b'The basics of Barn Hunt: The handlermorethanthedog,saidBarn Hunt and the Mouse dogcompetesagainsttheclockto Marble-Brown. People have a ten-navigateatunnel,executeaclimb dency to want to micromanage theirJanet Skinner was looking for a sport on the bales of hay and locate the dogs and the situation. If that trait isthat honed in on her dogMikaskeen hiddenrats.Tunnelsmeasure18 not contained, it can lead to frustra-sense of smell. She researched AKC inches wide and 20 to 22 inches tall. tion for the dog who is operating onEarthdog, a sport for dogs to hunt While dogs of all breeds and sizes are instinct. That frustration can lead torats, and found the organizers and welcometocompete,smaller thedogbecomingdisinterestedinparticipants appeared to care very Scenthoundspossessaninherent the sport. The dog will tell the han-little for the well-being of the rats. advantage.Skilllevelsstartat dler where the rat is. We are trainingI backed off on the idea of get- instinctandadvancetonovice, the handlers to sit back and watchting involved, said Skinner. Im not open, senior, and master. The higher their dog; to learn to let go of theinterested in hurting another animal the level the team proceeds to, the will to control. There isnt a magicjust to have my dog collect ribbons. Ilove all animals. harder the course becomes, including potion to this sport. It is all aboutthe addition of more rats. the trust the handler has to have forBesides the obvious fun, what theirdog,andreadingthedogscan we hope to gain by participat- body language. That is the beauty ofing in Barn Hunt? thissport,andwhenthehandlerThemainbenefitofpartici- gets it rightand the team works inpating in any type of dog sport is the tandemitisanamazingthingbonddevelopedbetweenthedog to watch.andhishandler,saidMarble- Marble-Brown continues, AnyBrown.InBarnHunt,forthose kind of scent sport, whether lookingteams climbing to higher skill levels for live rats or working with essentialJanet Skinner and Mika: Competing in in the sport, it requires an entirely oils, is a game to dogs. And we areBarn Hunt is such a partnership. differentskillset.Bynow,the notthedrivers.Thedogsare.handlerhaslearnedtowatchthe WhereasinothersportslikedockJanet was happy to have discov- dog,andisbetterabletodiscern diving,obedience,agilityandered Barn Hunt, with the knowledge whatthedogsbodylanguageis performance sports, were the driver.that one of their strictest overall rules communicating. And that is where The dogs are looking at us for direc-involves the safety and well-being of the bond of trust comes into play. Is tion. Were telling them when to go,all of the rats. Throughout the com- the dogs body language communi- where to go and to look at me.petition, whether the rats are in the cating the rat is there, or that, no, A dogs sense of smell is muchring or resting, they are carefully thatisnotwheretheratis?The morepowerfulthanours.Wewilllooked after by their owners and/or handler becomes keen on watching never ever be able to smell what theyhandlers, called Rat Wranglers. A their dog, resulting in the develop- smellandwhattheyreabletoknowledgeable Chief Rat Wrangler is ment of great teamwork. The bond discern from smells. Dogs are able torequired at all events to monitor the and trust formed over the course of break down everything they smell inhealth and safety of the rats, who are competinginBarnHuntisan a matter of seconds, whether its arotated throughout the day during invaluablelifeskill.Youwillhave newsmellorsomethingthathasthe competition. The Barn Hunt rats learnedtoreadeachothersbody been there for years, says Marble-are family pets and live alongsidedogs, so they are used to the dogs language,behaviorsandmanner- Brown.and enjoy interacting with them. isms to better anticipate your dogs BuildingastrongfoundationIt took me awhile to figure out reaction to a particular situation between handler and dog is a musthow Mika was alerting me to the rat, be it with another dog or a stranger. beforestartinganysport.First,letsaid Janet. Now, I clearly know Itsagoodremindertoalwaysbe the dog know what it is youre ask-when she has found the rat. She will payingattentiontoyourdogin ing for. Dont become frustrated iffall down and roll over the area everydaysituations,whetherat your dog doesnt get it right away.where the tube with the rat inside home or outside. Dogs want to please us, so continueis located. IstrainingforBarnHunt to build the foundation. When themorefocusedonthehandleror handlerfeelsfrustration,thedogthe dog? Were actually training the will feel frustration. 30 THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'