Barn Hunt

Lowri - We went to Knoxville yesterday and got to do Barn Hunt.  It is the BEST THING EVER!  They showed me a rat in a cage.  I tried to discretely grab it.  They PRAISED me!  Seriously?  They LIKED it when I tried to get the rat.  I went nuts and did my best.  When TM dragged me away, I had a huge grin on my face.

Kevin - I got to go too.  The trainer saw immediately that she was not supposed to "touch the puppy."  I liked that about her.  I tried to grab the rat too.  TM even thumped me on the sides she was so pleased.

Lowri - It got better and better.  By the end of class, I got to search for the rat.  It was in a tube hidden amongst the bales of straw.  They even covered it with loose straw. They even hid an empty "clean" tube and another one with rat bedding in it.  It was no match for my superior nose.  I ran through the straw tunnel, climbed on a bale of straw and found the rat in 1 minute 7 seconds.  The trainer said I was ready to go trial.  I LOVED it!!

Kevin - When it was my turn, I ran through the straw tunnel immediately.  The trainer had been putting freeze-dried tripe in there to lure us through.  I didn't find any on this trip, but I checked out both tunnels.  Then I started checking for rats.  I found the empty tube, the tube with the bedding in it, and every place the rats had been.  The trainer was impressed with my nose.  Then TM had me check another corner.  Yup, the rat was there.  I didn't get wild - I have some self-restraint - but I did check it out.  When TM encouraged me to keep checking there, I dug the tube out.  TM was very proud of me.  The trainer said I was ready to trial too.

Lowri - I hope we get to play that game again soon.  It was great!