What is a barnhunt?

Surprisingly, the history of an entire sports discipline has developed thanks to only one dog! The fact is that once Robin Nuttell, a breeder and a great lover of Dobermans, received a dwarf pinscher named Zipper as a gift. The woman became interested in the history of the breed of her new pet. And when it turned out that these dogs were bred to exterminate rats and mice, she decided to develop the hunting skills of a pet.

However, her wish proved difficult to fulfill. The most famous competitions for hunting dogs at that time were Earthdog trial. But, as it turned out, only terriers and dachshunds could take part in them. Miniature Pinschers, alas, were not allowed. So Robin Nuttell decided to create her own competitions, in which dogs of any breed could take part.

Sports Features

Barnhunt is primarily a hunting competition. The name of the discipline comes from the English combination barn hunt, which translates as “barn hunting.”

The thing is that the barnhunt is a conditional rat hunt, and a kind of barn serves as a competition ground. The obstacle course is a maze of hay. It has tunnels, slides and burrows. Small cages with rats are hidden at different points. The task of the dog is to find them all. The participant who finds all the hidden rats faster than other rivals wins. Like any discipline, barnhunt has several classes, and the winners are awarded champion titles.

By the way, the rats participating in the competition are safe. These are specially trained pets that are accustomed to dogs. In addition, they are often given a break from the game.

According to the rules of the barnhunt, the dog should not touch the rat, its task is only to detect. If the pet makes attempts to grab the rodent, points are deducted from the participant.

What dogs can participate?

The great thing about the barnhunt is that almost all dogs can compete. Here you can meet terriers, pinschers, mestizos, outbred pets and many others. Moreover, elderly pets and even those who have problems with hearing, sight or smell are not forbidden to participate. But it is worth noting that a completely blind or deaf animal still cannot be allowed to participate.

Interestingly, in barnhunt competitions, dog titles are not so important either. An ordinary participant can be both a champion and a pet-class pet. The main condition for participation in competitions is that the dog must fit into the tunnel, the diameter of which is 18 inches (approximately 45 cm).

It is believed that obedience, intelligence and the hunting instinct of a dog are much more important in this sport.

How to participate?

To date, barnhunt competitions are not held in Russia. Therefore, you can only train a dog as an amateur.

Owners of pets of burrow breeds, which include terriers and dachshunds, can go in for burrowing, which, like the barnhunt, is based on the opportunity to work with dogs in artificial structures – burrows specially built for this purpose. Thanks to this, the dog can realize his hunting instincts in conditions that are as close to natural as possible.

When thinking about a pet’s sports career, special attention should be paid to its training. It is best if they are carried out under the supervision of a professional. The main thing is that the dog feels comfortable at the same time and willingly follows the commands of the owner.

Photo from the page Barn Hunt Trial