A surprise!

So I get a UPS notification that a delivery is arriving today and thought, omg, what did I order that I don't remember ordering... that's never happened! Then I receive this beautiful acrylic award (5" round 1" thick) from Robin to acknowledge Jake being the first RATCHX! Thank you Robin!

• Brenda Lund, Amy Hannemann, Gretchen Schultz and 118 others like this.

• Robin Abbott WOW HOW FRIGIN COOL!!!!!

• Brenda Coffield Very nice, Laurel!

• Karen Alvarez That's so cool!

• Jim N Barb Berry Very, very cool!!

• Andrea Marie Very nice keepsake

• Lora DeSombre Awesome and congratulations!

• Linda Milbrath How thoughtful of Robin! It's beautiful and well deserved! The unexpected gifts are the ones you treasure the most! Congrats!

• Mark Shaw Wow!

• Ros Beaman Awesome!

• Becky Heiner How cool is that? Congratulations again on your great accomplishment. Jake has come a long way since last summer. Kudos to you both.

• Becky Harrison Focht That is awesome!

• Laurel Stone Becky - you made me smile... yes he clearly has come a LONG way! I honestly think he may now realize that he is simply not going to get the rat (in his mind squirrel) and it's just a game so he might as well have fun!

• Tammy Milbrath Strebe That is such a nice gesture! What a wonderful way to acknowledge your achievement.

• Lynn Beauchesne Beautiful!!

• Susan Chapman What a nice surprise and a well deserved recognition.

• Kari Olson So cool!

• Greg Perry That is awesome! The first can only happen once. Congratulaitons!

• Pam Quigley Opanowitz Wow. Awesome!

• Kathy Kimmeth cool!

• Susan Netzman Congratulations! That's awesome!

• Kim Kern AWESOME!!!!!

• Robin J Nuttall Each of the "firsts" got one of these. So the first Novice, Open, Senior, Master and RATCH dogs also got one. Jake is the last of the "Firsts" until/unless we add more titles. While we do of course have RATCHX2, etc. it's the same title repeated.

• Jean Richardson How nice!

• Nancy Foster Beautiful. Congrats again.

• Dennis Beauchesne AWESOME!!!

• Caroline Williams Schuyler Congratulations!

Famous Again!

Cover Boy on the Barn Hunt website!! 

2015 Nationals!! (Next year)

Barn Hunt Association, LLC

September 16 ·

2015 National Dates! For real!

The 2015 Barn Hunt National will take place September 11-12-13, 2015 at Purina Farms in Gray Summit, MO.

Special Note #1: We may expand to three days!

Special Note #2: The National will again be a special event and titling legs will not be awarded at the National. Qualification criteria are TBD. However, the German Pinscher Club of America, who are holding their National on the 11th, are going to offer a Regular Barn Hunt trial on Thursday September 10! Woot!

Special Note #3: Friday the 11th will be Zipper's 10th Birthday, and since Zipper is the dog who inspired the sport, we will have to do something really fun and special for him. Like most guys, he'll be embarrassed. We don't care. All National Attendees will be invited to his Birthday Party.

Barn Hunt Association, LLC A Specialty show is not the same as a National. The National has a pre-requisite to enter. It is not a regular show. There are progressive rounds of competition, and only the top 50 get to progress to the last two rounds of competition. The courses will not be regular courses. We also have special classes such as the Games classes which are not held at a regular trial.
This is not just an ordinary show with "National" pasted on it. The dogs who are given medals at the end of the National have something you cannot get at a regular show. September 17 at 7:46am · Like · 6

• Barn Hunt Association, LLC Sorry, hit enter too soon! Because there will be non-standard rules and non-standard courses and because dogs progress, it will not be a titling event. This year, as an example, the criteria to get into the National was a Novice title. But Rounds 3 and 4 of the Grand National were Senior and Master level courses (modified). In regular competition, it is illegal for a dog to get a Senior leg before they have an Open title, much less a Master leg. So the legs wouldn't count anyway.
  In big National competitions around the world from major organizations, there are not titling legs with the event. That includes the AKC agility and obedience National and Invitational, NADAC, USDAA, etc. The World Agility Open and the FCI World Championships are also not titling legs.
  Titling is for ordinary competitions. Nationals are special.  September 17 at 7:54am · Like · 8

• Barn Hunt Association, LLC Up to you. This will not be a titling event. It will be a meeting of the best of the best to go head to head for the pure joy of the sport and watching dogs and handlers work. This year most of the top dogs in the country were there and the level of competition was outstanding. Breath taking to watch. That's what National competition is all about. September 17 at 8:04am · Like · 8

• Jim Poor I think the difference between "national specialty" and "national championship" is lost on many who are clamoring for titles. NO national championship event that I am aware of awards titles. Course differences, etc are all good reasons behind it.September 17 at 9:19am · Edited · Like
  

• Karen Passow Robin. Thank you for explaining your reasoning behind not titling at the Grand National. It puts up front that the Grand National is not a Barn Hunt trial that dogs from all over the country come to compete each other. Your explanation of the Grand National here needs to be included in the 2015 promotional materials given out by BHA. Many participants, including myself did not come to the 2014 Grand National with this perspective of what the Grand National would be. September 17 at 9:22am · Like · 1

• Barn Hunt Association, LLC Well Karen Passow dogs from all over the country will certainly be coming together to compete against each other; as they did this year. But no, not a titling event (and that was made clear this year as well). The National is the best of the best going head to head for the pure sake of sport and fun. It's owners and dogs challenging themselves and showcasing their teamwork on non-regular courses against the other top teams in the Nation. It is a National Championship which is why the top 3 dogs in each division (Grand National, Games, Versatility) get medals.
  And you just gave me an idea....thanks! September 17 at 9:41am · Like

• Greg Perry Yes, it is a GRAND competition between the dogs and it is a lot of fun. This format also allows for ring modification and minor rule mods. It is fun to run and fun to watch. There is also the "celebration of Barn Hunt" aspect to the weekend. September 17 at 9:41am · Like · 3

He’s famous!

Cover Boy on the Barn Hunt Facebook Page for August!

It’s official!

More success!

….and a slide down the straw!  In the middle of a run Jake came sliding down the side of a pile of straw. Spectators said I was less than sympathetic so I looked at the video..  I guess I was!  I believe my words were:  What was that all about?  lol 

He knew it was there….

…. I KNOW he did!!!

48 seconds into the run he gave a big sniff between these bales.

1 min 11 seconds he makes sure it’s still there.

At about 3 min. I ask him if we’re done and he goes back to the spot and pulls out
a rat tube and gives it to me as if to say..  yep!  Now we’re done!

And we were!

The Road to RATCHX

Champion Excellent is a bit of a hike…  and Jake did it in ONE year!

• 3 legs for NOVICE - average time 46 seconds (93-24-21)
• 3 legs for OPEN – average time 1 min. 7 sec.
• 3 legs for SENIOR – average time 1 min. 54 sec.
• 5 legs for MASTER – average time 2 min. 54 sec.
• 10 legs for RATCH (Champion) average time 2 min 23 sec.
• 10 legs for RATCHX (Champion Excellent) average time 2 min. 54 sec.

34 total legs and all but 3 were earned in Wisconsin and were a day trip! He only NQ’d 11 times (no WAIT… “I” NQ’d 11 times!!) and an interesting fact is that 8 were in the morning trials and 3 were in the afternoon ones.  Jake earned the following:

• 22 - 1st place ribbons (12 High in Class)
• 10 - 2nd place ribbons
• 1 - 3rd place ribbon
• 1 – 5th place in his first trial after having been introduced to barn hunt a week before!

It takes a village!

(Posted on Facebook)

RATCHX Jake! What a fun dog he is!

If you're new to barn hunt you'll quickly realize it takes a village (as they say) to make things happen! Thanks to everyone who has ever organized a trial, judged a trial, worked at a trial, taken pictures at a trial, helped me video tape at a trial, pulled me aside after a run and said "don't ever do that again" or you'll be disqualified (touch the bales or Jake or tube, etc.. I could go on with this one) and last but certainly not least the fun people I train with and who own rats! I have made it this far and not yet touched one!!!

Jake's times were great this weekend as you can see! If he passes he places, if we don't, trust me.. it's my fault! So..

• Sat. Trial 1 - 1st place large (2 min 50 sec.) missed High in Class by ONE second!
• Sat. Trial 2 - 1st place large (2 min. 17 sec.) High in Class (5 rats!)
• Sun. Trial 1 - 1st place large (2 min. 34 sec.) High in Class RATCHX title!
• Sun. Trial 2 - NQ.. called at about 2 min. after 4 rats because I'm now GOING FOR SPEED and taking chances!

AWESOME weekend! Always great to see the regulars again and meet new folks! Thanks to all!

• Nancy Yeoman You are an awesome team!!! So happy for both of you!

• Ellen Bloomfield Good going you two!!!!

• Julie Fait Awesome! Congrats!

• Lynn Beauchesne Awesome accomplishment Jake and Laurel!!!!

• Karen Alvarez Jake looks very proud of himself, congrats again!

• Darla Lacey Congratulations on your incredible accomplishment.

• Sharon Keillor Great job Jake! You have quite a nose on you.

• Lynn Busse Very cool and congratulations to an amazing team!

• Deb Kelsey Hamele Congratulations!!

• Becky Heiner Congratulations to an awesome team!

• Jim N Barb Berry Awesome dog!! Great handler!!

• Sandra Hoesel Congrats Laurel & Jake!

• Tammy Milbrath Strebe What a fabulous team you make! And he's such a sweet boy, too.

• Ann Bergeron One of the best things about Barn Hunt is getting to know handlers and their dogs so you can spend all day cheering for success!

RATCHX Jake

Posted in the Great Lakes Barn Hunt Facebook group Sunday July 27, 2014:

BIG NEWS FLASH. Jake von der Alte Baum "Jake", a German Shepherd Dog from Larsen, WI, owned and handled by Laurel Stone earned the first RATCHX in the history of the Barn Hunt, pending confirmation by BHA, today at Waukesha, WI.

Rat Champion Excellent requires that a dog earn 25 Master legs total, including the 5 earned in the RATM and the 10 earned in the RATCH. Very exciting for all of us!!!!

Taken at Waukesha County Expo Center

Moments after final leg required for RATCHX was earned in Trial 1 on Sunday morning, in a run judged by Susan Chapman. — with Laurel Stone and Susan Chapman at Waukesha County Expo Center.

• You, Kelly Mientke Butkiewicz, Karen Alvarez, Nancy Yeoman and 137 others like this.

• Nancy Yeoman Woo Hoo Jake and Laurel!!! So happy for both of you!

• Camp Pit-Weiler Congratulations Laurel Stone and Jake!

• Candy Henely Way to go Jake......and Lairel...

• Andrea Marie Great Job Laurel Stone and Jake!!!

• Melonie Arnold Boyll Congratulations Laurel and Jake!

• Ellen Bloomfield Way to go you two!!!!!

• Danae Steele Couldn't happen for a better team!

• Kelly Mientke Butkiewicz Congrats!

• Jean Richardson Whoopee!

• Ann Bergeron Congratulations Laurel and Jake! So honored to have been there to witness it!

• Chris Puls That's so awesome!! A record that will never be broken!

• Linda Milbrath Wohoooo! Way to Go Jake! Congratulations Laurel!!!!!!!

• Beth Haberkorn Sternitzky WTG! On to Nationals!!

• Sharon Keillor CongRATS1X Jake it was a ball rat wrangling for you!

• Paula King CongRATS!

• Ros Beaman Oh wow! Congratulations!

• Jim N Barb Berry CongRATS! So glad I was there to see it! You two are a GREAT team!

• Amy Wukotich Wow! Congrats!

• Kristina Phillips Wow! Congratulations!

• Karen Alvarez Congrats Laurel!!! I am so happy for you and Jake!!!!

• Kim Kern Congrats to Laura and Jake it was awesome to watch them hunt!!!!

• Heather Neldner Rock on Jake!!! Congrats Laurel! you guys rock!!

• Barb Krynski That is awesome!

• Susan Chapman Jake and Laurel are an incredible team!

• Kitty Check Congratulations!

• Ann Kraft Wow!!! That is awesome!! Congratulations!!

• Kari Olson A historical moment! Congratulations Laurel and Jake.!

• Renea L Dahms Very fun ... the pvc bar should have holes in it to look like a rat tube

• Patti Trudgeon-Muraczewski At first I thought she was holding Susan at gun point.

• Laurel Stone lol.. you had to be there Patti!

• Renea L Dahms - look under the photos and you'll see the purpose of the RATCH bar! it's a useful barn hunt tool!

• Brenda Jones Katz Someone did a clear RATCH bar with a rat in it.. adorable

Jake's personalized RATCHX bar and ribbon. — at Waukesha County Expo Center.

By the end of the weekend, Jake was a very decorated fellow! — at Waukesha County Expo Center.

• Kelly Mientke Butkiewicz, Karen Alvarez, Nancy Yeoman and 30 others like this.

• Laurel Stone And he was also very excited about all the attention he was getting! He actually sat beside the ribbons for 15 min. while I rearranged and took pictures and others came over and took pictures. He clearly likes to be the center of attention!

• Judith Walker It was a joy to wrangle his rats for that final run!
• Becky Harrison Focht That is so cool.
• Brooke Thomas What a boy! Congratulations!

Andrea Dugger - May 25 congRATulations Laurel Stone and RATCH Jake for becoming the 3rd? Barn Hunt Champions in the world! I can't wait to see the pics / videos!

You, Kelly Mientke Butkiewicz, Brenda Coffield, Karen Alvarez and 48 others like this.

• Brenda Coffield Sorry I didn't get back to see it, Laurel. But huge congRATS!
• Kitty Check Huge congRATS!. Great job!
• Kitty Check who is the 2nd RATCH?
• Ellen Bloomfield CongRats!!!!!
• Andrea Dugger 2nd? Carol Cagel and Gracie
• Nancy Yeoman Awesome!!! Woo Hoo!!!
• Darla Lacey Congratulations Laurel.
• Jean Richardson Whoopee!
• Sandra Hoesel Congrats Laurel & Jake!!
• Kathy Kimmeth Congrats what a great accomplishment.
• Sandra Hoesel Who are the three? Andrea, Carol and Laurel?
• Andrea Dugger As far as I know- unless there have been others that we just haven't about yet.
• Karen Alvarez Big Congrats to you and Jake!
• Paula King I'm so happy for you and glad I was able to film your winning run!
• Sandra Hoesel What I find interesting is in a true testament to Barn Hunt being a sport for all dogs, the 3 are a Weimaraner, a GSD and a GWP. Way to go ladies!!
• Andrea Dugger I disagree- apparently the Germans have a leg up in the sport. Bwahhaaaa
• Sandra Hoesel Well considering Weims and GWP's are two of my breeds and I competed in 4-H and AKC with a GSD, I think you are correct Andrea. German breeds have a leg up! (said somebody of German descent... )
• Nancy Yeoman We're going to get Dachshunds in there some day! Go short-legged Germans! hahaha
• Jean Richardson Beware, the Brits are coming. Terriers of the world, unite and get to hunting those rats.

Rock Star Jake

Let’s discuss it…

Training!! 

Menasha Trial July 5-6, 2014

WOOHOO! – a local trial!!  travel time 20 minutes! 
Entered both Jake and Brita! 
Thank you Paws Applause (Gail Donaldson)!!

Videos:

Jake:   Saturday Trial 1     Saturday Trial 2       Sunday Trial 1       Sunday Trial 2

Brita:   Saturday Trial 1     Saturday Trial 2       Sunday Trial 1       Sunday Trial 2

Brita got one open leg and Jake got 3 legs..  two 1st places, one high in class and one 2nd place.

and… Jake got 3 more legs towards his RATCHX and has only 3 more to go!!

I want to have fun with my dog–that’s all…

So I just got home from a Barn Hunt in Bloomington IL and as I was driving back a number of things were going through my head.  Most of the way TO Bloomington I was grumbling about driving, traffic and anything else that I could think of.  I had decided that I hate traveling and plan to do less and less which is still my plan.  On the way home I was thinking of how much fun I had or didn’t have.  

• The people were friendly. 
• It was fun seeing fellow competitors.
• It was really hot and I had to keep moving the van to keep the dogs cool. 
• The blinds were inside and awful because first we had to sit in line and then walk in order into the blind across from the dogs in the blinds in the other ring…  very stressful!

More thoughts crossed my mind.  I had been accustomed to Jake passing and if he passed he placed with one exception and that was his first barn hunt.  In fact, he passed every one until halfway through master (that’s 11 or 12 consecutive trials)  I should correct myself…  Jake ALWAYS passed, I, however, found numerous ways to make the wrong decision.   I did notice some consistencies:

• The shorter the run, the more I think he felt cheated.  This actually makes sense…  He does well so he gets taken from the course. 
• He finds the rats and they are taken away from him. It was adversarial and he didn’t want to give up the rat. 

A few things started happening. 

• He started going TO the rat and then continuing to hunt and then coming back to it.  This was not at all like him because previously he would immediately go to it and try to pick it up and keep it.  But it gave him more time to search (play) on the course.
• He started picking up litter tubes to take back to the van. Of course, I thought those tubes had rats in them so I called them.  He got to keep something or so he thought.

I had watched video after video to try to understand his actions to come to these conclusions.  His times were amazing… 20 seconds in novice, 90 seconds in senior, under 2 minutes in master.  He did his job and is rewarded by being crated again for hours.  How fair is that??

So this past weekend I had time to think. 

• Why am I doing barn hunt?  Jake likes it… to spend time with my dog…  it’s fun… nice people.. All good reasons. 
• What about Jake?  He has fun when in the ring and then the rest of the time is in the crate in the van.  (I should include Brita here also because she most often is along for the ride if not entered.)

So this past Friday morning, load up at 830 to go – run errands – get him and Brita out of van for 5 min. at about 10am… take off – stop again at 1 or so, get them out …  arrive in Bloomington…  go to motel .. go outside a bit… no playing in room … sleep … up and into crate… trial … out of crate 2x to hunt and maybe 4x to potty… back to hotel – Subway sub for supper (meat to dogs)…  ice cream from McDonalds … next day..  crate … hunt.. out to potty several times..  drive home… 

On the way home I think to myself how much time they spent crated… how much time I actually spent with them …  did they really have fun?  We get home and Jake and Brita run like crazy through the yard, chasing each other, finding a REAL critter in the wood pile…  they finally looked like they were having FUN!

So as I mull over my thoughts about this whole thing I really do question myself and ask myself the question:  Is it really fun for Jake and Brita… really?  They seem to have so much MORE fun just playing in the yard and chasing critters through the woods.  So what to do??  We’ll see….

Straw and LOTS of it!

70 bales in all!!

RATCH Jake!

On May 25th Jake earned his Champion title in Oak Creek WI!!!

       

New training shed!!

..with no worries about rain!  What a project!

Before (a garden shed that never really worked out) and half emptied!  12x16 and DRY!

Emptied and blown out with the dogs’ coat blower and then cushy mats put on concrete (Note Jake hanging out in the back – he’s never far from me.)

Now to get the straw from the shelter to the shed and tried a few ways before I was successful at moving 3 bales at once.  Later I put the mower attachments on and filled those up with loose straw.

And voile! Bales and loose straw from opened bales.  Oh..  and this isn’t all the bales.  It got hot (note Jake who dug himself a hole in the dirt before lounging in it) and storms were on the horizon.  When this is done I can put sides on the shelter which is 20x20, level it out, and get more straw!

And the last of the straw is now out of the shelter area so I can level it off, fence it and then fill it up again with straw!  And the other shed now has crates in it so I don’t have to keep them in the garage during training!!

.

Jake’s take from the Oak Creek trial

3 second place wins and one first place with a high in trial in master class.  He got an orange leash for the high in trial which is working out to be a great holder for the ribbons.

Getting’ it ready….Barn Hunt!

First the straw…. then protection from the rain  …..then miscellaneous fencing ….then a board and easel ….  now just put it all together!

And over 2 weeks we went from snow to green grass!

St. Louis - success!

 

 

Purina Farms…  great place for a trial! 

And even though there was snow still in Wisconsin, there were flowers here and it was warm and sunny!!