NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
Pastoral day at Crufts was the Sunday, with the breed being in the ring at 9am but with not being allowed to leave until 4pm, I will not be able to write about the day until next week as I would not be able to make the ‘Our Dogs’ deadline for notes.
Barn Hunt is the newest activity to arrive on these shores from the US where it is the fastest growing sport, there they use pet rats in tubes which are hidden amongst straw bales, this is not allowed in the UK, the rats have to be dead which are obtained from reputable frozen reptile food suppliers, and the dog never comes into contact with the rat. They are hidden in specially made tubes secured at both ends with holes allowing the scent to escape. There are workshops around the country, and if you wish to compete there are 7 levels, starting with RATI (Novice) and ending with REMX (Barn Hunt Elite ). The competitions are timed and depending on your levels there are various courses made of bales that have to be completed, there are also distraction tubes with rat litter, so not nearly as easy as it might seem at first glance It is of course a version of scentwork and is designed as an enjoyable activity for owners and their dog who can make it as serious as they like, for some it is used as an activity away from a more serious activity such as flyball, agility and obedience, for others it is a different version of the scentwork that some may already do. It is open to all dogs’ pedigree or crossbred, small, medium or large, deaf dogs are also allowed to compete as they can still sniff !
Two people with their Buhunds who have given this a go are Sue Crocker with Noor aka Knytshall Noor Ul Ain and Jasmine Freeborn with Noodle aka Leggatts Jive Talkin. Sue wrote, ‘Having done a few workshops and an unofficial trial, Jas and I thought we would take the plunge and enter our first official trial. For anyone interested, registration is with the American parent club and easy to do through the UK website where the Rule Book can also be found at https://www.barnhunt.com.The concept is based on the traditional roles of many breeds in ridding crop storage areas and homes of vermin. Both Noodle and Noor were entered in the first class ‘Instinct’ and were promptly eliminated, Noodle initially indicated on the tube with bedding rather than the rat and Noor (who found the correct tube in an impressive 7 seconds ) was so excited that she toileted in the ring. At this level, there are 3 tubes: one empty, one with bedding with the third one having the rat. The tubes are not hidden, the dog just has to find the rat. The good news was that we had also entered Novice A and both girls were successful, clocking up the first of the three needed qualifying scores. At this level, it is 3 tubes again, but they are all hidden and the dog must go through a tunnel and do a climb. Where Barn Hunt differs slightly from agility is that you cannot enter Novice B until Novice A is complete. Novice B is effectively an Excellent title that can be completed later. With more clubs across the UK running workshops ,we are very much hoping that there will be more trials across the Southwest’. Thank you Sue I must admit I had thought about going to a workshop with Time, but I worry he might prefer searching for a rat rather than Gun Oil !
Lillian with Darcy aka Kata Syndattir Av Fjeldvidda At Wheatshade(Imp NLD)are continuing to enjoy mantrialing, recently they spent a great afternoon in Brampton village in Cumbria ,Lillian said it was very challenging due to the number of people, dogs and traffic ,but all the mispas (lost people )were found ,one had even managed to wander into the pub !
On Friday 28th February Sarah Stonton headed off to Eyeworth Village Hall in Sandy, Bedfordshire with Pixie aka Wheatshade Snow Dreamer for a Level 1 Scent Trial, where she came 3rd giving her more points than the 20 points she needed for her Excellent award at that Level, and she still will not be out of puppy till 22nd March so a great achievement. In the afternoon there was a Level 9 trial and Sarah’s Jack aka Ch Arnscroft In Di Ana Jack L8Ex R2 put his best sniffing nose on to qualify, so a very successful day.
The following day Saturday 1st March Penny and Tom Glibbery took Daisy aka Tapui Haldis to the first day of Aston In- Makerfield Canine Society 80th Anniversary Premier Open show, held at Sutton Leisure Centre Sutton St Helens Merseyside where under judge Louise Bermingham she was BP & BOB and was later shortlisted in the Puppy Group under Paul McClure (Mankell).Congratulations. The same day Jenny Shorer-Wheeler headed off with Inky aka Knytshall Thistle Ink It Up To Koromandel to Wath, West Melton & District Canine Society show held on the Newark and Notts Showground Winthorpe Newark ,where under Kieth Dickinson she was BP & BOB and later shortlisted in a group of 13 under Lucy Mottram.
In the ‘Our Dogs’ Crufts Classic 2025, Jenny interviews Tan Nagrecha prior to him judging the Working Group (he is also judging Buhunds at SWKA)! In the interview there is a reminder that everyone started somewhere, of course some have parents that were or are breeders and exhibitors, but in Tan’s case he says his love of dogs started in India when as a child he rescued strays .When he moved to England and had his first St Bernard, she won her first CC from Junior, he said ‘I was standing in the ring wondering what this extra card was for’! It reminded me that some years ago there was a first time Buhund owner who had the same experience, wondering what the Large Green card was for!
Margaret Deuchar margaretdeuchar@gmail.com
Any views expressed in Margaret’s Breed Notes are hers and hers alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK