BARN? HUNT?
You search for what?
Not REAL rats?
These are often the first questions I hear when I tell someone about this fun and exciting sport my dogs play. Whether a seasoned athlete or brand new to dog sports, Barn Hunt is an extremely welcoming sport that you should check out!
Started in 2013, Barn Hunt Association (BHA) was founded by Robin Nuttall and continues under her leadership, to be the largest rat finding organization in North America. Once you’ve obtained a competition number for your dog, you can play anywhere that BHA trials are held. The rules remain the same, apart from places like Alberta that don’t allow rats, so they find gerbils instead.
A lot of people, including myself when I started, are extremely concerned about the safety and welfare of the rats, but BHA has very strict rules on rat care and is of utmost importance. After all, they are the stars of the show! Most rats that participate in barn hunt are extremely well cared for and beloved pets. They enjoy high quality diets, large cages, and are regularly rotated out during a trial so their time in the tube is limited. Each rat must be able to easily turn around inside the tube, which has multiple air holes for proper ventilation. Owners also prepare the rats for dogs and tubes with proper introductions and exposure, so they aren’t scared and often willingly go in.
The Game
Barn Hunt is a game where your dog searches for live rats, that are securely housed inside solid core schedule 40 PVC tubes which are then hidden beneath loose piles of straw. Dogs will use a variety of senses to locate and differentiate the tubes that contain rats, versus litter or are empty. There are five main levels, called classes, of this game: Novice, Open, Senior, Masters, Champion.
Each level requires the dog to complete three components:
1) find between 1-5 rats,
2) complete an increasingly dark and challenging tunnel, and
3) climb on a bale.
Novice (RATN) – one empty, one litter and one rat tube are hidden on the course. Dogs need to locate the rat tube, tunnel and climb on a bale in under 2 minutes. Three Q’s (qualifying runs) are required for this title.
Open (RATO) – one empty, two litter and two rat tubes are hidden on the course. Dogs need to locate both rat tubes, tunnel and climb on a bale in under 2.5 minutes. Three Q’s are required for this title.
Senior (RATS) – one empty, three litter and four rat tubes are hidden on the course. Dogs need to locate both rat tubes, tunnel and climb on a bale in under 3.5 minutes. Three Q’s are required for this title.
Master (RATM) – eight tubes are hidden on the course containing one to five rats and litter. Unlike other levels, the handler does not how many rats are hidden, and they must “clear” the course with their dog. Dogs need to locate the accurate number of rat tubes, tunnel and climb on a bale in under 4.5 minutes. Five Q’s are required for this title under two different judges.
Champion (RATCH) – Same criteria as the Master class, except 10 Q’s under two judges are required for this title.
All regular classes and Line Drive also include height divisions: small, medium, and large. Dogs can place 1st-4th within each of these height categories based on the speed of their completion time. An overall High In Class may also be awarded to the dog who completes each class the fastest.
Auxiliary Titles
There are three auxiliary titles you can compete for: Instinct, Crazy 8’s and Line Drive. These non-regular titles can be obtained outside of the regular classes and have no bearing on your progression through the main levels.
Instinct (RATI) – three tubes are secured to a board and covered lightly with straw. One has litter, one is empty, and one contains a rat. The dog has one minute to determine which tube contains the rat. No other components like a tunnel or climb are required. One successful Q is all that’s needed for this title, but it must be obtained prior to completing your Novice title.
Crazy 8s (C8Bronze, C8Silver, C8Gold, C8Platinum) – is a cumulative class that carries from trial to trial. Eight rat tubes are hidden on the course and the dog has 2 minutes to find as many as they can. Each rat tube is 10 points, a tunnel is 10 points, and a climb also counts for 10 points. If your dog does not complete a tunnel or climb, 20 points for each will be deducted from their final total. There are also bonus points if you find all 8. And unlike other levels, you are allowed one “fault” by calling an incorrect tube and may continue to play. However, it too, comes with a 20-point deduction.
Line Drive – (LD) – dogs will have 1 minute to locate four rat tubes. Unlike other classes, dogs can be on leash, be touched at any time and be blind. You need 10 Q’s to receive this title. All titles earned will be listed under your BHA profile and certificates can be printed off directly from there. Titles can also be recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club, as they have been for many years. You can easily submit your title to CKC and have it added to your dog’s list accomplishments and registered name.
Training for barn hunt can also be fun, but it’s important to find trainers who have been playing and instructing for many years as they will have the experience needed to trouble shoot any issues. While all dogs will rely on their natural instincts to varying degrees, most will need help at some point working through a hurdle or two.
Just like any other dog sport you practice to help improve performance. All physically fit dogs no matter the breed, mix, or age can learn to play this sport happily and safely.
Barn Hunt continues to grow at a rapid pace and is one of the most supportive dog sports I’ve ever played. By surrounding yourself with people who want to see you succeed, you will ensure a fun time for both you and your dog, even in times you don’t perform as expected. Not every run will be amazing, but if you keep realistic expectations and continue to work on improving, you will have an extremely rewarding and fun journey with one of the best partners you could ask for.
Now go find a rat!
 was founded by Robin Nuttall and continues under her leadership, to be the largest rat finding organization in North America. Once you’ve obtained a competition number for your dog, you can play anywhere that BHA trials are held. The rules remain the same, apart from places like Alberta that don’t allow rats, so they find gerbils instead.){kind=link}