Rat Games

The course contains tubes with a rat and tubes with bedding material from a rat cage. The dog must find the tubes with the rat and ignore the litter tubes. A clear indication can look different from dog to dog: freezing, strong nose focus, scratching, barking, or another behavior the dog only gives on the correct tube.

The sport suits many kinds of dogs. Terriers and other dogs with strong hunting drive often understand the task quickly, but the sport is not only for terriers. Training and competitions can include small and large dogs, beginners and experienced teams, fast dogs and more methodical dogs.

The most important points are that the dog is healthy, comfortable enough to work in the environment, and that the handler can manage the dog safely. Children can participate when they have control of the dog and a guardian is present.

Rebel Sporting Arena is run by Thomas Lindgren Holmedal as a sole proprietorship. The name comes from his breeding program, Rebel Offsprings. Thomas has worked with dog sport for about 20 years and uses several sports and environments to evaluate dogs' mentality, drive, body, and problem-solving.

Rat Games came to Sweden in September 2024 through Thomas's work testing his own dogs, especially terriers, in a sport close to their natural traits. Since then, the sport has grown quickly and interest from dog owners, clubs, and organizers has become significant.

Thomas sits on the board of Sweden Dog Sporting Club and is responsible for dog sport on the board. He also builds data systems for both Barn Hunt in Norway and Rat Games in Sweden, including systems for results, memberships, titles, and course certificates.

Rebel Sporting Arena is a local group under Rat Games and has a training location in Ölsboda, Degerfors. Thomas runs his course and training activity alone and also travels to dog clubs, breed clubs, instructors, and other groups that want to learn the sport.

• Pepper became Rat Games Dog of the Year 2024.
• Biggie became Rat Games Dog of the Year 2025.
• Rebel Sporting Arena has taken part in demonstrations at larger events, including Elmia Hund and Segersjödagarna.

Introductory course

The Rat Games introductory course covers both theory and practice. Participants see how a competition dog can work, try the basics with their own dog, learn how to continue training, and get an understanding of how competitions work.

• Length: about 4 hours.
• Group size: max 10 dogs.
• Price: 700 SEK per dog.
• Included: course material and course certificate.

The introductory course is also required for anyone who wants to create a local group within Sweden Dog Sporting Club.

Training in Degerfors

Rebel Sporting Arena has its own training course in Ölsboda, Degerfors. Training normally takes place in groups of about 2 hours.

• 50 SEK per session for members of Sweden Dog Sporting Club.
• 100 SEK per session for non-members.
• You do not need to have taken the introductory course to join ordinary training.

Courses elsewhere

Thomas travels to run courses, try-out sessions, lectures, and demonstrations for dog clubs, breed clubs, instructors, and private groups when the practical setup works. Content, level, and group size can be adapted to the venue, dogs, and goals.

Alingsås and other training places

Training courses exist in several locations. Rat Games Alingsås publishes its own training and booking information on its website. For official local information, always follow the channels of the relevant local group.

In competition, the dog searches off leash inside the ring and must not wear a collar or accessories during the search itself. The dog enters and leaves the ring on leash.

The handler may guide the dog using voice and hand signals. You may help the dog understand which part of the course to work, but the dog must solve the task independently. It is not allowed to push, pull, lift the dog into a tunnel, or physically steer the dog through the course.

The tunnel is a required element in most classes. The handler may direct the dog toward the tunnel, but should not use obedience commands for position control, such as "sit", "down", or "stay". The handler must not put a hand or any other body part inside the tunnel walls.

A tube with rat can appear near a tunnel entrance or exit. This is rare and mainly used in more difficult classes.

A competition course is normally about 53-70 m2. Rebel Sporting Arena's training course in Degerfors is fenced and is roughly around 70 m2. The course should have a clear boundary, a gate or entry that can be closed, and no openings where the dog can get out.

Straw bales must stand securely. Height changes are built like steps or platforms so the dog can get up and down safely. The judge or responsible person checks the course before the start.

In the Holding Area / Blind Zone, teams wait without being able to see the course. The purpose is that no one knows where the tubes are placed. Electronics such as phones and smartwatches are not used there, and treats are not brought onto the course.

Equipment in brief

• Outside the ring, use an ordinary leash and collar or harness.
• Inside the ring, the dog works without a collar or accessories.
• Retractable leashes, e-collars, and prong collars are not allowed on the competition grounds.
• Treats and toys are used outside the course, not during an active search.

Main class titles

In addition to the main classes, Rat Games includes standalone competition games. They have their own setups, scoring, and titles. Here is a simplified overview.

Game titles are earned through points in each game: Novice 50 points, Intermediate 100 points, Advanced 250 points, and Championship 500 points. Further Championship levels can then be added.

Rat Games has grown quickly in Sweden. That is positive, but the sport needs to develop at a pace where education, courses, staff, judges, and local groups maintain consistent quality. The safety and wellbeing of the dogs always come first.

Sweden Dog Sporting Club is working on structure for local groups, requirements for course leaders, training supervisors, and judge education. The goal is not to release the sport without boundaries, but to build a safe and serious path forward.

Nordic cooperation is also underway around a shared system. More information will come when the structure is ready.

For training in Degerfors, use the channels listed by Rat Games Sweden and Rebel Sporting Arena. For courses at a dog club, breed club, or private group, contact Rebel Sporting Arena with location, number of dogs, level, and preferred format.

• Degerfors / Rebel Sporting Arena: see Rat Games Sweden's local group page for current contact information.
• General questions to Rebel Sporting Arena: rsa@ratgames.se
• Official rules, local groups, and national structure: Rat Games Sweden.

For larger events, fairs, and club days, demonstrations or try-out sessions can often be adapted to the venue.