This review is long, and prior to this event, I already had disappointing experiences a year ago…read more I tried to attend barn hunt on a few occasions, and unfortunately every time I have tried to come out the trainer ends up canceling an hour before the class is supposed to start. If you've seen their schedules, they only offer classes during weekday afternoons, which means traffic hour. After a few failed attempts, I gave up trying to attend their classes.
I decided to give them a second try for Fast Cat, and assumed because it was a sports event it would be different. So, I Invited two friends to come along, who participated with their dogs.
All 3 of us were really hyped and looking forward this weekend. However, after the first run we were all extremely disappointed and frustrated.
If you've ever attended fast cat, normally you walk down the fence while the releaser holds your dog. This allows you to hype your dog up as you go down, and they're able to see the direction you're walking towards. so by the time you're in position to receive, your dog runs straight to you as they chase the bunny.
Their set up was completely different, you leave your dog with the releaser in line, and make your way around parked cars, their agility fenced off area, trees and more. So your dog doesn't really see where you're headed.
On my first trial, I got DQd for not being loud enough. My dog didn't see where I was, and screaming over barking dogs that were standing so close to where my dog was, wasn't helpful at all. Then my dog nudged the door, which easily popped open. She got out, thankfully recalled back to my friend.
2nd friend , has me release her dog, he almost got out because the door wasn't closed properly. I wasn't told what to do, I was yelled instructions.
My friend's dog didn't want to run, so I was yelled to run him down. This wasn't an issue, but it would have been nice if my dog got run down as well instead of automatically DQing us... I guess it wouldn't have mattered, because she easily popped opened that door.
3rd person in our group goes, and gets DQd because they said he wasn't in the waiting line to receive, yet he had been there for a little over 5 mins.
I didn't want to run a second time, but after seeing our friend's dog (who I ran down with) have a good time for his second trial, I thought maybe a second time would be different.
This time, the instructor yelled at my friend and asked her what she was planning to do differently this time (since my dog ran out the first trial). It was her first time releasing, as it was our other friend who had previously released my dog. The instructor decides to go in with my friend to show her how to release my dog.
Because she did this, no one was at the door to secure it, my dog got out AGAIN. People began chasing my dog and thankfully stopped when she ran back to my car. (I know they were trying to help)
The poor excuse of a door that they use is a flimsy dog gate. My dog is 15lbs and easily nudged the door with her nose and it popped open both times.
I'm really surprised that no other dog got out, it's not my first fast cat but it was the first fast cat for my dog.
No one apologized for not having secured the door right, no one asked if my dog was ok. Instead I was told I should come out to their Dash Dog classes. Why on earth would I want to come back here after the horrible experience I went through? Just to give them money to yell at me, and blame me for my dog getting out of THEIR set-up, that isn't secure at all?
On my way out, I got yelled at again "drive slow, your dog got out twice and could have been killed"
I WAS driving slow. Thankfully nothing bad happened to my dog, thankfully no other dog figured out how easily it is to open their door.
I did see a lot of dogs have a blast, and it was obvious they've done the sport before. Other first timers didn't get DQd right away and we're encouraged to run their dogs down to learn the sport. I would have loved to have been treated equally that way, but unfortunately it wasn't the case.
I've tried to give this place the benefit of the doubt many times, I truly wanted to enjoy today and instead I'm simply counting my blessings that my dog wasn't killed or hurt in anyway way.
If they improved their attitude and customer service, I think this place would be amazing.