Barn Hunt Titles abounded in 2018 at our house. Bailie and Emma first tried Barn Hunt in June 2016, but it was not a real success. One year ago, we never thought we would earn Novice Titles, let alone even more Titles! We entered five trials this year, and are learning the recipe for success. Hounds are independent creatures, so Mom never knows what she will get with us at a trial, but she is starting to figure it out.
Back in June 2016, Mom had the bright idea to try Barn Hunt with Bailie and Emma. It sounded like a lot of fun. Emma hated it, but Bailie seemed to kind of like it. That weekend Bailie earned her Instinct Title, and a leg towards her Novice Title. Mom was happy and decided to enter another trial in the fall to get the Novice Title. Emma could stay home since she didn’t like the sport at all.
The end of September they entered another trial. It was a disaster! Bailie pooped in the ring one time, and there were snakes in the bales of straw. Mom officially quit the sport. Quitting is not something Mom is good at, so when the June Barn Hunt weekend came up in 2017, and I was a puppy, she had to let me give it a try. Bailie and I both enjoyed it, and Bailie got another leg towards her Novice Title, and I got my first leg. We were hooked, so Mom entered a trial indoors in the fall, but it was a disaster! Not one leg for either of us. At this point Mom officially quit again saying it is a pointless waste of money. Training is necessary to be successful, but how can you train with no rats or straw?
Thank dog for 2018! Finally, classes and practices for Barn Hunt were being offered. Mom said she knew we could do it if only we could practice, and understand what was expected of us. It was back out of retirement…sort of like pro sports athletes retiring and coming back. Three weeks in a row we drove an hour each way to practice, and then came the trial weekend. It was amazing! We totally cleaned up! Bailie earned her Novice Title with High in Trial, I also earned my Novice Title, and we each earned legs towards our next Title, Open.
The annual June trial was next for us. Unfortunately, our practice session was cancelled. This really hosed up our plans. Both of us did poorly, not having seen a rat in three months, but I did manage to earn my third leg and my Open Title. Bailie still needed one more leg.
In August, Bailie had a Nose Work Trial in Illinois, so on the way back we spent the night in Wisconsin, and a day at a Barn Hunt Trial in Sheboygan. It was a huge, fun event! Thankfully, Bailie earned her Open Title that day. I think they have the most pretty ribbons ever, and I’m a bit jealous of that! Since I was in heat, I had to run in panties, and things didn’t go well for me, but it happens.
Just a month later, we entered another trial here in the area. We took a class for three weeks leading up to the trial, and once again, it was helpful. I earned two legs towards my Senior Title, and Bailie earned one. She was so excited she tried to smile, LOL!
The place we train now offers ring rental. This works great for us as we can rent the ring with everything including rats for a half or whole hour when we want. We wanted to finish the year with the New Year’s Weekend Trial, so we practiced three weeks in a row leading up to now. Last weekend we went to the trial and I earned my Senior Title, RATS. I’m so excited and proud! Bailie earned a second leg, so she needs one more to get her RATS.
Now I’m competing in Masters. It is more fun, but also harder. The number of rats is unknown, but between one and five. Tunnels are longer, with more turns, and there is simply a lot more stuff to check out in the ring.
The first day I was on fire according to Mom. I got my RATS Title, and then I found all five rats in my first Master run, but I was having too much fun, and I would not tunnel. Sadly, you have to tunnel to qualify, but Mom said it was so much fun with me, it was not a big deal. The day was very long, and Saturday, both Bailie and I were tired. We had to wait so long to go hunting, we both lost our motivation, and it was just not a good day for us. Now Mom has decided to enter us for only one day to see if that works better. High drive dogs can do multiple days, but for us, it is too much down time, and even Mom was sick of it and demotivated the second day.
We are super excited to see what 2019 brings for us in this sport. There are already a couple trials on our hound radar! It took one year and nine months for Bailie to get her Novice Title, and it took me just nine months because we started practicing. Truly amazing what practice can do for us girls! We came a long way in in just nine months of one year, pretty much from top to bottom. Now I will be in Masters forever, but I need five legs for my Masters Title, and then ten more for my Champion Title, then another ten for Excellent. I will do it, maybe not all this year, but at least my Masters Title, I think.
You two are amazing, congrats! I’d sure be so distracted with all the strange things around.
I’m too busy hunting out the rats to worry about anything else.
Congratulations you are the best.
XOXO Charlie and Hope
Thank you. Sports are so much fun.
So proud to f you girls, that includes Mom! Practice makes perfect, but I have to admit being a city girl ? I don’t get the whole thing.
It’s hard to fully understand things you are not involved in, but we do the suburban version of Barn Hunt…meaning rats are contained, searches are in climate controlled buildings usually, and it is a lot of fun hunting through the straw to find the tubes with the rats.
We did one barn hunt a while back. Benjamin was totally not interested; Zachary was interested, but had no clue what he was supposed to do. Mia (the Toy Poodle) is the house mouse catcher (yuck), so I am sure she will be interested. There are just not a lot of events in our area.
It was so hard in the beginning because it was fun, but we didn’t know what to do really either. Just a class or intro to barn hunt seminar can make a huge difference. We are lucky we can rent the ring and practice on our own now. Hope Zachary and Mia get to do more of it.
You are both so amazing! CONGRATULATIONS!! Good luck in 2019. Have a happy weekend. XOXO, Sparkle
I think me, Mom, and Bailie might be addicted to dog sports, but it is so much fun! Happy weekend. Hope Lyla is doing better.
You two are most talented. Our Little Bit loved to hunt. Birds that is. She was a great bird dog.
Have a woof woof day and weekend. My best to your peeps. ♥
We have no interest in birds, only furry critters. Every dog is born to do something different.
Awesome post Madison! Mom said your multiple returns from retirement remind her of rock stars like Cher! And just like Cher — it looks like things have worked out for you girls!! Have a super day. Your friend Lilly
Thanks, Lilly! I just wish coming out of dog sports retirement paid as well as Cher’s decision to come out of retirement, LOL! Happy Friday.
Congratulations on all your successes, and we know you’ll keep up the good work. It seems practice truly does make perfect! 🙂
Kudos to your Mom on not giving up either. We figured after she saw the snake that was definitely the end of that. LOL
She always tells us, never say never, but we are sure she means it when she says she will never go to barn hunt on a farm again!
Congrats! You girls rock!!!! If we had that sport around here, I’d definitely do it. Where else could we get a RATS title (that made me laugh). But seriously, it really looks like fun!
It will be sad when I get my Masters Title because then I’ll have to trade the RATS for a RATM. Oh well. I’m sure Bailie will have her RATS for a while. She is not in any rush for any titles it seems.
We have enjoyed watching how far your Mom(and Bailie) have come over the years…we remember both times your Mama “quit”..We are so glad she decided to stick with it…You both totally rocked it in 2018!
xoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
Mom has serious issues with quitting. She just can’t give up, but we are happy we get to keep hunting those rats. Someone has to find them because it seems the humans are always losing them in straw bales. So weird!
Major appaws for all of your accomplishments!! Look out 2019!!
Not sure if Bailie has big plans for titles, probably not, but I sure as heck do! Glad you commented. We were concerned about you since we didn’t see a post come in from you today.
Thanks for your concern. Mom has a tummy bug and honestly slept almost 2 days straight! Hahaha!
Congrats all around! You have titles from end to end!!!
We’ve been doing well racking up titles, and have had a blast doing it too.
Congratulations on all the hard work paying off, i hope you continue to have a great time with this sport.
We are excited for all the possibilities being in Masters gives us. It will be a fun year, and hopefully Bailie will join me in Masters real soon.
Great job on your 2018 barn hunts, 2019 will be a great rat chasing year too.
I for one intend to save all those rats the humans lose in the straw bales. I know the rats are thankful for my help.
Congratulations, girls!
Thank you!
Congrats and continued success in 2019.
Thank you. I think at least I will have a good year. Bailie is always a toss up.