The Imaginative Sport for Active Dogs
and
Creative Trainers
and
Creative Trainers
Scent and Search
Assessment Guidelines
The dog should demonstrate that it has
been taught it can recognise a scent of a substance (such as
tea, coffee or vanilla) and is trained to indicate the location
of the substance with a specific behaviour, recognisable to the
trainer.
The trainer can verbally encourage the
dog to search but not cue the dog to indicate.
The substance can be placed on different
carriers - such as swabs, or small pieces of lint cloth. The
carriers can be placed in a small container to protect the
search items from contamination, such as an empty film case or
syringe case.
Objects for searching will be provided by
the Assessor or Organising Event such as bricks, plastic cones,
markers, or suitable furniture. The object should ensure the
carrier is hidden from view and allows the scent to rise to the
height of the dog's nose.
The trainer must be able to show
confidence that they can work with the dog to search people or
an area without knowing where the substance has been placed.
At all levels the dog must complete each
exercise three times.
Scent Level 1
The dog must demonstrate an indication
behaviour to the substance cue (such as a paw wave or drop).
The substance must not be held by the trainer, but placed in
two different types of carriers.
Scent Level 2
The dog must search for the substance (on
a carrier) from under suitable camouflage objects (provided by
the Assessor) and clearly indicate the location to the trainer.
Time allowed for each exercise 1 minute. Each repetition must
be from under a different marker and from a different
direction.
Scent Level 3
The dog must search a small area of
furniture and objects for the substance and clearly indicate
the location to the trainer. Time allowed for each exercise 2
minutes.
Each repetition the substance must be
placed in a different location. The trainer will not be allowed
to know the place of the substance for the 3rd repetition.
Scent Level 4
The dog must search a minimum of 5 people
sitting in chairs for the substance and clearly indicate the
location to the trainer. The substance will be placed in the
clothing of the "carriers". Time allowed 3 minutes
for each exercise. Each repetition the substance must be placed
on a different person. The trainer will not know the carrier
except on the first demonstration.
Scent Level 5
The dog must search a combination of
furniture and moving people (no more than 3) in the area for
the substance. The substance will be placed in 3 locations and
the dog must successfully indicate on 2 of those locations.
Total time allowed 6 minutes.
Scent Level 6
The dog must search an area without
people and indicate on one of the locations of the substance.
The substance must be suitably reduced or camouflaged to only
allow the minimum scent to dissipate. Time allowed 6 minutes.