(Editor’s note: There’s an AKC certification event called Barn Hunt, in which dogs search for a live rat enclosed humanely in a small protective container, and hidden under bales of straw or other conditions simulating a farm environment. Dogs only sniff out the rat’s location, never harming the rat. The rats are well cared for, become familiar with the routine and aren’t traumatized at all. One trainer told me her rats usually just curl up and take a nap. Training sessions don’t involve rats, but are held with small scent boxes, usually about the size of a matchbox. Birch and anise scents are frequently used.)
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A couple of years ago I started my dog Raina in Barn Hunt. One day we were in a scent work training session in the garden tool and plant area of a big box home improvement center. Our trainer told me that the two scents we were working on were down an aisle to the right. I started Raina off and within 30 seconds she left the training aisle and went around to another one. She alerted on a dead rat that had died the night before and was belly up in a corner! Guess that didn’t qualify for a ribbon…but we did end up with a funny story:
“No training scent for me, Mom. I’m going for the real McCoy,” Raina said.
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from Bobbie in Wyoming