants the information to appear in PTCA publications. The application may be submitted electronically, but a signed hard copy must also be sent.
**Approval of the HC**
The PTCA Hunting and Working Certificate Secretary will forward the application to the Board for review and approval. A unanimous decision is required to award the HC. In the event of disapproval, the applicant will receive feedback detailing the reason(s) for denial.
**Issuing of the HC**
Upon approval by the Board, the certificate will be mailed to the applicant by the PTCA Secretary. If the dog has multiple owners, only the names of those present during the qualifying hunts will appear on the certificate.
Titled Patterdale Terriers
How to become a FIELD CHAMPION
Patterdale Terrier Club of America (PTCA) Field Champion (FC) Certificate
**Overview**
The PTCA Field Champion (FC) Certificate is awarded to dogs whose owners have been PTCA members in good standing for at least 30 days prior to the qualifying hunts. The purpose of the FC Certificate is to recognize dogs that possess the control, instinct, and courage to excel in hunting and working environments, demonstrating their skills in confronting quarry in traditional or non-traditional situations. This certificate is designed to honor terriers that exhibit consistent working ability, regardless of the specific terrain or conditions.
**Accepted Quarry**
The FC Certificate is awarded to dogs engaged in hunting no less than two (2) of the following quarry:
- Fox
- Raccoon
- Groundhog/Woodchuck
- Badger
- Nutria (Coypu) More than 15 on each account/hunt to be considered
- Other quarry approved by the PTCA Board based on a review of the hunt.
### Patterdale Terrier Club of America (PTCA) Field Champion Certificate: Accepted Work
For a dog to earn the PTCA Field Champion (FC) Certificate, the following work criteria must be met:
1. **Natural Earthwork or Hunting Only:** The work must take place in natural earth or hunting scenario. Work performed in drains or other man-made structures is accepted. Trapping is not. The dog must enter the earth independently if it is earth work, without encouragement from other dogs on the ground.
2. **Entrance to the Earth/set:** If the dog is actively marking a restricted or obstructed entrance to the earth, minimal assistance, such as removing a stone or root, is allowed to clear the entrance. However, no further alteration or enlargement of the den’s entrance is permitted. The dog must enter the earth/set far enough to be completely out of sight when observed from above.
3. **Independent Location of Quarry:** The dog must locate the quarry entirely on its own, without encouragement from other dogs or handlers. Simple verbal communication from the handler is allowed, but frenzied or excited verbal encouragement intended to agitate the dog is not permitted.
4. **Use of Locator Collars:** The use of locator collars is not required but is recommended for monitoring the dog’s progress underground.
5. **Solo Work:** The dog must work alone—only one dog may enter the earth. The dog must either cause the quarry to bolt or draw the quarry from the earth. If the quarry does not bolt or is not drawn, the dog must work in a manner that allows diggers to locate and dig to the quarry. There must be no doubt that the dog is right up to the quarry while marking or causing it to bolt. A visual positive identification of the quarry is required.
6. **Witness Requirement:** The dog’s work must be observed and verified by three (3) PTCA members or one (1) authorized signatory PTCA member who is familiar with the criteria and can attest to the performance according to the above rules.
These standards are in place to ensure that the work required for the Field Champion title aligns with the traditional skills and qualities of working terriers.
The work that qualifies for a Field Champion title includes, but is not limited to:
-Being dug to
- Drawing quarry from underground dens.
- Locating and assisting in the dispatching of quarry.
- Flushing quarry from set.
The quarry must be purposefully sought, and the objective should be to take the game for food, fur, or pest control. The dog should enable the hunter to legally take the quarry, or the dog should be capable of taking the quarry itself where appropriate.
**Applying for the Field Champion (FC) Certificate**
The application for the FC Certificate must be followed by 10 detailed written narrative of individual outings of the dog’s hunting experience, signed by the owner(s) and at least three (3) different members or one (1) PTCA authorized signatory/approved member who has witnessed the dog in the field on that day. The dog must have at least TEN (10) documented occasions. A filing fee ($10.00) each documented occasion must be included with the application. This helps attest that the dog is regularly used for hunting.
The application should be submitted within one (1) year of completing the qualifying hunts. 20 certified hunts in 2 years and the terrier is titled as a Field Grand Champion 25 in 2 years and the terrier is titled as a Field Double Grand Champion Applications can be sent electronically,
**Approval Process**
The PTCA appointed board will review each application. A unanimous decision by the Board is required to award the Field Champion Certificate. If the application is denied, reasons for disapproval will be communicated to the applicant.
**Issuing the Certificate**
Upon approval by the Board, the Field Champion Certificate will be mailed to the applicant. In cases where more than one person owns the dog, only the names of the owner(s) who actively participated in the hunts will appear on the certificate.
This process ensures that the PTCA continues to honor the working heritage and skills of Patterdale Terriers in the field.
Titled Patterdale Terriers
FIELD CHAMPIONS
Field Championship titles (FC, F GrCh, F Dbl GrCh) are awarded based number of hunts completed that are certified by the PTCA. Candidates are monitored through working observations from other terriermen as well as a PTCA Appointed Rotating Board which certifies each and every hunt that is submitted by the terrier hander/owner. Terriers must have 10 working certificates (no more than one being above ground) to obtain a Field Champion title ** the PTCA is waiving the requirement of reporting the hunt within a years time until 2027 this will help some terrier men and women get credit towards work that has been done in recent times **
FC Cramer's Griffin
FC Cramer's Draco HOF
F GRCH Jone's Zeb
FC Cramer's Daenerys
FC Nucet's Full
FC RC1's Caiman
WORKING CERTIFICATE
FC Chandonnet's Rack (Badger)
FC John Courage (Red Fox)
FC Mason's Oscar (Groundhog)
Schwab's Glyn (Red Fox)
Schwab's Larry (Red Fox)
Schwab's Nora (Red Fox)
Schwab's Red Boy (Red Fox)
Schwab's Root (Badger, Boar, Fox)
HOF Ch. Edward's Clint (Badger, Fox, Raccoon, Groundhog)
JMA's Mack (Red Fox, Badger)
Patterdale Terrier Club of America
A new era
The Patterdale Terrier Club of America (PTCA) is steadfastly committed to preserving the traditional working aspects of the Patterdale Terrier. Our primary focus is ensuring that all who love and value this remarkable breed feel welcomed, protected, and a part of a community dedicated to the breed's well-being. We take great pride in operating the club with complete fairness and integrity, focusing on the essential elements of the breed and steering clear of the pitfalls that often affect registries.
In this new era of the PTCA, we have established boards to maintain balance and ensure the club remains in the hands of passionate fanciers. These boards help to uphold transparency and fairness, while also allowing members to have a voice in shaping the club’s future. However, it is important to note that the PTCA is a privately owned entity, and the president reserves the right to title terriers for fanciers without the approval of the board as well as the right to overturn any decisions that are biased, unjust, or not in the best interest of the breed. This ensures that the PTCA continues to prioritize the integrity and future of the Patterdale Terrier.