Barn Hunt at Tail Wagging Events

Posted on January 14, 2017 by Cello's Corner | 2 Comments

Rita and Limoncello have both earned their Rat I title (Instinct level), and both have one qualifying run for their Rat N title (Novice level).

We attended a barn hunt at Tail Wagging Events to see if we could both secure at least another qualifying run in the Novice level.

Unfortunately, neither team was able to do so, but we once again had a great time with our pups!

: Using her nose

: Completing the climb

: Executing the tunnel

: Siffing out a rat…or not!

: In the starting block

Barn Hunt Trial: Pawsable K-9 Events, Millstone Township, NJ

Posted on August 27, 2016 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

Our second Barn Hunt Association trial was held at Pawsable K-9 Events.

Both Limoncello and Margarita did very well this weekend! Both gals ran 2 Novice runs, and both secured one qualifying Novice score toward their Novice title. The Novice level requires the dogs to find the tube containing the rat, complete a tunnel, and have all-fours up on a hay bale (in no particular order) within two minutes. Cello and Rita will need two more qualifying scores to earn their Novice title.

Margarita

Instinct Run: Qualified! 13.53 seconds (new Personal Best!)

*For those of you wondering why we participated at the Instinct level when Rita is already titled at this level, you are allowed to still do an Instinct run to get your pup warmed up as long as the dog has not titled in Novice.

Novice Run 1: Qualified! 1:44.71 seconds

Novice Run 2: Rita completed the tunnel, and before she could attempt the hay bale climb, Jenny jumped-the-gun and called the wrong

location of the rat.

Rita’s First Qualifying Novice Score Ribbon!

Limoncello

Instinct Run: Brian called the wrong location of the rat.

*For those of you wondering why we participated at the Instinct level when Cello is already titled at this level, you are allowed to still do an Instinct run to get your pup warmed up as long as the dog has not titled in Novice.

Novice Run 1: Qualified! 1:50.82 seconds

Novice Run 2: Cello executed the tunnel and the hay bale climb, but Brian called the wrong location of the rat.

Brian and Cello in Novice Run 2:

Cello’s First Qualifying Novice Score Ribbon!

Overall, we had a fun day, and enjoyed Barn Hunt with our two little gals!

Barn Hunt Trial: Tail Waggin’ Events, Robbinsville, NJ

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Cello's Corner | 4 Comments

We attended our first official Barn Hunt trial at Tail Waggin’ Events ! If you are unsure of what Barn Hunt is, click HERE to read all about it!

Saturday:

Margarita had shown great interest in this sport up until the extreme heat wave set in. She does not do well in the heat, and we are unsure if the extreme temperature is the cause, but she seems to have lost interest in Barn Hunt. We had been practicing for a couple of weeks – both at barn facilities, and at home. Rita had been actively finding the rat and enthusiastically signaling the location, and had learned “up!” as the command to jump up on to a hay bale, and “tunnel!” as the command to go through the hay bale tunnel. She was executing all those elements over the past couple of weeks, but appeared uninterested at the trial. We will continue to bring her to practices, as well as sign her up for trials through the Fall and next Spring to see if the cooler weather helps spark her interest again. Despite her nonchalant attitude, and her Mama’s lack of skills in reading when Rita picked up the rat scent, Rita did pretty well, earning her Instinct Title!

Instinct Test: PASS! Time: 49 seconds

Rita’s Instinct qualifying ribbon

Novice Class: Timed out

Rita pretty much shut down in the heat of the day, and wasn’t very cooperative in the barn ring. She did give indication that she found the rat (which I missed completely…something I definitely have to improve upon if we continue to participate in this sport!) and would not complete the hay bale climb or tunnel.

Rita is now Instinct titled in Barn Hunt!

Sunday:

We decided to make Sunday a “Girls’ Day,” and bring Limoncello along to participate in Barn Hunt!

Margarita

Margarita showed NO interest again today!

Novice Class: Disqualified!

Margarita again would not execute the hay bale climb or the tunnel in her Sunday Novice run. She did find the rat (and Jenny was able to identify Rita’s barely-there-signal!), however, Rita then immediately peed in the barn (oops!), which according to Barn Hunt rules is a disqualification.