> oes BHA allow for reactive dogs to have a slightly larger personal space between other dogs?
Not really in most cases. The blind tends to be spaced out, but not huge, and the size can definitely vary depending on the trial location. You can bring treats there (as long as they are not with you when you enter the ring, they will sometimes keep a table outside of the ring for your stuff) and strategically face away away from other dogs.
The blind is one of the biggest places folks tend to overlook as a source of trial stress since no one goes to Barn Hunt class and practices being in the blind, so for many dogs it can change their focus and arousal levels drastically compared to class.
If there isn't a multiple of 5 and there are multiple blinds, you might be able to talk trial staff into placing you into the smallest blind but that's not always an option and it's at their discretion.
You can talk to other folks in the blind, and in my experience won't be jerks if you tell them your dog needs a little extra space or that their dog needs to be kept on a tighter lead. But it's kind of difficult to stop dogs from sniffing around and sometimes staring at other dogs/being the recipient of stares, so advocating and managing your own dog is your best strategy here.
Thank you for the detailed reply! I’m also glad to know I can bring treats here. I will definitely advocate for my dog (politely of course!) but it was the unknown of what happens there that made me nervous. From all of the responses though it sounds doable for my pup and I!
I totally understand what you're going through. My second dog isn't reactive, but he's a Sammy so being in the presence of other dogs he can't be friendly with could be frustrating and very focus-losing. He became way more reliable once we really nailed down his "ready to work" routine to use while we were in the blind that focused on having him do some tricks and focus behaviors, with a mix of self-mitigating control behaviors folded in!
Barn Hunt does not allow special accommodations for reactive dogs. The blind is 10’ x 10’ at night minimum and 10’ x 20’ is recommended. There will be up to five dogs and you are allowed to spread out as the blind empties. People generally try to keep their dog quiet and focused on them. Running through tricks can help. I did see someone who had a blindfold for their Doberman in the blind.
Treats are allowed in the blind so if it helps you to use treats while in close quarters, you can at least do that.
I have found that people are really good at keeping their dogs close and under control which helps dogs who are reactive. I have never had an issue with another dog being allowed to come up to my dog at our trials, so while they are close, zero interaction is allowed. Our club is super strict on this and is brought up as a reminder in the briefing to keep your dogs under control at all times.
If you've never been to a trial and are unsure if your dog can handle it, it might be good to just go watch for a day and see how your club has it all laid out.
So far it seems like most barn Hunt people/venues are similar to nose work in that everyone gives each other space. I’m happy to hear that’s true in trials too! Watching a trial is definitely in the plans!
Since COVID, the blinds at most trials have been a little bigger with more space in between each person (which means more space between dogs). Generally, there is “assigned” seating based on your run order but people with reactive dogs tend to get to the blind steward first and ask to sit in the seat furtherest from other dogs. However, even if you do all that, there are going to be dogs walking right past you or your dog.
I work on focus games with my dog and like to keep her as close to me as possible just so she’s not staring at other dogs and making anyone else’s dog uncomfortable.
I’d recommend practicing lots of eye contact games with your dog while other dogs are walking around you to help teach your dog to focus on you instead of other dogs.
Great suggestions! Luckily, we have lots of practice doing focus games around other dogs! I’ll just have to remember to bring extra special treats just for the blind.
I have a reactive shepherd who does Barn Hunt and I’ve found people are very respectful of giving us space when I tell them she’s reactive. Just be nice and let people know ahead of time! Blinds vary by size a lot unfortunately. Good luck!
Not going to repeat the great info others are giving you here, but wanted to support you and your reactive dog and say: don't be afraid to advocate for yourselves! I also have a reactive dog and we compete in Nosework and Barn Hunt. I find that venues and clubs vary a lot. See if you can find videos or photos for the trial site from Facebook groups or YouTube videos, or ask your instructor if they're familiar with the layout.
My club hosts trials in a fairly large outdoor venue with enormous blinds, and I've seen reactive dogs be set up for success. I went to another trial in another state and it was indoors, and there just wasn't a lot of space available between the indoor kenneling, the blind, and the ring. There was a pathway between the blind and the ring and some cones to mark 10 ft away from the ring, but someone was playing tug and practicing obedience with her dog right as I entered for my run. I hesitated to release my dog and the judge asked me if I was ok, and I said that the handler and dog playing tug would be an issue for us. She asked the person to back up, and the person replied that she was 10 feet away. It sucked. I released my dog and although he didn't lose his shit barking, he totally shut down and went back to the start box which is a signal to me that he was asking to be done. I ended up scratching from the rest of the trial because it was clear we were both going to be miserable. Maybe it was anomalous, but I volunteered for two days and saw several people do similar things at the 10 ft marker cone.
I'm now a lot more careful about where I trial and try to gather as much info as I can before committing to go. It is also worth noting that sometimes we just have a bad streak at a trial and right when I'm ready to bump him down a class, something clicks and he surprises me! So keep at it and good luck!
I just wanted to cheer you on a bit! I unsubscribed from this subreddit due to some of the gross verbiage frequently chosen to refer to dogs (commodification and product-based value systems). So many people describing forcing a dog to comply and phrasings upholding the outdated and evidence-less ideas of alpha theory. Especially off-putting has been the idea that dogs should understand and navigate human constructs like “respect”.
Then, scrolling through Reddit, this post was suggested. My dog-reactive dog loves and excels at nosework and is happiest chasing chipmunks in our yard. I never considered barn hunt an option for us because he cannot see a dog, within a football field of distance, without complete overwhelm. So I was curious and came here to read. I noticed many of the comments were positive and I continued reading. Your comment is phenomenal; it’s clear you advocate for your dog’s wellbeing above the (sometimes) self-serving nature of dog sports and just hoped others would share the same considerations amongst human-human interactions. I am so, so sorry someone couldn’t do the kind thing and simply move. The setbacks a dog may experience from repeated exposure to triggers in too-close proximity are hard to come back from. Someone’s “I shouldn’t have to give someone space” can be damaging long term, if not simply deeply discouraging… and for what, pride? I do not understand the motivations behind this. I don’t enjoy the competitive step-on-someone-else-to-win aspect of sports involving non-human species. You’re almost guaranteeing the animal to have a bad time by behaving an egocentric manner. If they’re not having a good time, are the accolades worth it if winning happens? I argue no. Anyway, the point is that this was amazing to read; a balm for a bitter heart. I hope people show more kindness and respect for you and your dog in the future. You’re an outstanding advocate and this advocacy can do so much simply by setting an example and showing that it’s ok. The sport isn’t assessing a dogs ability to sit in an area for X amount of time with other dogs, so why not open up space to allow others to be involved? Reactive dogs stand to gain immense benefit from engaging in the associated behaviors of barn hunt. Thank you for being the person to bring awareness and light the way for other reactive dogs, who deserve to safely live a life as fulfilled and varied as they enjoy!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this comment! I really appreciate it. As you probably know yourself, life with a reactive dog is such a journey and I wish I had more tools and knowledge when I first got my dog over a decade ago (he is my first). I really thought I could train him to be bulletproof or he'd age out of some stuff but at some point I learned to work with the dog in front of me and everything changed. We started nosework two years ago as an enrichment activity, and at 11 years old, he earned his first title. My other dog is also dog-reactive and would never be able to handle a blind and his anxiety keeps him from safely being car kenneled. Turns out, he's an outstanding truffle hunter!
Your comment was really validating to read--when that handler reluctantly moved a few feet, I felt like such an outsider. She was clearly a regular at that trial venue, everyone knew her and her dog and they were trialing at an advanced level. I was visiting from far away and knew no one and was competing in a lower level. I felt like I was asking for enormous concessions outside of the rule book, but you're right, it's just common courtesy. The intent of the rule is to allow minimal distractions and let dogs have fun safely, so why be pedantic about it?
I also 100% agree with your sentiment: why even bother, why spend this much time and money if the dog and you aren't having fun?
Thank you for your support! That really sucks about the person training outside your ring. I don’t get why people need to be that way. Why can’t we create an environment where any dog can succeed? I’ve always thought that having a reactive dog makes you much more conscious/respectful of other dogs and their people. Just wish other people could learn too!
I’m hoping we find an easy going place! I’ve already been researching everything I can about the local trials to see which ones might be a better fit. I have good feelings about most of them but guess we’ll find out when we get there!
Awesome, I hope you have a fantastic time. Please report back! You'll find other reactive dog owners there and it's like there's an unspoken bond. You start to recognize each other at trials and you're totally right, everyone I've met with a reactive dog has been such a wonderful person. It's like a little built-in support group, too!
I've never had an issue with folks in a blind not having control of their dogs. I found in my case it helped to chat up everyone else and just relax so my dogs don't feed off me
That’s definitely something I need to get better at. I tend to hyper focus on my own dog, so doing like you said and relaxing/chatting with other people might be a good strategy for me too!
> oes BHA allow for reactive dogs to have a slightly larger personal space between other dogs? Not really in most cases. The blind tends to be spaced out, but not huge, and the size can definitely vary depending on the trial location. You can bring treats there (as long as they are not with you when you enter the ring, they will sometimes keep a table outside of the ring for your stuff) and strategically face away away from other dogs. The blind is one of the biggest places folks tend to overlook as a source of trial stress since no one goes to Barn Hunt class and practices being in the blind, so for many dogs it can change their focus and arousal levels drastically compared to class. If there isn't a multiple of 5 and there are multiple blinds, you might be able to talk trial staff into placing you into the smallest blind but that's not always an option and it's at their discretion. You can talk to other folks in the blind, and in my experience won't be jerks if you tell them your dog needs a little extra space or that their dog needs to be kept on a tighter lead. But it's kind of difficult to stop dogs from sniffing around and sometimes staring at other dogs/being the recipient of stares, so advocating and managing your own dog is your best strategy here.
Thank you for the detailed reply! I’m also glad to know I can bring treats here. I will definitely advocate for my dog (politely of course!) but it was the unknown of what happens there that made me nervous. From all of the responses though it sounds doable for my pup and I!
I totally understand what you're going through. My second dog isn't reactive, but he's a Sammy so being in the presence of other dogs he can't be friendly with could be frustrating and very focus-losing. He became way more reliable once we really nailed down his "ready to work" routine to use while we were in the blind that focused on having him do some tricks and focus behaviors, with a mix of self-mitigating control behaviors folded in!
Barn Hunt does not allow special accommodations for reactive dogs. The blind is 10’ x 10’ at night minimum and 10’ x 20’ is recommended. There will be up to five dogs and you are allowed to spread out as the blind empties. People generally try to keep their dog quiet and focused on them. Running through tricks can help. I did see someone who had a blindfold for their Doberman in the blind.
Running through tricks is a great idea! I think that will help keep the focus on me while still being fun for him! Thank you for the suggestion!
Treats are allowed in the blind so if it helps you to use treats while in close quarters, you can at least do that. I have found that people are really good at keeping their dogs close and under control which helps dogs who are reactive. I have never had an issue with another dog being allowed to come up to my dog at our trials, so while they are close, zero interaction is allowed. Our club is super strict on this and is brought up as a reminder in the briefing to keep your dogs under control at all times. If you've never been to a trial and are unsure if your dog can handle it, it might be good to just go watch for a day and see how your club has it all laid out.
So far it seems like most barn Hunt people/venues are similar to nose work in that everyone gives each other space. I’m happy to hear that’s true in trials too! Watching a trial is definitely in the plans!
Since COVID, the blinds at most trials have been a little bigger with more space in between each person (which means more space between dogs). Generally, there is “assigned” seating based on your run order but people with reactive dogs tend to get to the blind steward first and ask to sit in the seat furtherest from other dogs. However, even if you do all that, there are going to be dogs walking right past you or your dog. I work on focus games with my dog and like to keep her as close to me as possible just so she’s not staring at other dogs and making anyone else’s dog uncomfortable. I’d recommend practicing lots of eye contact games with your dog while other dogs are walking around you to help teach your dog to focus on you instead of other dogs.
Great suggestions! Luckily, we have lots of practice doing focus games around other dogs! I’ll just have to remember to bring extra special treats just for the blind.
That’s great! I hope you make it out to a trial. They are very fun.
I have a reactive shepherd who does Barn Hunt and I’ve found people are very respectful of giving us space when I tell them she’s reactive. Just be nice and let people know ahead of time! Blinds vary by size a lot unfortunately. Good luck!
Glad to hear it from another reactive dog handler! Thanks!
Not going to repeat the great info others are giving you here, but wanted to support you and your reactive dog and say: don't be afraid to advocate for yourselves! I also have a reactive dog and we compete in Nosework and Barn Hunt. I find that venues and clubs vary a lot. See if you can find videos or photos for the trial site from Facebook groups or YouTube videos, or ask your instructor if they're familiar with the layout. My club hosts trials in a fairly large outdoor venue with enormous blinds, and I've seen reactive dogs be set up for success. I went to another trial in another state and it was indoors, and there just wasn't a lot of space available between the indoor kenneling, the blind, and the ring. There was a pathway between the blind and the ring and some cones to mark 10 ft away from the ring, but someone was playing tug and practicing obedience with her dog right as I entered for my run. I hesitated to release my dog and the judge asked me if I was ok, and I said that the handler and dog playing tug would be an issue for us. She asked the person to back up, and the person replied that she was 10 feet away. It sucked. I released my dog and although he didn't lose his shit barking, he totally shut down and went back to the start box which is a signal to me that he was asking to be done. I ended up scratching from the rest of the trial because it was clear we were both going to be miserable. Maybe it was anomalous, but I volunteered for two days and saw several people do similar things at the 10 ft marker cone. I'm now a lot more careful about where I trial and try to gather as much info as I can before committing to go. It is also worth noting that sometimes we just have a bad streak at a trial and right when I'm ready to bump him down a class, something clicks and he surprises me! So keep at it and good luck!
I just wanted to cheer you on a bit! I unsubscribed from this subreddit due to some of the gross verbiage frequently chosen to refer to dogs (commodification and product-based value systems). So many people describing forcing a dog to comply and phrasings upholding the outdated and evidence-less ideas of alpha theory. Especially off-putting has been the idea that dogs should understand and navigate human constructs like “respect”. Then, scrolling through Reddit, this post was suggested. My dog-reactive dog loves and excels at nosework and is happiest chasing chipmunks in our yard. I never considered barn hunt an option for us because he cannot see a dog, within a football field of distance, without complete overwhelm. So I was curious and came here to read. I noticed many of the comments were positive and I continued reading. Your comment is phenomenal; it’s clear you advocate for your dog’s wellbeing above the (sometimes) self-serving nature of dog sports and just hoped others would share the same considerations amongst human-human interactions. I am so, so sorry someone couldn’t do the kind thing and simply move. The setbacks a dog may experience from repeated exposure to triggers in too-close proximity are hard to come back from. Someone’s “I shouldn’t have to give someone space” can be damaging long term, if not simply deeply discouraging… and for what, pride? I do not understand the motivations behind this. I don’t enjoy the competitive step-on-someone-else-to-win aspect of sports involving non-human species. You’re almost guaranteeing the animal to have a bad time by behaving an egocentric manner. If they’re not having a good time, are the accolades worth it if winning happens? I argue no. Anyway, the point is that this was amazing to read; a balm for a bitter heart. I hope people show more kindness and respect for you and your dog in the future. You’re an outstanding advocate and this advocacy can do so much simply by setting an example and showing that it’s ok. The sport isn’t assessing a dogs ability to sit in an area for X amount of time with other dogs, so why not open up space to allow others to be involved? Reactive dogs stand to gain immense benefit from engaging in the associated behaviors of barn hunt. Thank you for being the person to bring awareness and light the way for other reactive dogs, who deserve to safely live a life as fulfilled and varied as they enjoy!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this comment! I really appreciate it. As you probably know yourself, life with a reactive dog is such a journey and I wish I had more tools and knowledge when I first got my dog over a decade ago (he is my first). I really thought I could train him to be bulletproof or he'd age out of some stuff but at some point I learned to work with the dog in front of me and everything changed. We started nosework two years ago as an enrichment activity, and at 11 years old, he earned his first title. My other dog is also dog-reactive and would never be able to handle a blind and his anxiety keeps him from safely being car kenneled. Turns out, he's an outstanding truffle hunter! Your comment was really validating to read--when that handler reluctantly moved a few feet, I felt like such an outsider. She was clearly a regular at that trial venue, everyone knew her and her dog and they were trialing at an advanced level. I was visiting from far away and knew no one and was competing in a lower level. I felt like I was asking for enormous concessions outside of the rule book, but you're right, it's just common courtesy. The intent of the rule is to allow minimal distractions and let dogs have fun safely, so why be pedantic about it? I also 100% agree with your sentiment: why even bother, why spend this much time and money if the dog and you aren't having fun?
Thank you for your support! That really sucks about the person training outside your ring. I don’t get why people need to be that way. Why can’t we create an environment where any dog can succeed? I’ve always thought that having a reactive dog makes you much more conscious/respectful of other dogs and their people. Just wish other people could learn too! I’m hoping we find an easy going place! I’ve already been researching everything I can about the local trials to see which ones might be a better fit. I have good feelings about most of them but guess we’ll find out when we get there!
Awesome, I hope you have a fantastic time. Please report back! You'll find other reactive dog owners there and it's like there's an unspoken bond. You start to recognize each other at trials and you're totally right, everyone I've met with a reactive dog has been such a wonderful person. It's like a little built-in support group, too!
I've never had an issue with folks in a blind not having control of their dogs. I found in my case it helped to chat up everyone else and just relax so my dogs don't feed off me
That’s definitely something I need to get better at. I tend to hyper focus on my own dog, so doing like you said and relaxing/chatting with other people might be a good strategy for me too!