Barn Hunt Title Tracker
Keep your dog's Barn Hunt titles, qualifying legs, and progress easy to follow, from Novice through championships and beyond.
Barn Hunt has a way of starting with, “Let's see if my dog likes this,” and turning into, “Wait... how many legs do we have now?”
Below are the Barn Hunt titles and what each one takes, from Instinct to RATCH and Crazy 8s, and the tracker keeps count of your dog's legs and points as you go.
Barn Hunt Titles List
From Novice to Master, each level has an A class for its first title and a B class for dogs that already have it. A leg is one qualifying run, and these are the numbers from the Barn Hunt Association rulebook.
| Title | Abbreviation | Class | What it takes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instinct | RATI | Instinct | 1 qualifying run |
| Novice | RATN | Novice A | 3 qualifying runs |
| Open | RATO | Open A | 3 qualifying runs |
| Senior | RATS | Senior A | 3 qualifying runs |
| Master | RATM | Master A | 5 qualifying runs, under at least two different judges |
| Novice B title | RATNX | Novice B | 10 qualifying runs, under at least two judges |
| Open B title | RATOX | Open B | 10 qualifying runs, under at least two judges |
| Senior B title | RATSX | Senior B | 10 qualifying runs, under at least two judges |
| Barn Hunt Champion | RATCH | Master B | 10 qualifying runs, under at least two judges |
| Barn Hunt Champion X | RATCHX | Master B | 10 more qualifying runs after RATCH, under at least two judges |
| Elite Master Champion | REMX | Master B | 10 Master B runs finished in 2:30 or under |
A and B Classes
Each level from Novice to Master has two classes, A and B. Every dog starts each level in A, and once it finishes that level's title it can't enter that A class again. From there it can move up to the A class one level higher, move over to the B class at the same level, or drop down to the B class of a lower level. A dog with RATM, for example, can enter Master B or any of the B classes below it.
The B classes below Master are where the extra titles live: 10 more legs earns RATNX, RATOX or RATSX, and each one repeats every 10. They're optional, and legs earned in an A class never count in a B class. If you enter a class your dog isn't eligible for yet, like Senior before Open is finished, every leg from that class is removed, so it's worth double checking your entry.
How to Earn a RATCH
- Novice A: 3 legs earns RATN. Instinct is an optional first step before this.
- Open A: 3 legs earns RATO.
- Senior A: 3 legs earns RATS.
- Master A: 5 legs, under at least two different judges, earns RATM.
- Master B: 10 legs, under at least two judges, earns RATCH, the Barn Hunt Champion title.
That's 24 qualifying runs from Novice to RATCH, and the B classes at Novice, Open and Senior aren't needed along the way. After RATCH your dog stays in Master B, where 10 more legs earns RATCHX, and any Master B run finished in 2:30 or under counts toward REMX at the same time.
The tracker counts the legs for you. It doesn't check judges, so add the judge in each run's notes and the two-judge rule is easy to check.
Each Class at a Glance
| Class | Time | What your dog finds | Tunnel | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instinct | 1:00 | The rat tube | No | No |
| Novice | 2:00 | 1 rat | Short and straight | Yes |
| Open | 2:30 | 2 rats | One turn | Yes |
| Senior | 3:30 | 4 rats | One or two turns | Yes |
| Master | 4:30 | 1 to 5 rats (you aren’t told how many) | Two or three turns | Yes |
Master is where it gets sneaky. You don't know how many rats are hidden, so you call “Clear” when you think your dog has found them all, which is a very brave thing to say out loud.
Crazy 8s
Crazy 8s is its own class with its own titles, and it runs on points instead of legs. Eight rats are hidden, and your dog has two minutes to find as many as it can.
| Title | Abbreviation | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Crazy 8s Bronze | CZ8B | 500 |
| Crazy 8s Silver | CZ8S | 1,000 |
| Crazy 8s Gold | CZ8G | 1,500 |
| Crazy 8s Platinum | CZ8P | 2,000 |
Every rat is worth 10 points, and so are the tunnel and the climb, so a clean run with all eight rats is 100 points. Finish in 1:45 or less for 5 bonus points and 1:30 or less for 5 more, which makes 110 the most a run can score. Missing the tunnel or the climb costs 20 points each, and so does the first wrong call.
So if your dog finds all eight rats, does the tunnel and climb, and finishes in 1:40, that run is worth 105 points, and five runs like it would get you past Bronze. Words like climb and wrong call are in our dog sport glossary. Barn Hunt dogs can compete from 6 months, and our age requirements page lists every other sport's.
Does AKC Record Barn Hunt Titles?
Yes, for most of them. AKC records RATN, RATO, RATS, RATM, RATCH and RATCHX, plus Crazy 8s Bronze through Platinum, after your dog's name. Only the highest regular title shows, so RATO replaces RATN, while a Crazy 8s title sits alongside it. Instinct, the B titles and REMX aren't on AKC's list.
The Barn Hunt Association doesn't send titles to AKC for you. You apply yourself through AKC's title application, with a copy of the Barn Hunt certificate and a recording fee, and your dog needs an AKC number, which includes AKC Canine Partners for mixed breeds. Your other AKC titles can sit in the same tracker.
Titles and rules from the Barn Hunt Association rulebook and AKC's Barn Hunt title recognition page.
Personal Tracking, Not Official Records
Use the tracker to stay organized between trials, then verify official titles, legs, points, eligibility, and records directly with the appropriate organization.
Start From Where Your Dog Is Now
Add the titles your dog has already earned, then the one they're working on now, and log new legs as they happen. Maybe your dog already has RATN and RATO and is working toward Senior, or maybe you're much farther along. Either way, setup shouldn't turn into its own project.
Barn Hunt and Your Dog's Other Sports
Dog sport people have a funny habit of trying one sport and somehow ending up with six.
Your Barn Hunt dog may also compete in agility, Fast CAT, rally, scent work, dock diving, or something completely different.
Dog Title Tracker keeps each sport's progress separate while giving your dog one profile for all of those accomplishments. Your Barn Hunt legs stay with Barn Hunt. Your Fast CAT points stay with Fast CAT. Your agility Qs stay with agility.
You can enjoy doing all the things without trying to remember where you recorded all the things.
Barn Hunt Title Tracker Questions
How many legs does a Barn Hunt title take?+
Instinct takes 1 qualifying run, Novice, Open and Senior take 3 each, and Master takes 5. RATCH takes 10 more in Master B, so it’s 24 qualifying runs from Novice to RATCH.
What’s the difference between A and B classes?+
Every dog starts each level in the A class and moves on once it earns that level’s title. The B class is for dogs that already have the title: below Master it’s optional and earns the X titles, and at Master it’s where RATCH and above are earned. Legs from an A class never count in a B class.
Do Barn Hunt titles need different judges?+
Some do. Novice, Open and Senior A legs can all come from one judge, but RATM, the B titles (RATNX, RATOX and RATSX), RATCH and RATCHX need legs under at least two judges. The tracker counts the legs, and you can add the judge in each run’s notes.
How many points do I need for Crazy 8s?+
500 points for Bronze, 1,000 for Silver, 1,500 for Gold and 2,000 for Platinum. A clean run is worth 100 points, and up to 110 with the time bonus.
Does AKC recognize Barn Hunt titles?+
Yes. AKC records RATN through RATCHX and Crazy 8s Bronze through Platinum after your dog’s name. You apply for them yourself with your Barn Hunt certificate.
Can I add Barn Hunt titles my dog already has?+
Yes. Add the titles your dog has already earned, then continue tracking the title, qualifying legs, or points your dog is working toward now.
Can I track Barn Hunt with my dog’s other sports?+
Yes. Barn Hunt progress can live alongside agility, Fast CAT, rally, scent work, dock diving, and other dog sport records in the same dog profile.
Is this an official Barn Hunt Association or AKC tool?+
No. Dog Title Tracker is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially connected to the Barn Hunt Association, AKC, or any other dog sport organization.
Keep Hunting. Keep the Progress Easy to Find.
Whether your dog is working toward a first Barn Hunt title, moving through the higher levels, or building Crazy 8s progress, keeping a running record makes it easier to know what has been earned and what comes next.
The rats are hidden. Your dog's title progress doesn't have to be. It's free for 3 months, then $5 a month, with no charge per dog.
Independent tracking note
Dog Title Tracker is an independent tracking tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially connected to any dog sport organization, registry, club, event provider, or governing body listed on this site.
The tracker is for personal tracking and organization. Users should always verify official points, qualifying scores, titles, awards, eligibility, and records directly with the appropriate organization.