Page 31 - Chow Life - Spring 2018

Not everybody does that. (Rat Champion) and all multiples runs, you earn points for finding
There are people that do exactly thereof. It takes five qualifying runs rats and completing the tunnel and
what the judge said creates to get the Master (RATM) title, and climb, or lose points for failing to
problems later – they just take then you start over and it takes ten complete the tunnel or climb rather
the rat away and send the dog for RATCH. After that, every ten then it being an automatic DQ. We
on its way. As I watch other dogs runs another level of RATCH is have not participated in this yet
working I see dogs that give almost added (like RATCHX which means as I was trying to concentrate on
no indication they found a rat – in you’ve earned the RATCH ten times one thing at a time, but it is a fast
fact some give none at all. And over). growing and popular competition.
why should they if all the handler Don’t expect your dog to be Any score above “0” counts and
is going to do is take it away and perfect every trial – and remember you accumulate points to earn
make them look for more? They that you can NQ your dog in all Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and
get nothing out of it. So take a few kinds of ways, too. One person then move on to multiples of those,
seconds and praise your dog for NQd herself because she stepped like Platinum Bronze or Platinum
finding that rat. No, you can’t take over the ramp instead of going Platinum – it all depends on the
treats in with you at a trial but you around it, another did by stepping total number of points you have
can pet them and tell them how over a bail of straw without calling accumulated. It looks like LOTS
good they were for getting that rat. RAT first. There’s a LOT of rules of fun and it is on the agenda to try
Because when you do get to Master so be sure to read them. Your dog next. However since it is considered
the last thing you want is a dog that can’t read the rules so depends Non-Regular it is not offered at
doesn’t alert you to the rats. Or the on you to know what’s going on. every trial and often when it is the
fact is if they stop alerting you early And remember, they are dogs. number of entries is limited.
on, you might never get to Master. Sometimes they have a bad day, or Like everything, Barn Hunt isn’t
And as I’ve mentioned before, even a bad weekend. Mentally note for everyone – but then it’s entirely
the tunnel is a big deal. Once you what happened and decide if there different from anything else and
get to Master the tunnel can be was a reason for it (like it was just might be a great deal of fun for you
anywhere from two to five turns – too hot and the dog was panting so and your dog. Some Chows just do
and let me tell you a five turn tunnel much it couldn’t smell) or just one not have a prey drive and may not
is a LONG tunnel. Most judges of those things that there really was care about the rats. And then there
have two or three turns but you no reason for. If your dog was being are Chows that are like Marilyn
do get judges that like to consider a jerk (like blowing you off because and have a high prey drive and are
themselves tunnel queens or kings it just didn’t want to do something) determined to get those rats. And
and build killer tunnels. Teach your then address the issue in training. there is every level in-between.
dog early on to go through them so But don’t create one if there really Some handlers have had their
that isn’t an issue once you get to wasn’t one. Sometimes it just wasn’t dogs find the rat a few times and
the upper levels. It really sucks to your weekend. And yes, Marilyn then quit because they figured
have a fabulous hunting dog that had a couple of weekends like that. out they were never going to get
can’t pass because they just won’t There is also another non-regular the rat out of the tube (which is
do the tunnel. titling event in Barn Hunt called another reason to give them extra
Once you get to Master, all Crazy 8’s – eight rats and four litter praise when they do find the rat),
titles thereafter come from the tubes are hidden and you are given but you don’t know how they may
Master class including RATCH two minutes in the ring. The course do if you don’t ever give them the
is a modified opportunity.
Senior/Master So if you see a Rat Clinic or Rat-
level course n-Go in your area, give it a shot.
but any dog Like I said at the very beginning of
with any (or this series, make sure to introduce
no) titles can your dog to the rat so they know
enter. Crazy 8’s what they are looking for. It really
is a completely does help if they first see the rat in
different a cage and then the rat in a tube.
system Otherwise they don’t know why
than the they are in that ring. Show them
progression why – and make it fun. You’ll be
of the original glad you did.
titles. Instead
of Pass or
Fail for your
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