The Top Resource for Dog Sports!

For dog lovers, barn hunt events are an exciting way to showcase a dog’s natural instincts in a safe and structured setting. This unique sport allows dogs to use their noses and hunting skills while building teamwork with their handler. In this article, we’ll walk through a typical day in the life of a barn hunt competitor, from early morning routines to reflections after the event. What Are Barn Hunt Events? Barn hunt events highlight a dog’s natural ability to search for prey. In these activities, rats are safely housed in secure tubes and hidden within a course. The dog’s goal is to use scent and problem-solving skills to locate the tubes, showing off their hunting instincts while keeping the animals safe. One of the best parts of barn hunt trials is that they are open to dogs of all breeds and sizes. From small terriers to large shepherds, every

What does CPE stand for? CPE is short for Canine Performance Events, the formal name of the organization that writes the rules, licenses clubs, trains judges, and records scores for its three dog sports. The word “Performance” highlights the group’s focus on a dog’s natural abilities — running, jumping, hunting scent, and sprinting — rather than on breed standards or conformation. Whenever you see CPE printed on a trial premium, ribbon, or title certificate, it signals that the event follows the official Canine Performance Events rulebook and contributes directly to a dog’s lifetime points and titles within the CPE system. Where CPE Began Canine Performance Events started in Michigan in 1998 when a small group of agility handlers wanted courses that were fun for pets while still being safe and honest in judging. They wrote a slim rulebook, held a handful of trials in barns and fairgrounds, and mailed typed

Talk to any first-time exhibitor and you’ll hear the same question: “How do I know if my puppy is doing well in the ring?” The answer is hiding in plain sight inside the AKC Puppy of Achievement Points system. Ten tiny points — each one earned in a beginner-friendly conformation class — turn an ordinary show weekend into a crystal-clear progress bar. No majors, no complicated math, just a simple tally that says, “Yes, your pup is on track.” The program’s magic is its speed. A six-month-old puppy can walk into a 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy (BPUP) ring on Saturday morning, wag through two quick laps, and leave the fairgrounds that afternoon with a ribbon worth one, two, or even three AKC Puppy of Achievement Points. Add those numbers together until you reach ten, and the American Kennel Club mails a handsome certificate plus the “POA” suffix for life. Yet