Teastas Mor

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 (a.k.a. Irish Red Terriers) and Kerry Blue Terrier (a.k.a. Irish Blue Terriers) were the principal breeds used. These continued until the kennel ceased to license trials in 1968.

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 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 setts. 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" (pulled out of the ground), 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 (dogs making a particular sound which means "I have found it.") are expected to go to the ground with alacrity. When a sounder reports the presence of game with a "full and sustained tongue", a reasonable time shall be allowed before men with shovels begin to dig. If the sounder records persistently from one section of the sett, digging shall commence under the direction of the judges.

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