Inaugural Alberta Barn Hunt a success

Justin Seward
Times Reporter

 

On Nov. 7, a sport called Barn Hunt made its first appearance in Alberta, in Strathmore, as it was in the plans for eight months prior to the event. The pooch-only sport gives the dogs the opportunity to use their hunting senses to track down rodents in hay bales.
“The Strathmore Ag Society was great to work with, so that’s why we came here,” said Mary Smithdorf, Performance of Earth Dog Association of Alberta’s president. “I’m just thrilled. The volunteers had been wonderful, people just stepping up to the plate, doing what needs to be done. I’d say about 90 per cent of the people here have not done this before. Some of them have never seen it live.”
Robin Nuttall, who had been involved with dogs for 20 years, originally started Barn Hunt. She got her first dog, Zipper, who is of a Miniature Doberman Pinscher (Min Pin) breed. Nuttall was curious as to what Min Pins were bred for and decided to observe the dog’s abilities. More research about Min Pins revealed that the breed was meant to hunt rats and mice around the home.
However, Min Pins were not accepted into an American Kennel Club (AKC) Earthdog competition and unfortunately, Nuttall’s effort to get them in competition went down the drain. She decided to create rules for a competitive sport for dogs, which ultimately was passed, and now any breed of dog can join the event. The dogs must be able to fit through an 18-inch by bale-height tunnel.
Smithdorf thinks that this a good way for the dogs to show their hunting capabilities because they are limited in many places as to where they can practice their skill.
“I don’t think there is a dog who doesn’t want to dig around in the straw to look for a mouse,” said Smithdorf. “It’s inherent in dogs to hunt and this gives them an out, especially for the dogs in the city who never get to run around and dig around and look for something. It’s a really good release for them. I don’t think there’s a better dog to do this than others.”
However, the dog owners can train their pooches’ senses with a furry family pet so they can be familiarized with what their task will be at competitions.
“It’s natural for dogs to hunt mice in Alberta especially and gophers,” she said. “They have to learn the scent of a gerbil. That’s an ideal thing to start them on. If you’re kid has a pet gerbil at home, get the bedding out, let them smell it, let them know ‘this is what you’re hunting.'”
Penalties include: grabbing the dog by the scruff or grab them with your fists; lifting your dog off the ground before completing the race is an immediate decision; releasing the dog before the judge said you can and walking your dog out of the ring leashless is a fail.
Earthdog Association of Alberta is hopeful to come back to Strathmore in the near future.
Barn Hunt is growing in the USA at quite a rapid rate and is still hoping to expand in Canada and other countries.