Yes I’ve done it and it’s very popular in the Midwest. My terriers have done Earthdog so they enjoy it but I find it more like Nosework than Earthdog. Mine have a couple of novice legs and the biggest issue they have is having to jump on all those hay bales rather than go underground. For the smaller dogs I oersonally think its a bit taxing to go four straw bales high but that is for the upper levels.
[QUOTE=yaya;8046391]
He much preferred the covered-up rats. Guess it made it more of a hunt! It took me a few tries to read his reaction, but I started getting it too. (I kept looking for the biting, but all it took was a certain cock of his head and ears to show where the rat was.)
I think a couple more practice runs and we may be ready for the real thing![/QUOTE]
Sounds like a great day, yaya!
Keep in mind that you don’t need to pass the instinct test to trial! My girl wouldn’t instinct test, because we’d already done a few practice Novice/Open tests. She did her tunnel and climb, and then proceeded to run around the ring, looking for hidden tubes, rather than the ones that were out in the open! My BH judge friend tells me that that’s not that unusual - it’s clearly much more fun to look for hidden critters, and since you don’t need your RAT-I to move on, it’s not worth belaboring the issue.
We’re doing a practice in a few weeks, so I’m looking forward to seeing my girl work and introducing my big guy to BH as well. Not sure what he’ll think of it, since he’s kind of goofy, and hasn’t shown much predatory instinct, but you never know unless you try! If he likes it, then I have a Large dog to go to trials with my Small, and if not, I save $$ on entry fees - win/win either way!
As noted above, Barn Hunt is more like nosework than actual earthdog work.
So far, my BT doesn’t appear to have much “predatory” instinct but he can be taught to look for the “rat” scent just as well as anise, birch or clove 
I introduced my mini schnauzers to barn hunt last year, but just trialing with one. I think the interesting aspect as we’ve moved up the levels is to balance how much I “help” him vs. standing back and leaving him alone.
He got his senior title at the last trial, so we’re on to master weekend after next!!
We don’t practice much, but he understands the game and has a clear find signal. I like to keep him fresh and wanting to play rather than letting it get routine and not as exciting.
I never thought this would be something I would enjoy, but my dog is just crazy about it, so it makes me happy too!!
Well, yeah, I could train any/all of my dogs to search for the rat odor, but to be terribly honest, I think of BH as more of an “instinct” game for my dogs, rather than a training game.
That, to me, is the beauty of barn hunt - you can treat it as an instinct-driven sport (as I do) and enjoy watching your dog do something that it does naturally or you can use it as an opportunity to train new skills. (I spend plenty of time training as it is - I’ve got two agility dogs currently competing, and I’ve got two more that are hopefully, getting ready to trial this year.)
I don’t think either viewpoint is “right” - I think if you have a dog, like mine, who doesn’t have any nosework experience, but who really enjoys hunting for rats, you can be successful in the sport. I think if you have a dog who will search for a specific scent because you’ve trained them to, you can be successful in the sport. Both ways are great, as long as you and your dog are having a good time.
Wow, congratulations, earsup - that’s awesome! Good luck in Master!
[QUOTE=earsup;8047398]
I introduced my mini schnauzers to barn hunt last year, but just trialing with one. I think the interesting aspect as we’ve moved up the levels is to balance how much I “help” him vs. standing back and leaving him alone.
He got his senior title at the last trial, so we’re on to master weekend after next!![/QUOTE]
Congrats earsup.
One of the things my trainer sees (as she also judges) is handlers that over “assist” their dogs and not just letting them do their job. So yes, a fine line for sure.
What does come from some level of practice is recognizing the alert. Some dogs are clear and some are less clear. For those dogs that are less clear, having the handler recognize the alert is key (and making sure the dog stays on scent until released).
[QUOTE=bdj;8047422]
Well, yeah, I could train any/all of my dogs to search for the rat odor, but to be terribly honest, I think of BH as more of an “instinct” game for my dogs, rather than a training game.
That, to me, is the beauty of barn hunt - you can treat it as an instinct-driven sport (as I do) and enjoy watching your dog do something that it does naturally or you can use it as an opportunity to train new skills. (I spend plenty of time training as it is - I’ve got two agility dogs currently competing, and I’ve got two more that are hopefully, getting ready to trial this year.)
I don’t think either viewpoint is “right” - I think if you have a dog, like mine, who doesn’t have any nosework experience, but who really enjoys hunting for rats, you can be successful in the sport. I think if you have a dog who will search for a specific scent because you’ve trained them to, you can be successful in the sport. Both ways are great, as long as you and your dog are having a good time.[/QUOTE]
I’m looking at it the same way - not as a training thing, but something fun to do with his natural abilities. The only training I want to do is basic control stuff - sending him through the tunnel and getting him up & down off the bales (harder to get him down than up, he loves climbing!) - let his drive do the rest.
Congrats! Sounds like he’s a natural.
