|
What is scent work?Scent Work is a relatively new ANKC sport, however, it has been around for quite a few years under other banners. The sport is based on the work of detection dogs (like those who search for drugs or explosives), who need to find and indicate, usually by staring, pawing, barking, sitting or laying down, when they have found a specific odour.
The sport asks dogs to find one of four odours (birch, anise, clove and cypress), in different environments and while the sport is challenging, it is especially good for dogs who may not be able to handle the conditions asked of them in other dog sports, either because they are reactive to other dogs or because they are unsure in trial settings. The sport encourages owners to learn to "read" their dog's signals and is fun end engaging for the dog, who get to use their strongest natural sense, scent to find the source of the odour. Scent Work encourages the handler and dog to work as a team - while the dog is the one doing the searching, the handler uses their body language to encourage the dog to search different areas, and letting the judge know when they have found the scent. |
Quick Facts
|
Training level required: ☆☆ (moderate)
Training type: private trainer/at home Equipment cost: $$$ (relatively expensive) |
Overseeing body: Australian National Kennel Council
Minimum age for competition: 6 months Breed restrictions: None! Open to all breeds |
What equipment do I need?While dogs can search with only a flat collar and long lead (5m or 10m is encouraged), most handlers use a harness while working to indicate to the dog when their job begins and ends. To train at home, you will need this equipment, as well as a set of odours, available from multiple sources online. Our favourite is Seek Dogs Australia.
|
|
|
How much training is needed?Unlike many sports, which have classes run by affiliate clubs, Scent Work is mostly taught by private trainers. Most dogs will need to go through several terms of training or progressively more difficult training courses to get up to trialling level but there is also quite a lot of handling for pet parents to learn so they can help their dog to search the whole area in a trial. To get to the highest levels, dogs will need to know several different scents and be able to search the interior of a room, an exterior area and the outside of a vehicle, as well as doing a container (box) search.
|
Titles
There are eight ANKC Scent Work titles to be gained in two different categories. The first, the Scent Work Class Category requires dogs to achieve qualifications in a different number of odours and elements and the second, the Scent Work Element Category, requires qualifications in the same element (container, interior, exterior and vehicle) at different levels.
Scent Work Class Category:
Scent Work Novice (SWN) requires six Qualifying Certificates in the Novice class under at least two different Judges, with at least one Qualifying Certificate in each of the four Elements and two Qualifying Certificates in two of the Elements. Scent Work Advanced (SWA) requires the dog to have achieved a total of nine Qualifying Certificates in the Advanced class under at least two different Judges, with at least two Qualifying Certificates in each of three Elements, and with three Qualifying Certificates in the fourth Element. Scent Work Excellent (SWE) requires the dog to have gained a total of twelve Qualifying Certificates in the Excellent class under at least two different Judges, comprising three Qualifying Certificates in each of the four Elements. Scent Work Master (SWM) requires the dog to have gained a total of twelve Qualifying Certificates in the Master class under at least two different Judges, comprising three Qualifying Certificates in each of the four Elements.
Scent Work Class Category:
Scent Work Novice (SWN) requires six Qualifying Certificates in the Novice class under at least two different Judges, with at least one Qualifying Certificate in each of the four Elements and two Qualifying Certificates in two of the Elements. Scent Work Advanced (SWA) requires the dog to have achieved a total of nine Qualifying Certificates in the Advanced class under at least two different Judges, with at least two Qualifying Certificates in each of three Elements, and with three Qualifying Certificates in the fourth Element. Scent Work Excellent (SWE) requires the dog to have gained a total of twelve Qualifying Certificates in the Excellent class under at least two different Judges, comprising three Qualifying Certificates in each of the four Elements. Scent Work Master (SWM) requires the dog to have gained a total of twelve Qualifying Certificates in the Master class under at least two different Judges, comprising three Qualifying Certificates in each of the four Elements.
|
|
Scent Work Element Category:
The Scent Work Element Category titles require the dog to have gained a total of eleven qualifying certificates in a single element, two at the novice level, and three at each of the advanced, excellent and masters levels under at least two different judges.
The Scent Work Element Category titles require the dog to have gained a total of eleven qualifying certificates in a single element, two at the novice level, and three at each of the advanced, excellent and masters levels under at least two different judges.
|
|
