Rat Hunting
There are four venues of critter hunting: Rat Games (RG), Barn Hunt, North American Sport Dog (NASDA), and Earth Dog. They all use domestic trained rats in dog safe containers. Comp K9 offers instruction in all venues except Earth Dog.
Because most competitors who hunt critters show in multiple venues, we combine instruction for critter hunting into one class teaching hunting skills that are applicable to any venue. Dogs are taught to go to the "source" or "hot" scent and mark it. They learn to find exposed, hidden and elevated scents. The class varies from week to week focusing on one or more of the venues' games. Rules for all organizations are discussed.
Classes Offered
Rat Class
Rat hunting is all about finding the "hot" scent in the midst of other competing scents. Multiple hunts at different levels are set and dogs at all levels train and hunt on their appropriate level course or skill drills. Dogs can start at any time during the month. Drop-ins are welcome.
Beginning dogs get highly individualized instruction in rat hunting basics like discriminating between hot scent vs. residual scent, tube or box location, signaling, height work and how to communicate with their owners that they have found the rat. Handlers learn to understand their dog's signals and body posture as well as how to work a course efficiently to assure maximum success.
Advanced dogs get practice seeking rats in difficult hides, varying elevations and get to practice all the games by the sanctioning organizations.
Drop-In: $25 Class fees: $20/class. Paid monthly.
SEMI-PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
We offer semi-private instruction for groups up to four dogs at a time a date that is convenient for you. All Semi-Private Instruction is scheduled in one-hour increments. Enroll for the instruction and a trainer will contact you directly to set a date and time. Class Fee: minimum $100
PRIVATE INSTRUCTION
We offer private instruction for groups up to four dogs at a time a date that is convenient for you. All Private Instruction is scheduled in one-hour increments. Enroll for the instruction and a trainer will contact you directly to set a date and time. Class Fee: $80/hour/student
A WORD ABOUT OUR RATS
Our rats live very well. They are housed in a large habitat with lots of toys, plenty of nooks and crannies to hide in, good basic food plus lots of fruits and veggies and way too many treats.
Our rats were all born as "feeder" rats. They were originally bred to be fed alive to snakes and other predators. Instead of that fate, we ask them to work 1 day a week and an occasional weekend. They are trained to get into the tubes and boxes and quickly figure out that the dogs can't touch them. We frequently see them tease the dogs then sit back and smirk.
Rats live to be 3 years old or a bit older if they are well cared for. We use them to work for about a year to a year and half then they retire to become someone's pet or they live in our retirement villa for the rest of their lives. Don't worry about our rats, we keep them well protected.
| Rat Games | RatGames.com |
| Barn Hunt | BarnHunt.com |
| North American Sport Dog | NASDA.dog |