GVKC is a Barn Hunt Association Club. We hold two trials annually in November. For 2025 our trial dates are November 1 & 2. The trials are held at East Winds Farm in Canandaigua, NY. Information regarding our trials and trials of other clubs in our area will be posted as it comes available.
We also offer rat hunting practice sessions at a member’s house. The Facebook page for our rat hunting activities is https://www.facebook.com/groups/1005629476160980. On that page we announce upcoming practice sessions, GVKC rat game events, and postings about other rat hunting events for other clubs. If you have any questions, contact our Rat Hunting chair, Kris Fletcher at [email protected].
This is our winter course. It is an urban style course made up of cardboard boxes and other types of trash. It is styled around the course concept of Happy Ratters which is an alternative type of rat hunting competition. The rat tubes are buried in and under the cardboard boxes and trash so the dogs have to use the same nose and listening skills to root out the correct tube. There is no climbing so this type of course is easier on older dogs and their handlers who are unable to handle climbing up and on straw bales. There is a “bridge”, which is simply something on the ground (or can be a slightly elevated table) that the dog has to place all four paws on at the same time by walking or standing on the “bridge”. This course will also have a “burrow” which is simply something that the dog can get into with all four paws. For our course, there is a large plastic airline crate and an old plastic agility tunnel (without the cloth). The dog can either go in and out of the crate or through the tunnel to complete the “burrow”. At Canine Camp Getaway, a tarp is set up at a corner of a fenced in course where the dog
can go into and out of to complete the “burrow”.
This is our summer course. It is comprised of straw bales and set up with the concept of a Barn Hunt Association course. We offer straight, L and U shape tunnels and one to three high climb and hide areas. We also keep a small area of the barn filled with the urban course materials for anyone who is looking to practice a Happy Ratter course.
In 2024 we created a fun event call GVKC Rats Under The Big Top. We offered Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Junior levels.
This is Deb, a GVKC member and her dog Mickey who won first place in the Beginner division of the GVKC Rats Under The Big Top fun rat hunting event.
Currently for 2025 we are running a fun rat hunting event called GVKC Rat Ramble. We have offered Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Junior and Special levels. Click through the pictures below for two of the dogs entered enjoying a run. Teddy is owned by a GVKC member, Trish and the other dog is owned by one of the Rat Ramble participants, Nancy.
