Barn Hunt

[Stacy]

I am learning about so many new things at dog school. Is anyone familiar with a Barn Hunt title? (Is it just me who missed it?) I was speaking with the Westie lady and she was saying that last weekend she put a Rally Novice title on the little guy she was working in class that night. He is only 10 months old. I am so impressed with these people. I just keep thinking back to Katie at 10 months old. Based on maturity I would have guessed that dog was 2 or 3 years! 

Then she went on to say that it wasn't the youngest dog she had put a title on. Another dog had gotten a barn hunt title at 7 months. I sat there for a minute and nodded like I knew what she was talking about. Then I asked. Is there a... class for that? 

She went on to explain that Barn Hunt is basically scenting, only using rats. The dogs (and I'm sure I'm explaining this at the lowest common denominator here) go through a course with hay bales and tubes, and they have to find the tubes with the rats in them. Just for the record, they never have any contact with the rats. There is a test where they take three tubes. One empty, one with litter, and one with a rat and the dog is supposed to signal the tube with the rat. And the nice Westie lady has the barn and the hay bales (and rats) and that they train there. And that I could come! 

Maggie lives to chase squirrels! And squirrels are just rats with fluffy tails. I bet she would love it! Maggie is turning into such a cool dog. And we are having so much fun. I love rally! I have no idea what half the signs mean, but she's doing so well. I have to brag on her a little. I think she's keeping up with the more experienced dogs. There are some things I'm not quite sure how to teach her. One of the commands I'm impressed with is "get in" where if the dog is sitting crooked or wide they scoot themselves back into proper heel position. How do you teach them to do that? But for the most part Maggie just seems to get it. I'm not fooling myself into thinking I'm suddenly a good dog trainer. She's smart. She's also confident and happy and driving me nuts barking at squirrels out the window. 

I'm just thrilled to have found this group of dog people. These are my people. I'm finally doing all the things I have always wanted to do!

[Stacy]

I do like squirrels. I think it's fun to watch them play. I would really be okay if Maggie didn't like them quite so much though. At least she can't catch them. I don't know what I would do if that happened. 

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

I like squirrels too but I wish they'd stay out of my veggie garden!

Luna really liked to chase squirrels and birds.. she was definitely a hunter at heart - I think her mom (golden) was from hunting stock.

One time she caught a fledgeling robin but with her retriever mouth she didn't injure it at all and when it started flapping she just let it go lol.

[Stacy]

Thanks! 

Sounds like Hanna knows exactly what "get in" means! You're just using a different word. I think the dogs really are smarter than we are. They pick up on our body language in a way that we don't understand theirs. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You are having such fun with Maggie.  I am so glad that she is yours - she is really living the life.  Others did not see her worth and you did.  I really enjoy your posts about your experiences with her. 

We finally found training for Charlie. It's not one that people approve of so I'm not posting about it.  But his progress has been amazing.  After two classes, he has made quite a bit of progress with his reactivity and with Come and door manners.  He needs a lot more work, but he is smart so I can see that we really might make it and we'll get to enjoy walking him.

[Stacy]

I feel like the fun we're having now is inversely proportional to the struggles we had at first! Now if I could just get her to walk nicely on a leash outside. I know she knows. She's just not highly motivated! 

Yay for Charlie! No judgment here. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do so everyone can live happily ever after.