Scent Work

 

Scent Work is a sport that is based on the task of working detection dogs to locate an odour and communicate to the handler that the odour has been found. Detection is done in a variety of environments and often during changing weather or environmental conditions.

Scent Work is a positive, challenging activity that allows dogs the opportunity to use their strongest natural sense in a way that is fun, engaging, and builds and strengthens a foundation of trust between the handler and dog.

Dogs are trained to recognise specific odours, and to alert their handlers when the odours are detected. Dogs may paw, bark, point with their nose or body, sit, lie down, or use any other non-destructive behaviour to communicate the location of the odour. Handlers take their dogs through a search area which may be set up in a variety of environments.

The dog and handler must work together as a team. The handler is part of the team, using body language and verbal encouragement to ensure all sections of the search area are covered, directing the dog’s search only when necessary and indicating to the Judge when the dog has found the odour. Communication with and praise of the dog during the search are encouraged.

Scent Work Trials

 

The scheduling of any Scent Work Trial shall be subject to the approval of the relevant member body. It is at the discretion of the Affiliate conducting the Trial whether some or all Elements (Interior, Exterior, Container, Vehicle) or Classes are offered at any Trial.

4.2 Classes
The following classes are available: 

(a) Novice: is a basic search with one (1) hide. The Novice Class is intended to test the dog for basic odour obedience and understanding of indicating source (the hide).

(b) Advanced: is a simple search with two (2) hides and the introduction of a non-food distraction, and similar search times to the Novice Class. The Advanced Class tests the dog’s ability to move on from one hide to finding another, while ignoring the distraction.

(c) Excellent: is a complex search within larger areas or with an increased number of vehicles or containers, two (2) distractions and with at least one (1) difficult hide of the three (3) required in the Class. The Excellent Class is intended to challenge the dog to solve a complex scent puzzle(s) including the possibility of inaccessible hides, converging and eddying odour, and elevation. It requires a greater degree of teamwork between the dog and handler to be successful.

(d) Master: includes complex search puzzles such as inaccessible hides, pooling, eddying and channelling odour within larger and multiple search areas, blank areas and an increased number of vehicles or containers. The number of hides is unknown and there are three (3) distractions. The Master Class is intended to test the teamwork between the dog and handler to work efficiently and effectively.

(e) Ultimate: provides an integrated search environment combining at least three (3) of the four (4) Elements from the Odour Search Division, which are worked as one search. The number of hides and distractions is unknown to the handler. The team will need to demonstrate sustained resilience and persistence and work in a timely, efficient and effective manner to complete the search. They must be confident that they have identified all the hides present and cleared all search areas before calling “Finish”.

 

 

Image by Felicity McIntyre

Refer to the DOGS NSW Scent Work Working Party  page for more information