Teastas Mor
Encyclopedia
Teastas Mor was a certificate of gameness issued to a dog
by the Irish Kennel Club
.
Strict Irish Kennel Club rules governed the Teastas Mor (certificate of gameness). It was considered that the discipline ensured contests between dog and badger
were fair. In the past, to become an Irish Kennel Club terrier
champion, it was necessary for a terrier to be in possession of a Teastas Mor. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Irish Terrier
(aka Irish Red Terriers) and Kerry Blue Terrier
(aka Irish Blue Terriers) were the principal breeds used. These continued until the kennel ceased to license trials in 1968.
2. a) A veterinary surgeon
must be in attendance at the trial. Under no circumstances may a trial take place without one, and his name and address must be recorded on the application for a licence and on the licence issued by the Kennel Club.
2. b) In the event of any serious injury occurring to any dog or badger, the animal at the discretion of the Veterinary Surgeon shall be humanely and expeditiously destroyed.
3. The trial of any dog must be in natural sett
s. Under no circumstances may tests be carried out in artificial setts. A dog may not be tried more than twice in any trial.
4. Once a badger is drawn, it must not be released or returned to the earth until the conclusion of the trials.
5. Badger in captivity shall not be used for tests or training.
6. Sounders are expected to go the ground with alacrity. When a sounder reports the presence of game by a full and sustained tongue, a reasonable time shall be allowed before diggers begin to work. When the sounders records persistently from one section of the sett, digging shall commence under the direction of the judges.
7. The badger shall be drawn by a strong terrier, with the assistance if necessary, and the size of the badger and underground conditions noted by the judges.
8. If a sett is apparently unoccupied, several terriers may be run through it and their eagerness to search noted.
9. With regards to strong terriers, the Teastas Mor is to be awarded to the terrier showing gameness in attacking badgers. Five minutes is the minimum period a terrier shall be in contact with the badger, except when the terrier draws the badger in less time. Each terrier shall be withdrawn as soon as possible after the five minutes have expired. The judges may direct that a terrier be again tried if, in their opinion, the first trial was for any reason an insufficient test.
10. Five minutes are to be allowed a terrier before being disqualified for failing to get in contact.
11. Barking shall be eliminated as much as possible and disqualification will follow barking after contact, provided that no terrier is disqualified for barking when in actual contact.
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
by the Irish Kennel Club
Irish Kennel Club
Irish Kennel Club is an organization dedicated to supporting dog breeds and their owners.-History:The Kerry Blue Terrier increased dramatically in the Dublin area as it gained admirers in the early 1920s. On St. Patrick's Day, 1921 a conformation dog show was organized, which included other breeds...
.
Strict Irish Kennel Club rules governed the Teastas Mor (certificate of gameness). It was considered that the discipline ensured contests between dog and badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
were fair. In the past, to become an Irish Kennel Club terrier
Terrier
A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, very active and fearless dogs. Terrier breeds vary greatly in size from just a couple of pounds to over 70 pounds and are usually categorized by size or function...
champion, it was necessary for a terrier to be in possession of a Teastas Mor. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Irish Terrier
Irish Terrier
The Irish Terrier is a dog breed from Ireland, one of many breeds of Terrier.The Irish Terrier is an active and compactly sized dog that is suited for life in both rural and city environments. Its harsh red coat protects it from all kinds of weather....
(aka Irish Red Terriers) and Kerry Blue Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier
The Kerry Blue Terrier is a breed of dog. Mistakenly thought to be from County Kerry in South West Ireland, it's actually from Tipperary in South Central Ireland. In Ireland it is often called the Irish Blue Terrier...
(aka Irish Blue Terriers) were the principal breeds used. These continued until the kennel ceased to license trials in 1968.
Rules
1. The trials must be conducted strictly within the law and are restricted to dogs and bitches which have not already qualified for the Teastas Mor certificate.2. a) A veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon is a term used to describe:*The full title of a vet, who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals, in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries**See also Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom...
must be in attendance at the trial. Under no circumstances may a trial take place without one, and his name and address must be recorded on the application for a licence and on the licence issued by the Kennel Club.
2. b) In the event of any serious injury occurring to any dog or badger, the animal at the discretion of the Veterinary Surgeon shall be humanely and expeditiously destroyed.
3. The trial of any dog must be in natural sett
Sett
A badger sett or set is a badger's den, usually consisting of a network of tunnels. The largest setts are spacious enough to accommodate 15 or more animals, with up to of tunnels and as many as 40 openings. It takes many years for the animals to dig these large setts...
s. Under no circumstances may tests be carried out in artificial setts. A dog may not be tried more than twice in any trial.
4. Once a badger is drawn, it must not be released or returned to the earth until the conclusion of the trials.
5. Badger in captivity shall not be used for tests or training.
6. Sounders are expected to go the ground with alacrity. When a sounder reports the presence of game by a full and sustained tongue, a reasonable time shall be allowed before diggers begin to work. When the sounders records persistently from one section of the sett, digging shall commence under the direction of the judges.
7. The badger shall be drawn by a strong terrier, with the assistance if necessary, and the size of the badger and underground conditions noted by the judges.
8. If a sett is apparently unoccupied, several terriers may be run through it and their eagerness to search noted.
9. With regards to strong terriers, the Teastas Mor is to be awarded to the terrier showing gameness in attacking badgers. Five minutes is the minimum period a terrier shall be in contact with the badger, except when the terrier draws the badger in less time. Each terrier shall be withdrawn as soon as possible after the five minutes have expired. The judges may direct that a terrier be again tried if, in their opinion, the first trial was for any reason an insufficient test.
10. Five minutes are to be allowed a terrier before being disqualified for failing to get in contact.
11. Barking shall be eliminated as much as possible and disqualification will follow barking after contact, provided that no terrier is disqualified for barking when in actual contact.