Being a Dachshund means that I was born to hunt, most specifically I was born to hunt down holes! So when an opportunity presents itself for some real-life burrowing practice I can’t possibly pass up the ability to show off my skills. After all I am an expert hunter and burrower.
It’s a shame their wasn’t any groundhogs in there, but regardless I just can’t ever pass up a hole! 
On Mother’s Day I got to go on a very special adventure with my mom (dad came too). We packed up the car and headed south to New Jersey for a Barn Hunt Practice!
Barn Hunts were created to honor the traditional role of “ratcatchers” in ridding barns and properties of vermin. Barn Hunts are open to any dog, of (almost) any size, type or breed. In a Barn Hunt competition you can earn titles and placements at various levels and degrees of difficulty.
At this Barn Hunt I met up with my Philadelphian gal pal Liebe, and we were both pretty excited to hunt for some rats! (Especially Liebe who is a city dog – and doesn’t get as many chances as me to hunt for vermin)
At a Barn Hunt you are required to go through straw bale tunnels and climb over several bales to earn a qualifying mark – all while in pursuit of a rat.
In the lower levels you are then met with various tubes, some of which contain rat bedding and one that contains an actual rat. Your goal as rat hunter extraordinare is to locate the rat and alert your mom or dad that you have found the correct tube containing it. Once found your mom/dad is responsible for telling the judge you have found the rat – in which case the time will stop (as long as you have completed the necessary requirements of completing tunnels and climbing straw bales too).
As the day progressed I got better and better at finding my rats. I even began digging at the tubes and making lots of noise once I found the tubes that contained a rat.
Mom said in the higher level classes I would even have to find multiple rats in one run – making sure to find them fast enough to not run over the time limit, many of which that are hidden under straw and in crevices. Sounds like a blast!
Liebe (who is just over a year old) even had fun locating the rats and as she gets older I’m sure she’s going to be one ferocious rat hunter just like me!
I had so much fun looking for my rats, that sitting on the sidelines while the other dogs had a turn was so hard!
I can’t wait to return again and actually compete in this fun new sport – it’s totally my kind of competition!
You can learn more about the rules of Barn Hunt and find competitions and practices local to you HERE.
The other morning on the farm things were looking a bit eery.
The fog rolled in over the hills and I could barely see in front of my nose.
I felt like I was on another planet as the sky molded into the ground and each step I took had me wondering what was on the other side.
As I drifted around the farm I began to think that this fog could be of no use to me what-so-ever.
But I shouldn’t have been so quick to to judge because Cricket reminded me that fog was one of the best type of “weather conditions” to go hunting in.
And that is why Cricket is my girlfriend! Love ya girl!
One of my FAVORITE things to do on the farm is to hunt. You have not lived until you get to go out in search of critters.
You can always tell when I’m on the hunt because my tail will stand straight up.
I typically set out in search of critters just as the sun is beginning to set. Mom makes me wear my Glowdoggie collar on my evening hunts because she says I wander too far sometimes and she can’t find me in the dark without it. I’m fairly certain the neighbors think our farm is possessed by aliens that come out at night with glowing lights and scuttle through the pastures.
And I’m not planning to tell them otherwise.
Over the weekend I took a trip with Mom and Dad to the Flea Markets near Kutztown, PA.
Being that I typically work on Saturdays, (when most flea markets are open) I’ve never actually been to one before.
I spent the afternoon pillaging and searching for buried treasures among the isles upon isles of flea market goodies. There was certainly no shortage of new smells to be found.
Our first stop was the Kutztown Flea Market, with venders selling everything from glassware to toy dinosaurs. I had my eye on one of those Dinos, but sadly mom reminded me they would be much happier going home with a little boy who would love them than a dachshund that wanted to chew their heads off. She did have a point.
Next stop was the Renningers Flea Market where I met some interesting people and even more interesting treasures. Dad and I immediately were drawn to all the tools and weapons (it’s a guy thing).
And we even found some antique AMMO!
Our final flea market of the day was unlike anything you have ever seen before. Isles upon isles of hidden finds line this amish barn that is only found through word of mouth.
The best part is that most of the funds raised through the sale of donated items at this amish thrifting paradise is donated to charity.
By the end of the day I was left looking like this! Flea Market Adventures are much harder than they look!
P.S. Not to worry, this photo was taken right after I was given a full bowl of ice cold water and was comfortably relaxing in the cool AC. The tongue was for dramatic effect.
Did you ever just love something so much that it didn’t matter how ridiculous or how embarrassing it made you look – you loved it just the same? Sometimes it just doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks – you just gotta be you!
Me, I’m overly enthusiastic when it comes to hunting my groundhogs on the farm – something that nobody seems to understand, not even my best friend Trooper.
At the end of the day though, hunting groundhogs is what I love to do – no matter how silly I look doing it! So go ahead, be you today!
See that look on my face, that’s the look of a tough as nails bounty deer hunter.
A few days ago there was an intrusion in my backyard, and although I may not “shoot to kill”, I still pack a lot of Ammo.
And by Ammo I mean lungs of steel! That deer didn’t stand a chance.
I definitely showed that deer who’s boss!
And afterwards I had a little swagger to my step. Ok, well maybe it was more of a hop & skip – but you get the idea.
I came across Filson, a leading outfitter for outdoor enthusiasts, and I was super excited to find that not only do they outfit our humans, but they outfit the dogs too! Being a farm dog myself I found their products to have the perfect amount of ruggedness.
Here is a few of my favorite items from the Filson Dog Collection:
You can fetch more rugged dog items from Filson.
Today I thought I’d share a few images from my evening on the farm – shot yesterday. Everyday is an adventure, and there is no shortage of things to do on the farm in the Summer. Arguably it’s not your average farm, especially when it’s run by a bunch of Super Heroes with an active imagination. You’re never to old to play dress-up, catch bugs, or in my case – build underground forts. I don’t plan on ever growing up. How about you?
Everybody knows that when hunting groundhogs there is one major accessory that you must have. THE SUPER CAPE!
It gives you lightning speed and super digging powers.
Apparently Trooper missed the memo about the super capes.
Looks like I’ll have to venture underground solo on this one!
I’m Ammo the Dachshund, and I’m faster than a speeding bullet!