[elisabeth_00117]

I am not sure how many people are familiar with Barn Hunt Tests but I highly recommend you try this out with you GSD if they offer it near you.

It is a Terrier test really, but any dog can participate.

Your dog must locate rats in tubes, placed in various locations and deicer between nothing in the tub, rat litter in the tube, and actual mice. The goal is to find the mice tube, indicate it and move on to the next in a quick but efficient manner.

The very first introduction to the sport in Canada happened last weekend and we attended the event.

Stark NAILED it and did awesome! He NQ'd because he marked in the ring (2 dogs peed before he went in - including one female!) but would of taken the 3rd fastest dog to find and indicate the rat out of 60 dogs! DARN MALES!!!

Anyways, here is the days events:

Introduction to mice and the tubes - this was basically an instinct course.

Stark waiting for his turn - already getting excited.


Sniff, sniff... well hello there..


Hmm... interesting.. you move...


I will get you little rat!


He tried to dig to get to it.. lol.


Excited!


Trying to get to the rat.


Digging again!


Finding the first tube.




His indicator is NOT subtle!!! He tries to carry them off!




Third section of the test. Deciphering between 2 tubes. One with nothing in it, the other with a rat.


Sniffing them out.


Telling him to check both - he kept wanting to go back to the other one (which had the rat in it) but I didn't know that so I asked him to check both. What was that motto... "trust your dog?".

 

[elisabeth_00117]

Him indicating to me and me indicating to the judge.




So subtle... NOT!


The 4th test. Deciphering between rat litter, and a live rat. With a blocking hay bail in the way which he must go on top of to move on.








I think he found the rat.


Me indicating to the judge that he found it.




I think he likes this venue.


The final test before the trial.










I will upload his video of the trial later and add it to this. He NQ'd his trial because he marked but found the rat in the appropriate tube (between rat litter, and empty tube and a tube with a rat) in 25 seconds!

 

[mego]

ugh they just had a barn hunt class here but it filled up within 2 days and didn't get a chance to sign up

 

[elisabeth_00117]

I would definitely see if they have any others open or when the next is available.

We didn't do any classes or anything, just signed up for the trial and went.

I do a lot of nose work and tracking with my guys so they really enjoyed it. Stark was awesome at it and he really loved it!

 

[Lilie]

That really looks like a lot of fun!!! Both for the people and the dogs!

 

[Carriesue]

Wow, never heard of that... Ollie would loooove it! Stark is so gorgeous, love seeing pics of him! Then again I am biased towards blanket backs and dark masks. Glad you guys had so much fun!

 

[elisabeth_00117]

It was a lot of fun!

They are holding the first ever trial in Canada in a few weeks time that we will be entering. I am hoping that Stark will be getting a few titles added to his name at that time. Just gotta work on NOT marking in the ring!!! Which is hard since it's all hay and in a barn/arena.. lol.

 

[dogfaeries]

Loved the photos!!

This would be right up Sage's alley! She's my mouse catcher.

 

[wolfstraum]

I have had a few catch BIG rats that come out of the woods between my yard and the community pool down the hill....Csabre will really hunt for them...LOL LOL I think I'd try it with her!

Lee

 

[elisabeth_00117]

Lee - do it!!!

I wish Jyce was there - I am hoping to meet her soon. I think I was most excited to meet her owner and talk with her about your dogs... LOL... I finally get to meet one of your dogs soon!