Master Barn Hunt with CH. Elsa

If you want to see a master Barn Hunt champion and handler at work, look no further than Elsa (RATCHX4 Elsa) and her owner Martha Fillinger, shown here on November 22, 2015 in a winning trial at Teamworks Dog Training facility in Youngsville, NC. At the Masters level, there can be 1-5 rats hidden on the course (the number is unknown to the handler beforehand) plus 3 litter tubes. Any or all of the rat tubes may be on the floor or elevated. In addition to finding all hidden rats, the dog must also demonstrate a tunnel pass-through and climb in a time not to exceed 4.5 minutes. In the video you will hear judge Lynn Graves call each rat that Elsa finds (2), the climb, and the tunnel. What makes this level so difficult is that the handler must decide whether the dog has fully covered the course, and declare that the course is free of rats. Note the speed with which Elsa covers the course, her thoroughness, and Martha’s skill in reading her dog. From start to finish, Elsa completed all her required elements in 2: