Dedicated to the Health, Education, and Performance of Poodles
Dedicated to the Health, Education, and Performance of Poodles
Barn Hunt is based on the traditional role of many breeds to find and eliminate destructive rodents. Some were small dogs that were bred to go underground and locate and kill their prey in their dens. Other larger dogs were used above ground.
In the sport of Barn Hunt, the dog must locate the prey, a rat, by scent and indicate to his handler where it is hidden. While Earthdog tests also test the ratting ability of dogs, they are restricted to terriers and limited to those that fit in a 9 inch tunnel. (Earthdog tests take place under ground in carefully constructed tunnels.) Barn Hunts are held above ground in an enclosed arena, approximately 20 by 20 feet, of obstacles made of straw or hay bales. They are open to all breeds and mixed breeds. The dog and handler work as a team to locate live rats (safely enclosed in PVC tubes with air holes) that are hidden in the maze of bales. The dogs must locate them using their sense of smell, and then indicate their location to their handler.
Barn Hunt trials are run by the Barn Hunt Association: https://barnhunt.com/.
Barn Hunt is one of the several areas from which points can be accumulated to achieve the VIP Versatility Certificate or Versatility Certificate Excellent or Versatility Certificate Master award.
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