Barn Hunt Chat
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okaygreatthanks
Member
This is great info! I’ve been learning the rules one level at a time (mainly so I don’t get confused with too much info, haha) and Crazy8s seems really fun and a little more forgiving.
Love the pics of you and AJ!
obbanner
Hot Topics Subscriber
Wow! What did she do, shoot through the tunnel, jump on an element and find the rat there? Congratulations on a super run!Ripley just had a 7 second Novice run this morning!! I'll share more once I pickup her ribbon and she's done showing in conformation but I was so excited I had to share
jazzies mum
Hot Topics Subscriber
Great run! She's having a fun time after puppies!
Rits
Hot Topics Subscriber
Pretty much! I watched Open before our Novice run and there was a rat in their course elevated directly on the other side of the tunnel, where she initially went after zooming through the tunnel. I noticed when setting her up that she did want to go to the right (where the rat was) when I had her in the start box but I aimed her at the tunnel to make sure she got that element out of the way. I know in Novice the tunnels are set up that way to be fairly easy and won't always be but I hate ending on the tunnel as I see so many dogs that seem to know tunnel means fun time is over and often don't tunnel because of it!
We haven't done barn hunt since she was a puppy (she's almost 4 now) so I could have called a second or so sooner but I REALLY wanted to make sure she wasn't hitting litter her first time back.
Listen with sound so you hear her enthusiasm
We received a high in class with our time and this was a huge cluster at the Kentuckiana show in Louisville! Also our first novice Q.
I had entered her for 5 trials hoping we would get in so we could bring home a new title but we were waitlisted for all but one. Too bad because we totally could have ran when there were so many marked absent...
She was too funny though. We had to walk a bit from our grooming set up and show rings to the barn hunt setup. Soon as we passed the hall with the barnhunt and rats about 100ft away, her attitude immediately changed and she went from calm and collected to BANANAS
She didn't forget the smell of a 
that's for sure! I waited until the last minute to go into the blind and immediately apologized upon entry to our blind mates for her inevitable singing
jazzies mum
Hot Topics Subscriber
Love this! She DOES remember rats!!!
Like Asha seeing the Fast Cat set-up at the show grounds last November. Hadn't seen a FC for 2 years and she came unglued when she heard the zinging of the bag and then saw it. Instant Monster! LOL.
remy
Active Member
I’m finally going to start barn hunt with Remy! There is a trial about a month away and I would like to go to at least one lesson before then. If not next week then the first week of September we’ll be doing a lesson! I would go more often if it weren’t 2.5 hours away, but like I always say, that seems to be the closest all dog sport things are from me…
I saw that you can enter the RATI and RATN class on the same day. Should I do that incase he passes the RATI? I would only be going to one day of the trial.
I saw that you can enter the RATI and RATN class on the same day. Should I do that incase he passes the RATI? I would only be going to one day of the trial.
okaygreatthanks
Member
Yay! This is exciting, Barn Hunt is soooo much fun!
You could definitely do both RATI and RATN in the same day – but be aware that they are quite different experiences for you and your pup.
In Instinct, the three tubes (one litter, one rat, one empty) are laid bare on a cradle (no hay covering them), and he just has to identify the tube with the rat. In Novice, all three tubes will be covered with hay and hidden around a course, with at least one elevated on a bale of hay – and your dog must climb (all four feet on a bale of hay) and tunnel (a short tunnel), and correctly identify the rat tube in order to get a Q.
There’s also a bit more to remember as a handler in Novice – best to read through the rulebook beforehand, but basically, don’t touch anything, including your dog, until you call “rat”!
Our trainer actually recommended skipping Instinct since it’s very different from all the other levels and starting with Novice, which you could also do. There are usually two Novice trials in one day, so you could enter both (or all three if you do Instinct as well).
We actually just did a Barn Hunt hurdles practice for the first time today, the only occasion in which Remy has encountered an Instinct cradle (it’s at the end of several hurdles they must jump, and then identify the rat correctly in the cradle) and he bypassed it and started searching the hay nearby before I had to direct him to the cradle…he was like “what the hell is this, mom, the tubes are all just out?! BORING!” so it can be a confusing transition for them from Instinct to Novice!
But whatever you decide to do, it’s such a fun experience! Definitely great to get a practice in beforehand if you can, so he’s familiar with the scent and setting. During practice, make sure to give him space and let him work rather than guiding him as long as he’s sniffing and searching! Jackpot reward him right on the tube and let him take a while smelling the rat when he finds one! In the trial, they'll let you show him the tube with the rat if he doesn't find it, so make sure to ask for this if need be so he can get a win! You can’t have food in the ring during the trial, but have a high value treat waiting outside the ring to reward him after each run.
If you can, volunteer during the trial – it’s the best way to learn, especially if you can be an inside/outside rat wrangler!
Also, potty, potty, potty before entering the ring – I’ve seen a dog with a RATCHX16 get NQ’ed for marking…it’s VERY exciting for them, and a huge temptation to leave a souvenir. Our Remy always has to poop after his first run, even if he’s gone right beforehand.
Most importantly, have fun and enjoy!!! It’s honestly one of the least snarky and most enjoyable sports we’ve done, and we've met such kind people through it.
remy
Active Member
Thank you so much for all of the info! I’m going to read/watch all of the posts in this thread as well and definitely read the rule book! I always hear it’s easy to NQ due to handler errors…Yay! This is exciting, Barn Hunt is soooo much fun!
You could definitely do both RATI and RATN in the same day – but be aware that they are quite different experiences for you and your pup.
In Instinct, the three tubes (one litter, one rat, one empty) are laid bare on a cradle (no hay covering them), and he just has to identify the tube with the rat. In Novice, all three tubes will be covered with hay and hidden around a course, with at least one elevated on a bale of hay – and your dog must climb (all four feet on a bale of hay) and tunnel (a short tunnel), and correctly identify the rat tube in order to get a Q.
There’s also a bit more to remember as a handler in Novice – best to read through the rulebook beforehand, but basically, don’t touch anything, including your dog, until you call “rat”!
Our trainer actually recommended skipping Instinct since it’s very different from all the other levels and starting with Novice, which you could also do. There are usually two Novice trials in one day, so you could enter both (or all three if you do Instinct as well).
We actually just did a Barn Hunt hurdles practice for the first time today, the only occasion in which Remy has encountered an Instinct cradle (it’s at the end of several hurdles they must jump, and then identify the rat correctly in the cradle) and he bypassed it and started searching the hay nearby before I had to direct him to the cradle…he was like “what the hell is this, mom, the tubes are all just out?! BORING!” so it can be a confusing transition for them from Instinct to Novice!
But whatever you decide to do, it’s such a fun experience! Definitely great to get a practice in beforehand if you can, so he’s familiar with the scent and setting. During practice, make sure to give him space and let him work rather than guiding him as long as he’s sniffing and searching! Jackpot reward him right on the tube and let him take a while smelling the rat when he finds one! In the trial, they'll let you show him the tube with the rat if he doesn't find it, so make sure to ask for this if need be so he can get a win! You can’t have food in the ring during the trial, but have a high value treat waiting outside the ring to reward him after each run.
If you can, volunteer during the trial – it’s the best way to learn, especially if you can be an inside/outside rat wrangler!
Also, potty, potty, potty before entering the ring – I’ve seen a dog with a RATCHX16 get NQ’ed for marking…it’s VERY exciting for them, and a huge temptation to leave a souvenir. Our Remy always has to poop after his first run, even if he’s gone right beforehand.
Most importantly, have fun and enjoy!!! It’s honestly one of the least snarky and most enjoyable sports we’ve done, and we've met such kind people through it.
I’ve had barn hunt in the back of my mind for awhile, and now that there’s an upcoming trial I figured we should finally take a lesson. I think he’ll really enjoy it! If I’m able to I’ll try to get a second lesson in beforehand.
We have been doing scent work training at home so he is familiar with searching on his own, sticking with the source, etc… We’ll be doing our first scent work trial in October!
I will make sure he gets some practice going through the tunnel at our lesson. He has a tiny bit of experience going through an agility tunnel, but it’s mostly been done with luring. Besides for that my only other worry is marking. He’s never attempted to mark indoors but I’m sure the barn setup seems more like being outside to a dog. I can generally tell when he’s going to mark although he can be really quick and sneaky about it lol.
okaygreatthanks
Member
Happy to help! Y’all will do great, especially since he has a basis for scentwork already.
The novice tunnel is a good starting point because it’s short (much shorter than an agility tunnel) so they can see through to the end. If he knows the command “tunnel” that’s helpful too, so you can direct him through it.
Can’t wait to hear updates about practice and the trial. Enjoy!
Rits
Hot Topics Subscriber
Since he won't get a whole lot of practice before the trial, I personally would do the Instinct just to help him with the scent of a rat again and remind him what he's doing in a new environment. Its a lot easier for them too since its all out there and helps make a clear difference between sorta smells like rat to, YES thats a rat! And yes, do both at the same trial!
I bet he's gonna LOVE it.
I bet he's gonna LOVE it.
remy
Active Member
Thanks again! I’ll definitely come back to update!
I think so too! He’s typically excited doing scent work and I bet this will be even more exciting for him! I know they aren’t doing any chasing, but he does have a high prey drive and loves to sniff out where any critters ran lol.
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Oh, fun!!!!!
This is very much a game of Trust Your Dog. What they "hit on" is just as important as areas they "clear." That understanding comes with time in the ring so be patient! It is a timed event so you always feel the pressure of the clock but you should stick around the trial and watch some runs. I'll bet you will pick up on owners who are letting their dogs work vs the ones who are trying to do the work for their dogs
If you do get a chance to take a class, have the trainer demonstrate what is and isn't allowed for celebrating with your dog using the tube. It can be very rewarding for them to celebrate and equally deflating when the tube is immediately taken away and handed over with little fanfare.
The easiest way, in my opinion, to NQ is to touch ANYTHING. Don't touch! You can pet your dog after you successfully call a RAT tube but that.is.it. Also, they must be nakey in the ring. Stinks to have a flawless run only to realize they've got their collar on.
This is very much a game of Trust Your Dog. What they "hit on" is just as important as areas they "clear." That understanding comes with time in the ring so be patient! It is a timed event so you always feel the pressure of the clock but you should stick around the trial and watch some runs. I'll bet you will pick up on owners who are letting their dogs work vs the ones who are trying to do the work for their dogs
If you do get a chance to take a class, have the trainer demonstrate what is and isn't allowed for celebrating with your dog using the tube. It can be very rewarding for them to celebrate and equally deflating when the tube is immediately taken away and handed over with little fanfare.
The easiest way, in my opinion, to NQ is to touch ANYTHING. Don't touch! You can pet your dog after you successfully call a RAT tube but that.is.it. Also, they must be nakey in the ring. Stinks to have a flawless run only to realize they've got their collar on.
remy
Active Member
Thank you for the tips! I’ll definitely be taking at least one lesson beforehand. I’m hoping to squeeze in a second, but we’ll see!Oh, fun!!!!!
This is very much a game of Trust Your Dog. What they "hit on" is just as important as areas they "clear." That understanding comes with time in the ring so be patient! It is a timed event so you always feel the pressure of the clock but you should stick around the trial and watch some runs. I'll bet you will pick up on owners who are letting their dogs work vs the ones who are trying to do the work for their dogs
If you do get a chance to take a class, have the trainer demonstrate what is and isn't allowed for celebrating with your dog using the tube. It can be very rewarding for them to celebrate and equally deflating when the tube is immediately taken away and handed over with little fanfare.
The easiest way, in my opinion, to NQ is to touch ANYTHING. Don't touch! You can pet your dog after you successfully call a RAT tube but that.is.it. Also, they must be nakey in the ring. Stinks to have a flawless run only to realize they've got their collar on.
Also I meant to ask (directed towards anyone), when we start a search for scent work I say “find it!” Should I use the same phrase for barn hunt or switch it up? I’m thinking to stick with “find it” because he knows to start searching, but maybe it’s better to say something else for a different sport?
LifeofRubie
Moderator
For now... I would maybe leave verbals out of the new part of the game? Once he realizes there are rats to be discovered and they bring rewards, then introduce it.
He might not even need a cue to start hunting, just a Let's Go! when you enter the ring.
"Up" for a climb ("off," for a dismount) and "tunnel" from agility could be helpful verbals cues he likely already knows, though!
He might not even need a cue to start hunting, just a Let's Go! when you enter the ring.
"Up" for a climb ("off," for a dismount) and "tunnel" from agility could be helpful verbals cues he likely already knows, though!
I personally switch it up. I'm sure they know when there's a room full of straw bales they're not looking for SW odor. They've smelled the rats before they get to the area! But there's something about changing the command that leaves no doubt that "this is this" and "that is that". When we look for human scent articles instead of akc odor I say "find the articles" because that also means lay down to indicate, not a look-back. It's not like they don't know or can't tell, it's just an extra reassurance that they know for sure...
okaygreatthanks
Member
Yup, I think this is a good starting strategy…they pretty instinctively know what to do once they get a whiff of the rat scent, so you don’t need to instruct much in the beginning levels (as tough as that can be…I talk to Remy all day long, be it conversational or obedience related
).
