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Barn Hunt For Dogs | What Is This Sport & How To Get Started?

If you’re living in the countryside, there are probably not many agility or flyball competitions in your area. But you can explore other canine sports more appropriate for your reality. Farm dogs with an acute sense of smell are ideal candidates for barn hunting.

Dog Barn Hunt

Barn..what? Don’t worry; I was also confused the first time I’ve heard the name of this activity. Let me explain; you will understand.

What Is Barn Hunt For Dogs?

Barn hunt is a sport in which dogs must use their nose to locate rats safely enclosed in aerated tubes. The vermins are hidden in a barn with straw, hay bales, and other obstacles. Each dog has to find all the rat tubes inside the ring as fast and accurately as possible. 

Here’s a video to show you what barn hunt competitions look likes!

It’s relatively simple, but you should know many details and rules before getting into barn hunting. Your dog will also need a lot of training to track down the scent of rats effectively.

As for any other sport, preparation is the key to success. Thus, let me share with you all the information necessary to get started!

Can All Dogs Participate In Barn Hunt?

First of all, you have to make sure your dog is eligible to compete in barn hunt competitions. One nice aspect of this sport is that it’s inclusive. Any breed can participate, from Chihuahuas to Great Danes passing by mixed-breeds.

All competing dogs must have the capacity to travel through an 18-inch wide tunnel made of straw/hay. They also need to be registered with the Barn Hunt Association (BHA), which is possible at any age.

But the last condition required to participate in official events is a minimum age of 6 months old. So young puppies are not allowed to compete in barn hunt.

According to the BHA rulebook, some other types of dogs are also ineligible to compete:

  • Wolves, wolf-hybrids, and any mix between a domestic dog and wild canid.
  • Blind dogs.
  • Dogs with open wounds.
  • Dogs in wheeled carts.
  • Lame dogs.

Apart from those exceptions, any dog older than six months of age can get into barn hunting. Thus, this sport is accessible to practically everyone. Now that you know if your buddy is eligible or not. Let’s see if he’s the perfect candidate for this activity!

What Makes Good Dogs For Barn Hunting?

Your dog will have to use his nose to locate rats in the maze of straw and hay. Thus, an acute sense of smell is one trait required to perform well in barn hunt competitions.

Dogs are way better than humans at analyzing and detecting scents, but some breeds have more olfactory receptors than others. If they were bred to use their sense of smell or have a longer/wider nose, barn hunt might be the ideal sport for them.

Your dog also needs to communicate with you each time he will find a tube with a rat inside. That’s why he might not be an excellent candidate for barn hunting if he’s very stubborn or independent.

Top 10 Barn Hunt Dog Breeds!

Now that you know what your dog must have to be well-suited for this sport, you might be curious to see which breeds are the best. So here are some of them that are usually at the top of the BHA Final Rankings.

  • German Shepherd Dog.
  • Border Collie.
  • Golden Retriever.
  • Standard/Miniature Schnauzer.
  • Russell Terrier.
  • Australian Cattle Dog.
  • Dachshund.
  • Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Australian Shepherd.
  • Labrador Retriever.
  • Bonus: Mixed-Breed.

If your dog’s breed hasn’t made it up to the list, it doesn’t matter. As long as he’s interested in hunting down vermin and can fit in an 18” wide tunnel, you can let him enjoy this sport.

How To Get Your Dog Into Barn Hunt Competitions?

Once you’re sure your dog is eligible to participate in the BHA events, it’s time for preparation. He might naturally explore the world with his nose, but not every breed has the instinct to look for vermin.

Therefore, you have to train your barn hunt dog properly before signing up for your first trial. Teaching him how to locate hidden rats and signal them to you is probably not as difficult as you think. Here are 5 simple steps to get started!

1. Join A Barn Hunt Club!

I highly recommend finding other people that already have experience with this sport. It will make everything more simple and easy for you. Having a community to help you get into barn hunting will save you a great deal of time and headaches.

There are over 150 clubs registered with the BHA. You can browse them directly on their Listing Page. With that resource, you should be able to find a group of people near your location that are willing to guide you through the whole process!

2. Introduction To Barn Hunt Rats & Equipment.

First of all, your dog has to be comfortable with vermin. That’s why you must introduce him properly to the rats right off the bat. Start by letting him sniff and look at them when they are in a cage. 

Then, you will have to purchase or borrow barn hunt tubes. If you want to buy them, they are quite complicated to find online. I’ve only seen some for sale on the website of the Rocky Mountain Ratters Club. 

You can now let your dog explore the ventilated tubes, place the rats in them, and start training him. Apart from the necessary equipment to protect the vermin, you also need something to hide them. That’s where the hay and straw come into place.

Finding hay shouldn’t be too difficult if you’re living in the countryside. If you have no other choice, you can always check out Grandpa’s Best Grass Bale (10 lbs) on Amazon. During your training sessions, you will also need treats for positive reinforcement.

3. How Do You Train Your Dog For Barn Hunt?

Before starting any advanced preparation, your dog has to master the basics. He should be relatively obedient and respond to fundamental commands such as “Sit” and “Stay”. Otherwise, it will be arduous and frustrating to get into scent work.

If you have an appropriate barn hunt setup and your dog is ready, you can get started. There are two options available; you can either train him yourself or register for a class.

Barn Hunt Training Classes.

To find training classes, you can search for “barn hunt dog training classes near me” on Google. On the other hand, it’s also possible to prepare your buddy on your own. Let me show you how.

Train Your Dog To Barn Hunt Yourself.

There are many different ways to train a dog for barn hunting. In the beginning, it’s essential to make everything as simple and easy as possible for him. That’s why it’s recommended to teach him one new skill at a time.

To get started, you have to teach your dog how to locate a live rat. For his first try, you don’t even need to hide the tube. You can put it a couple feet/meters in front, encourage him to sniff it, make him sit, and reward him with a treat.

After a little bit of practice, you should step up the level of difficulty. You can bury the tube with some straw or put it somewhere your dog won’t see it right away. Let him explore the barn until he finds the rat, then give him a treat and a lot of praise.

At that point, you can slowly and gradually increase the complexity of the maze. Finding better hiding places, adding other tubes, and putting more straw/hay can be great ideas to challenge your “rat hunter”.

In competitions, your dog will also have to go through tunnels and jump on bales to find the tubes. Thus, you should introduce him to these obstacles and help him master them. With patience, determination, and a lot of training, I’m sure he will excel at barn hunting.

Here’s a video that resumes all the essential steps to start training your dog for this sport!

4. Know The Barn Hunt Rules!

Once your dog is all set to compete, you still have some things to learn on your side. The regulations are there for good reasons, so every handler must be aware of them.

If you want to participate in events, you should read the BHA rulebook. From eligible dogs to special considerations, there’s everything you need to know in this PDF document. To save you some time, here are the main takeaways.

In Events:

  • You Must Have Control Over Your Dog.
  • No Smoking/Vaping.
  • Dog Aggression Result In A Disqualification.
  • Be Friendly With Other Competitors, Club Members, Judges & Spectators.
  • An Authorization Is Required To Go On A Barn Hunt Course.

In The Barn Hunt Ring:

  • Your Dog Must Run Without Collar/Harness/Leash.
  • Wait For The Judge’s Verbal Instruction Before Releasing Your Dog.
  • Time Starts When Any Part Of The Handler/Dog Exits The Start Box.
  • Your Dog Can’t Excessively Kick, Pull, Tug, Roll, Shake, or Bite At Rat Tubes.
  • If You Call A Rat, You Must Keep The Tube Level & Stable When Picking It Up.
  • Urination, Defecation & Spitting/Throwing Up Lead Your Dog To Elimination.

You Are Allowed To:

  • Move Around The Course To See & Call The Right Rat Tubes.
  • Speak, Gesture & Verbally Encourage Your Dog.
  • Move & Replace Straw/Hay Bales To Access A Tube For Removal.
  • Touch/Reward/Praise Your Dog After He Has Called A Rat & At The End Of The Course.
  • Carry Him Into & Out Of The Ring. (If He’s Comfortable & It’s Not A Punishment)
  • Wear Gloves.
  • Use Control Obedience Commands Such As “Sit” or “Down”.

Things You Cannot Do:

  • Bring Toys, Food, or Treats In The Ring.
  • Self-Time Your Dog.
  • Use A Bait Bag, Pouche, Phone, Timing Device, Camera, Etc.
  • Lead Your Dog Out From The Start Box To Get An Advantage.
  • Push/Shove/Tug or Drop Him To Start.
  • Touch, Sit On or Step On/Over Course Equipment. (Bales, Boards, Ramps, Steps, Etc.)*
  • Use Your Hands or Feet To Find Hidden Tubes.
  • Touch Your Dog After The Release. (Unless It’s For Allowed Praise)
  • Verbally Abuse Your Dog, The Judge, or Any Person Around The Ring.
  • Curse In The Ring.
  • Tip, Flip, or Drop Rat Tubes.
  • Use “Stay”, “Wait”, or Another Stationary Command* To Help Him Go Through The Tunnel.
  • Get On Hands, Knees, or Lay On The Ground In The Ring.
  • Peer Directly Into The Tube Before Calling A Rat. 
  • Flip Your Dog Onto Its Back.
  • Doing Obstacles Before Exiting The Ring. (When The Run Is Over)
  • Pick Up or Carry Your Dog During The Run.

*The Only Time It’s Allowed To Touch Something On The Course Is Either To Use It As Balance Aid or To Get Back Up If You Fall.

*The Command “Sit” & “Down” Are Allowed In Front Of The Tunnel, But He Will Receive A Non-Qualifying (NQ) Score If He Moves In This Position.

Everything listed up there comes from the Official BHA Competitor Rulebook. If you want more details and make sure you know every rule, I highly recommend you take the time to read it all.

The information I’ve retrieved from this resource can be helpful. It will give you an excellent idea of how to enter and compete in barn hunt events successfully. But there are much more things you should know to avoid problems in the ring!

5. How To Find Barn Hunt Events?

Once your dog can locate rats and you have read all the BHA rules, you’re almost ready to compete. The only thing you still need to do is to sign up for your first competition. If you don’t want to get any score and see how barn hunt events work, you should probably start with a “Fun Test”.

Then, you are welcome to participate in your first “Trial” competition. With experience, your dog will slowly get better at this sport. So you will be able to register for more advanced types of barn hunt courses.

But where can you find all the events? First of all, the BHA has a calendar on which you have everything, from Fun Tests to National Competitions. You can also talk with your club to organize your own events, or participate with other members in some organized by other people.

Last Thoughts About Barn Hunt For Dogs!

If you have made it this far, I’m sure you have everything you need to get into barn hunting. Now you have to take action and start training your dog for this sport. It might require an investment in time, energy, and money, but it’s worth all the fun you will have together locating vermin in the straw/hay.

Dog On Hay Bale

Analyzing scents and going through obstacles is beneficial for your dog’s well-being. Thus, barn hunting is an excellent activity to keep him healthy and happy.

I hope my article has helped you understand better what this sport is and how to get started. It’s finally time to process all the information in this article and make the most from it.

See You In The Barn Hunt Ring!