Just got home from a weekend of Barn Hunt (2 tests per day) where Michaela had moved up to Senior level (or, as the judge said during the morning briefing, welcome to Purgatory). On her first run, Michaela found the first 3 rats in 58 seconds (maximum time is 3 min 30 sec) and found the fourth rat in under 1 min 20 sec for her first leg (and also got a ribbon for being the fastest dog at Senior level). She was the only qualifier in the second test, and on Sunday she earned the third leg and her Senior title. Whoo! :banana:
We moved up to Master level for the 2nd test on Sunday, where there are a total of 8 tubes (holding 1 to 5 rats, the rest hold rat litter), a longer tunnel with 3 to 5 turns, and the handler has to tell the judge when they think their dog has found all the rats. I missed Michaela's indication of one rat, called three rats she definitely found, and called the course clear. My fault she didn't qualify, but she had fun and had no problem with the longer tunnel. She needs 5 qualifying runs to earn her Master title, so we have a ways to go. Still, it was a pretty darned good weekend and I'm really proud of her.
We moved up to Master level for the 2nd test on Sunday, where there are a total of 8 tubes (holding 1 to 5 rats, the rest hold rat litter), a longer tunnel with 3 to 5 turns, and the handler has to tell the judge when they think their dog has found all the rats. I missed Michaela's indication of one rat, called three rats she definitely found, and called the course clear. My fault she didn't qualify, but she had fun and had no problem with the longer tunnel. She needs 5 qualifying runs to earn her Master title, so we have a ways to go. Still, it was a pretty darned good weekend and I'm really proud of her.
