Barn Hunt
Barn Hunt is a sanctioned sport open to any dog of any breed, mix, size, or type. A game designed to test your dog’s ability to seek, find, and indicate the presence of rodents in a simulated barn environment, Barn Hunt was meant to follow the tradition of rat catchers and their dogs by utilizing the dog’s natural ability to hunt and the handler’s ability to build a team with their dog as they search the course together.
Dogs and handlers navigate an obstacle course made of straw bales, learn to work through complex tunnels, and seek out the ‘quarry’, our working rats and gerbils, which are hidden in dog proof containers throughout the course.
The goal is to “clear the course” of rodents in the time limit allowed.
Barn Hunt can be an amazing option for dogs with a high prey drive and lots of energy, or as a low impact retirement sport for working dogs from all walks of life.
Barn Hunt is known as a gateway sport, and welcomes pet owners who are brand new to dog sports! It builds confidence, communication, and is a great way to burn off a lot of extra energy extra fast, using body and brain!
High Tails is pleased to be able to offer training from the Novice through to the Master levels in a full sized ring, all year round!
Private, One on One Lessons
Private lessons are booked with an experienced, titled, instructor for just you and your dog and are tailored to match your skill level, problem solve with your dog, and improve your handling.
They are great for both brand new dog and handler teams, and for experienced competitors looking to get the very best out of their dog, and the most of out their entry fees.
New students will learn about their dog’s prey drive and hunt style, be introduced to the quarry and the course, and will be set up for early success and lots of fun with a plan to advance and excel at an individual pace!
Experienced competitors will benefit from insights into scent theory, complex course handling, practice with difficult hides, blind hinds, handler challenges, and thoughtful individualized breakdown of training and trialing challenges you may be experiencing.
Price: $40+gst per dog per session (multi-dog families welcome)
Please note: Private training sessions are in high demand and availability is limited. Time-slots are opened one calendar month at a time and are announced on the Facebook page, usually in the last 1-2 weeks of the previous month. However, additional time slots often become available throughout the month as students cancel or reschedule their times or the instructor is able to add an hour here or there.
Barn Hunt Quick Start – Group Class
5 Week Class – Next session start date TBA
Price: $165+gst per dog
Barn Hunt Quick Start is a group class designed for those students who are brand new to the sport of Barn Hunt. We’ll be covering the proper care and handling of the quarry, the origins of the sport of Barn Hunt, and the basic rules of the sport at the Novice level. Dogs will be introduced to gerbils, climbs, ramps, and tunnels, and handlers will be introduced to basic scent theory and some fun insights on how dogs hunt and learn!
Class sizes are small, and only one dog will be worked in the building at a time.
This class is an opportunity for handlers and dogs to see if Barn Hunt is the sport for them and will prepare them to enter their first trial at the Novice level.
Email: barnhunt@hightails.ca
Pay – Per – Run
Need some ring time to practice for a trial? Blind hides?
Want to work on the skills you learned in your private lesson or group class? Want to practice waiting in the blind?
Just want to burn off a bit of energy or play an indoor game with your dog?
Pay per run is facilitated ring time for all levels in an open practice setting.
There is no instruction or coaching provided.
The facilitating instructor will provide level appropriate blind hides, or known/marked hides. Master level participants may request a distance challenge. Teams will be timed and the facilitator will act as ‘judge’ if requested.
Handlers may choose to use toys or non-crumbly treats to train their dogs.
Only one dog will be in the building at a time. Handlers and dogs may be blinded in groups according to the level. The blind area will be outdoors and provide lots of space for distancing between dogs and people.
Price: $20 = 2 runs
You may purchase a maximum of 4 runs per dog (multi-dog families welcome)
Pre-requisites: For the safety and comfort of the gerbils all pay per run participants need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
1. Attended group or private lessons (at High Tails or elsewhere) where they have learned to safely and properly handle rat tubes in accordance with Barn Hunt safety rules.
OR
2. Be an active Barn Hunt competitor who has competed in at least one sanctioned trial.
OR
3. Successfully completed Monika’s online “All About Barn Hunt Rats and Gerbils!” mini webinar. (COMING SOON!)
Book Online: Coming Soon!
Email: barnhunt@hightails.ca
Visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.comBarnhuntHightails/
Our Barn Hunt lessons are taught by Monika Hoyer, CPDT
Monika has been training dogs for over 15 years and has competed actively in dog sports for the majority of those years. She enjoys the problem solving aspect of dog training and views all dogs on an individual basis while drawing from an extensive understanding of the evolution of animal behaviour.
Monika shares her life with her three dogs: Badger the Border Collie, Fennec the Kelpie mix, and Rook the Alaskan Husky, along with her six Barn Hunt gerbils, a couple of budgie birds, and her ‘fish in training’.
Monika’s dogs past and present boast titles in Barn Hunt, Flyball, Skyhoundz, Trick Dog, Canine Good Neighbour, and have dabbled ‘just for fun’ in agility, scent detection, bike joring, and dog sledding.
Her gerbil Wally is the one and only trained and titled Trick Gerbil, and has earned both his Novice and Intermediate Trick titles.
Monika has past experience working with wildlife and exotic animals and finding solutions for problem pet behaviour. Her primary focus these days, however, is the sport of Barn Hunt. In addition to competing and training at the Championship level, Monika has furthered her education by attending the BHA Barn Hunt Judge Workshop.
Monika’s goal is to help you and your dog enjoy the sport as much as and her dogs do by tuning in to what your dog is telling you in the ring and teaching you to work together as a team, read and trust your dog, and find true passion in the hunt!
