Ancaster, ON
Rita and I had visited Ancaster Fairgrounds for agility trials and passed For Pups Sake Dog Training on our drive there. Always drawn in by a catchy name, I looked it up and learned about Barn Hunt, a sport based on the old practice of farmers using dogs to track down and rid their barns of vermin. I signed us up for an introductory course with Patti.
Patti began by introducing the group to the live rat used in trials. To be honest, Rita wasn’t super interested. She could smell the rat in the specially designed tube but was disinterested without the opportunity to chase. Patti assured me this was not necessarily a bad sign; in some ways it could be advantageous as this meant her indication could be clearer than an overly excitable dog’s.
We progressed to hiding the rat within the “barn”, a covered area with stacks and tunnels of straw bales. All the dogs found the rat eventually. We then made it a bit harder by placing a decoy tube in the barn, and tested the dog on whether they could tell which one the rat was in. Rita was able to distinguish between them, but her indications were very subtle. We then worked to a more trial-style test, being mindful of the handling rules. Overall, we had fun, but I think we will stick to agility!
A couple of minutes’ drive away is the Hamilton Brantford Rail Trail, which travels through the Summit Muskeg Reserve, an area of bogland. The Summit Station was one of multiple stations along the railway in the early 1900s to connect passengers to transportation to the Niagara region. There’s not much left of it today but it remains an historical site.
We really enjoyed this trail as it was pretty and quiet, with just the occasional cyclist passing us. It was also straight and flat and I let Rita off leash to explore by herself. It did cross some roadways, but felt pretty immersed in nature. Being part of the Hamilton CA land, we had to pay for parking.
After all this sniffing and walking, we needed some refreshment. In the quaint Ancaster Village is the Purple Pony ice cream shop. Started by two sisters who like the colour purple and ponies, this seasonal hut serves a range of flavours from local ice creameries. Rita had a plain vanilla and I tried the Salty Dawg (gotta be on-brand) by Hewitt’s Dairy. Our server Tehya came out to chat and cuddle Rita. The family also own the Caniche (“poodle”) French bakery next door, which looks delectable. Their custom sugar cookies are super cute.
