The Sport of K9 Nose Work®
An Overview
Introduction
The National Association of Canine Scent Work™ has created a new sport for dogs and handlers based on the methodology and training of working scent detection dogs. All dogs have the ability to excel at K9 Nose Work® since dogs “see” the world through their noses. If you are looking for a way to exercise your dog and drain some excess energy, Nose Work may be just the thing.
Perfect for dogs who are older and looking for something fun to do, dogs who are rehabilitating an injury, or reactive dogs who are not comfortable working around other dogs. Because each dog works one at a time with no other dog present in the room, handlers can relax and enjoy an activity with their dog no matter what their issues are normally! The sport also builds confidence in low confidence/anxious dogs.
This is a sport that celebrates the dog’s natural abilities and teaches humans to recognize and build on those natural talents. Come and learn how to have fun with your dog’s sniffing habits (instead of complaining about them)!
K9 Nose Work® Trials
Trials consist of four elements: (1) Container Search; (2) Exterior Area Search; (3) Interior Building Search; and (4) Vehicle Search. At each subsequent level, the searches become more difficult by increasing the area, increasing the number of “hides,” increasing and combining the odors used, and decreasing the time allowed to conduct each search. After a team passes an NW1 or NW2 trial, it must move up to the next level of competition. However, teams may compete at the NW3 level even after passing the trial.
Odor Recognition Test
Trial entry requires that handler/dog teams must have passed the appropriate Odor Recognition Test (ORT) in advance of the trial. The purpose of the ORT is to verify that the dogs know the target odor (scent) used in competition.
The ORT is a container search with one hide. Judges will lay out twelve boxes, and the team must find the box with the odor.
At the NW1 level, all dogs must pass the ORT for Birch. At the NW2 level, dogs must pass the ORT for Anise. At the NW3 level, dogs must pass the ORT for Clove. Thus, dogs competing at the NW3 level will have passed three ORTs: (1) Birch, (2) Anise, and (3) Clove.
NW1
Teams search for the Birch odor.
Container Search – The Container Search element of the competition is similar to the ORT that is required for trial entry. The NW1 level typically includes 15 to 20 boxes set in any pattern. The container search may however include any shape or size boxes at the NW1 level. Only one box (or container) will contain odor at the NW1 level.
Exterior Area Search – Examples of areas previously used include the exterior of a building, a parking lot, grassy field, courtyard, etc. This can be an especially difficult element because the competitors must train for a variety of distractions that are encountered outdoors, such as doggie odors, other animal smells, litter, food trash, and simply the smells of the great outdoors. At the NW1 level, there will be only one hide.
Interior Building Search – At the NW1 level, each competition includes a room search, such as a kitchen, bathroom, conference room, office, or warehouse space. At the NW1 level, there will be only one hide.
Vehicle Search – At the NW1 level, teams will search for one hide among three vehicles. Any type of vehicle may be used (car, motorcycle, truck, trailer, semi, etc).
NW2
Teams search for birch and anise odors. Each element may contain more than one hide, and a hide may combine the two odors. Competitors will be told the number of hides prior to searching.
Container Search – The NW2 increases the number of containers, varies the size of containers used (including luggage and any other closed item), and varies the pattern of the containers. Additionally, the container search for NW2 may also include distractor odors, such as food, toys, and animal smells.
Exterior Area Search – The NW2 increases the size of the search area.
Interior Building Search – Two interior spaces are used for the interior searches and there will be 1 or 2 hides in each room.
Vehicle Search – up to four vehicles are used.
NW3
Teams search for birch, anise and clove odors, separate or combined. There are between 1 and 3 hides in each search area with the exception of Interiors where one room can be without any hides (a “clear” room). Competitors do not know the number of hides prior to searching.
Container Search – see NW2.
Exterior Area Search – see NW2.
Interior Building Search – the area consists of three rooms, and there may be multiple hides. One room may have no hides.
Vehicle Search – up to five vehicles are used.
Official Schedule
http://nacsw.net/nacsweventcalendar.html
Classes at Whole Dog Institute
Sue McKinney was the first instructor certified to teach K9 Nose Work in North Carolina. She is the only CNWI in the Triangle.
Introduction to Nose Work
In this class, we will introduce our dogs to the sport of scent work, teaching dogs to search for primary reward (food or toy). Emphasis is on building the dogs’ independence and stamina while working an area, while training the handlers to read their dogs search style.
Intermediate Nose Work
We will continue to build the dogs drive to hunt and will introduce vehicle searches. The class will also take field trips to a few locations in the Chapel Hill-Durham area.
Advanced Nose Work
We will take field trips to a variety of locations and introduce advanced topics to continue challenging the dog/handler teams as their skills progress. We will assess problem areas for each team to improve performance. Note that dog/handler teams are encouraged to stay at this level for several sessions to form a solid foundation in detection before advancing.
Introduction to Odor
We will introduce dogs to Birch odor and will begin searching for this odor paired with food. To introduce odor, the class will go back to basics, covering topics similar to those in the first class, Introduction to Nose Work.
Continuing Odor
This class is for students who have attended Introduction through Advanced K9 Nose Work and/or Introduction to Odor and are currently searching Birch, Anise, and/or Clove. Field trips to a variety of locations will be taken and advanced topics will be introduced to continue challenging the dog/handler teams as their skills progress, and to prepare teams for the ORT and/ or trials.
Odor Competition Class
This class is for dogs who have passed at least one ORT (or with permission of instructor) and are preparing for competition.
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