Rat Hunting Competition Great For Dogs
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If you’re looking for a new activity for you and your dog, longtime FARM SHOW reader Ed Shively brought our attention to the sport of Barn Hunt. Harkening back to what many dogs were bred for - hunting vermin - the sport involves straw bales, rats, and giving canines a chance to show off their scent skills. With six levels of competition, young and old dogs can compete.
“They love to have a job to do,” says Ed’s wife, Joyce Shively, who also judges Barn Hunt events.
Up to 70 bales are set up in a fenced area and, depending on the class, one to five tame rats protected inside ventilated PVC tubes are hidden among the bales, along with other tubes filled with litter. For example, in the novice class, just one rat is hidden. When the dog indicates to his handler that he found the rat, the handler says “Rat”, picks up the tube and hands it off to someone who takes it out of the pen. In addition to finding the rat in 2 min., the dog must go through a tunnel and climb on the bales. In the Master and Champion classes there can be anywhere between one to five rats to find in 4 1/2 min. Dogs must only react to tubes with rats.
Barn Hunt was developed by Robin Nuttall as a sport that allowed her dogs to compete.
A big range of dogs of all sizes and ages compete in Barn Hunt, the Shivelys say, including their German Shorthaired Pointer dogs. The dogs love it, and the Shivelys appreciate the opportunity to educate people about the solid black and solid liver shorthaired dogs they breed. That’s unusual for the breed, which is typically spotted or ticked.
“The solid liver looks like a chocolate Lab, and it looks chiseled and muscled,” Ed says, adding that interest in them is catching on.
With good tracking skills and nose work, the Shivelys’ dog Trapper, a liver-colored German Shorthaired, has earned top places and Master level status and many ribbons at Barn Hunt events.
Barn Hunt started in 2014 and some call it the “fastest-growing dog sport in the U.S.” Information about rules and events throughout the U.S. and Canada can be found on the Barn Hunt Association website (www.barnhunt.com). There are many YouTube videos of the sport as well.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ed or Joyce Shively, 15693 Ringgold Northern Rd., Ashville, Ohio 43103 (ph 614-946-0763; antlerville@gmail.com).
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Rat Hunting Competition Great For Dogs FARM HOME recreation If you’re looking for a new activity for you and your dog longtime FARM SHOW reader Ed Shively brought our attention to the sport of Barn Hunt Harkening back to what many dogs were bred for - hunting vermin - the sport involves straw bales rats and giving canines a chance to show off their scent skills With six levels of competition young and old dogs can compete “They love to have a job to do ” says Ed’s wife Joyce Shively who also judges Barn Hunt events Up to 70 bales are set up in a fenced area and depending on the class one to five tame rats protected inside ventilated PVC tubes are hidden among the bales along with other tubes filled with litter For example in the novice class just one rat is hidden When the dog indicates to his handler that he found the rat the handler says “Rat” picks up the tube and hands it off to someone who takes it out of the pen In addition to finding the rat in 2 min the dog must go through a tunnel and climb on the bales In the Master and Champion classes there can be anywhere between one to five rats to find in 4 1/2 min Dogs must only react to tubes with rats Barn Hunt was developed by Robin Nuttall as a sport that allowed her dogs to compete A big range of dogs of all sizes and ages compete in Barn Hunt the Shivelys say including their German Shorthaired Pointer dogs The dogs love it and the Shivelys appreciate the opportunity to educate people about the solid black and solid liver shorthaired dogs they breed That’s unusual for the breed which is typically spotted or ticked “The solid liver looks like a chocolate Lab and it looks chiseled and muscled ” Ed says adding that interest in them is catching on With good tracking skills and nose work the Shivelys’ dog Trapper a liver-colored German Shorthaired has earned top places and Master level status and many ribbons at Barn Hunt events Barn Hunt started in 2014 and some call it the “fastest-growing dog sport in the U S ” Information about rules and events throughout the U S and Canada can be found on the Barn Hunt Association website www barnhunt com There are many YouTube videos of the sport as well Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ed or Joyce Shively 15693 Ringgold Northern Rd Ashville Ohio 43103 ph 614-946-0763; antlerville@gmail com
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