Barn Hunt FAQ
This page provides an overview of the Barn Hunt sport as well as information on its rules, classes and titles. This is condensed from the official Barn Hunt Competitor Rules.
Barn Hunt Rules Overview
Welcome to Barn Hunt! This fast-paced, instinct-driven sport is all about teamwork and having fun with your dog. Below is a quick guide to the basic rules so you know what to expect.
NOTE! These are rules that apply to Barn Hunt trials. Classes are far more relaxed and designed so that people and their dogs can learn the rules a bit at a time.
Who Can Play?
All Dogs Welcome: Barn Hunt is for any domestic dog, regardless of breed, mix, or size.
Inclusive Sport: Deaf dogs, dogs with partial vision, and dogs with physical differences (like tripods) can play.
How a Run Works
The Start: You and your dog start inside a 4’x4′ start box. You must wait for the judge to say “go when ready” before releasing your dog.
The Tasks: Depending on the level, your dog must complete three main tasks:
- Climb: The dog must place all four feet on top of a bale.
- Tunnel: The dog must safely navigate through a straw tunnel.
- Find the Rat: The dog must use their nose to locate the hidden tube containing the live rat.
Calling “RAT!”: When your dog indicates they have found the live rat, you must clearly and confidently call out the word “RAT” or raise your hand to the judge.
Handler Rules in the Ring
No Food or Toys: You cannot bring treats or toys into the ring during official trials, though they may be allowed during specific “Fun Tests”.
Praise Yes, Touching No: You can speak to and gesture at your dog all you want. However, you cannot deliberately touch or physically guide your dog until after you have successfully called the rat, at which point you are encouraged to physically praise them.
No Cell Phones: Smart devices must be muted and put away. A ringing phone in the ring is an automatic disqualification.
Gerbil Safety is Priority #1
Our Working Partners: The rats and gerbils are beloved, well-cared-for pets and partners in this sport. They are never harmed.
Safe Enclosures: Gerbils are safely enclosed in sturdy, aerated PVC tubes.
Gentle Handling: Handlers and dogs must treat the tubes with respect. Kicking, throwing, shaking, or dropping a tube will result in immediate disqualification.
Good Sportsmanship
Barn Hunt is a family-friendly sport. Swearing, poor sportsmanship, or any physical/verbal abuse of your dog, the judge, or the ring crew will not be tolerated and will result in dismissal. Keep it fun, positive, and supportive!
Competition Classes and Games
In Barn Hunt, dogs must complete specific tasks—finding rats, climbing, and tunneling—within a set time limit. As dogs move up in level, the courses become more challenging.
The Regular Classes
- Instinct: You have 1 minute to find exactly 1 rat. The course features one rat tube, one empty tube, and one litter tube. No climbing or tunneling is required.
- Novice: You have 2 minutes to find 1 rat hidden among an empty tube and a litter tube. The dog must execute a climb (all four feet on a bale) and navigate a short, straight tunnel.
- Open: You have 2.5 minutes to find 2 rats (with three litter tubes on the course). The dog must execute a climb and navigate a slightly longer tunnel (8 to 10 feet) that has one turn.
- Senior: You have 3.5 minutes to find 4 rats (with four litter tubes). The dog must execute a climb and navigate a longer, darker tunnel (12 to 18 feet) with one to two turns.
- Master: You have 4.5 minutes to navigate a complex course with Distance Challenges (areas the handler cannot step into) and a very long, twisting tunnel (14 to 22 feet). There are 8 tubes hidden, but only 1 to 5 of them will contain rats. It is up to you to tell the judge when the course is officially “clear” of rats.
The Specialty Games
- Crazy 8s: A fast-paced, point-gathering game where you have 2 minutes to find up to 8 hidden rats. You earn 10 points for every rat found, 10 points for completing a climb, and 10 points for completing a tunnel. You lose points for making an incorrect rat call or skipping the climb or tunnel.
- Line Drive: A fast, challenging scent game where 9 tubes (4 rats, 5 litter) are placed in a line. You have 1 minute to find all 4 rats. Unlike regular classes, dogs can run on a leash and handlers can touch and praise their dog throughout the run.
Titles and Qualifications
Dogs start in the “A” division of a regular class and must earn a specific number of Qualifying Scores (Qs) to earn that level’s title and move up to the next rank. Handlers can also choose to stay at a level by moving into the “B” division to earn extended titles.
Regular Class “A” Titles (Moving Up)
- Instinct (RATI): Requires 1 Qualifying Score under one judge.
- Novice (RATN): Requires 3 Qualifying Scores under one or more judges.
- Open (RATO): Requires 3 Qualifying Scores under one or more judges. You must have a RATN title to enter.
- Senior (RATS): Requires 3 Qualifying Scores under one or more judges. You must have a RATO title to enter.
- Master (RATM): Requires 5 Qualifying Scores under two or more different judges. You must have a RATS title to enter.
Championships and “B” Class Titles Once you complete an “A” level title, you can move laterally into the “B” class (e.g., Novice B, Open B) to accumulate more qualifying scores.
- “X” Titles (RATNX, RATOX, RATSX): Earning 10 Qualifying Scores in any “B” class under at least two judges earns an “X” title. You can earn multiples of these by getting 20 or 30 qualifying scores (e.g., RATNX2).
- Barn Hunt Champion (RATCH): Requires 10 Qualifying Scores in the Master B class under two or more judges.
- Barn Hunt Champion Excellent (RATCHX): Earning an additional 10 Qualifying Scores in Master B after your RATCH earns you a RATCHX. This can be earned multiple times (RATCHX2, RATCHX3).
- Elite Master Champion (REMX): Dogs completing a Master B course in 2 minutes and 30 seconds or less receive a REMX leg. 10 of these fast qualifying scores earn the REMX title.
Game Titles
- Crazy 8s: Titles are based on accumulating points across runs. 500 points earns Bronze (CZ8B), 1000 earns Silver (CZ8S), 1500 earns Gold (CZ8G), and 2000 earns Platinum (CZ8P).
- Line Drive: Requires 10 Qualifying Scores to earn the LD title, and 20 for the LD2 title.