All-Levels Rat Sports Skills Day – November 23rd
Beginner Track: Foundations of the Hunt
8:30 – 8:45 AM:
Welcome, safety & welfare briefing, and overview of the day with Albert & Cathy in the Small Barn. Demonstrate both sports, then divide into two groups (A & B).
8:45 – 10:15 AM:
Group A (NASDA Interested Teams): Intro to Trailing & Locating, short tracks, teamwork, and motivation games with Cathy in the NASDA Field.
Group B (Barn Hunt Interested Teams): Rat introduction, tunnels, short searches, and confidence building with Albert in the Barn Hunt Ring.
10:15 – 10:30 AM:
Break for all beginners—potty, water, and time to ask questions.
10:30 – 12:00 PM:
Group B (Barn Hunt Interested Teams): Expanding searches, simple hide discrimination, and “find it” mini-challenges with Albert in the Barn Hunt Ring.
Group A (NASDA Interested Teams): Building simple tracks, mild elevation, handler timing, and reward placement with Cathy in the NASDA Field.
12:00 – 12:15 PM:
Wrap-up for all beginners in the Main Area with Albert & Cathy: review key takeaways, celebrate progress, and hand out certificates or ribbons.
Intermediate 1 – Barn Hunt
1:00 – 1:15 PM: Orientation for all participants, led by both instructors, in the Main Area.
1:15 – 2:15 PM: Work session in Barn Hunt with Albert: focusing on discrimination and tunnel/rat combinations.
2:15 – 2:25 PM: Break.
2:25 – 3:25 PM: Observation in Barn Hunt with Albert: watch the Advanced 1 group, note timing, pressure, and duration.
3:25 – 3:40 PM: Break & move to NASDA.
3:40 – 4:40 PM: Work session in NASDA with Cathy: engagement under distractions, track building.
4:40 – 4:50 PM: Break.
4:50 – 5:30 PM: Observation in NASDA with Cathy - watch the Advanced 1 group, focusing on inaccessible hides and handler cues.
5:30 – 5:45 PM: Wrap-up in the Main Area with both instructors: feedback and next steps.
Intermediate 2 – NASDA
1:00 – 1:15 PM: Orientation for all participants, led by both instructors in the Main Area.
1:15 – 2:15 PM: Observation in NASDA with Cathy: watch the Advanced 2 group, focus on odor flow and elevation.
2:15 – 2:25 PM: Break.
2:25 – 3:25 PM: Work session in NASDA with Cathy: engagement, wind handling, and track building.
3:25 – 3:40 PM: Break & move to Barn Hunt.
3:40 – 4:40 PM:
Observation in Barn Hunt with Albert: watch the Advanced 2 group, focus on duration and tunnel strategy.
4:40 – 4:50 PM: Break.
4:50 – 5:30 PM: Work session in Barn Hunt with Albert: hide strategy, reading your dog, and handler timing.
5:30 – 5:45 PM: Wrap-up in the Main Area with both instructors: feedback and next steps.
Training with Albert and Cathy of K9 Dynamics is excited to present the Rat Sports Skills Day on November 23, 2025, in Prunedale, CA.
This full-day seminar welcomes all skill levels, offering a morning “Foundations of the Hunt” beginner track and an afternoon advanced skills track.
The morning session introduces newcomers to Barn Hunt and NASDA with hands-on activities, confidence-building exercises, and mini “find it” challenges.
The afternoon session is designed for intermediate and advanced teams, featuring multi-rat searches, advanced discrimination, and strategic role swaps for maximum learning.
Both tracks are led by expert instructors Albert, Bailey, and Cathy, and include mini-competitions, peer learning, and community-building opportunities.
Advanced 1 – Barn Hunt
1:00 – 1:15 PM: Orientation for all in the Main Area with both instructors.
1:15 – 2:15 PM: Observation in Barn Hunt with Albert: watch the Intermediate 1 group, focus on discrimination and handler timing.
2:15 – 2:25 PM: Break.
2:25 – 3:25 PM: Work session in Barn Hunt with Albert: distractions, duration, and multi-rat runs.
3:25 – 3:40 PM: Break & move to NASDA.
3:40 – 4:40 PM: Observation in NASDA with Cathy: Watch the Intermediate 1 group, focusing on engagement and track design.
4:40 – 4:50 PM: Break.
4:50 – 5:30 PM: Work session in NASDA with Cathy: odor flow, inaccessible hides, and distractors.
5:30 – 5:45 PM: Wrap-up in the Main Area with both instructors: feedback and next steps.
Advanced 2 – NASDA
1:00 – 1:15 PM: Orientation for all in the Main Area with both instructors.
1:15 – 2:15 PM: Work session in NASDA with Cathy: odor flow, elevation, and distractor boxes.
2:15 – 2:25 PM: Break.
2:25 – 3:25 PM: Observation in NASDA with Cathy: watch Intermediate 2 group, note wind handling and engagement.
3:25 – 3:40 PM: Break & move to Barn Hunt.
3:40 – 4:40 PM: Work session in Barn Hunt with Albert: duration, tunnel complexity, speed, and precision.
4:40 – 4:50 PM: Break.
4:50 – 5:30 PM: Observation in Barn Hunt with Albert - watch the Intermediate 2 group, focusing on reading your dog’s cues and transitions.
5:30 – 5:45 PM: Wrap-up in the Main Area with both instructors: feedback and next steps.