Music City Dog Sports, LLC
Phone: Email: Class Location:
(805) 509-2445 happydogkn@gmail.com 1443 Elm Hill Pike, Nashville, TN
Barn Hunt Has Dogs Sniffing For Joy!
Learn more about this fun sport. Kristy Netzer is teaching classes in Nashville.
Barn Hunt!
How Barn Hunt Is Played
1. The Course
A course is set for your dog to hunt in. It consists of bales of straw that are placed in stacks, along the edge of the ring, on their side, leaning up against one another, and configured so there is a tunnel. The stacks must be between 2 bales and 3 bales high. Safety is important so the stacks are placed so they are not easily knocked over.
2. The Rats
Live rats are placed in secure, ventilated PVC tubes along with some of their bedding.
Note: The safety of our rats is taken very seriously. Our rats actually enjoy the sport and willingly climb into the tubes. No rats are injured in this sport.
3. The Hide
The tubes are then hidden somewhere on the course. They are then covered up with loose straw so they cannot be seen. Judges can hide the tubes anywhere in the course except in a tunnel. There are lots of piles of straw for your dog to search through. There are also empty tubes placed throughout the course so your dog has to find the tubes with the rat, not just the tubes.
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4. The Hunt
Using his keen sense of smell, sight, and hearing, your dog finds the hidden rats. During training, you and your dog work out a way for him to tell you he has found one. All dogs have their own style of letting you know they've found one. Most will paw at the tube, but a few dogs will freeze and tilt their head to the side, indicating that they hear the rat. Some will lay down next to it. Some will bark. Others will sniff a few times and then move on. Part of the sport is learning your dogs indication when he'd found a rat so you can notify the judge that a rat has been located.
5. Climb and Tunnel
In order for your dog to earn titles in this sport, he must climb up on at least one bale of straw and complete the tunnel. As dogs progress through the levels in this sport, the tunnels become more complex and they have more twists and turns. The courses also get bigger with a larger number of straw bales being used.
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6. Titles and Awards
You and your dog can earn titles in the sport of Barn Hunt that are AKC recognized. In order to qualify, your dog must find the appropiate number of rats on the course, climb at least one bale of straw, and go through the tunnel. All within a set amount of time.
As dogs move up to higher levels, there are more rats on the course, the tunnels are longer, and the courses get bigger.
No money is won during Barn Hunt. It's a fun sport and a fun way to spend time with your canine companion and to meet some nice dog people along the way.