About Nose Work
Nose Work
Also called ‘scent work’, nose work is a fun professional dog sport similar to search and rescue or canine TSA detection work; however, our dogs are trained to search for birch, anise, and clove essential oils. Trials are held to challenge dog and handler teams to locate these odors in a variety of staged search areas including interior and exterior spaces, the exterior of vehicles, and in a variety of containers.
The sport hones in on the dog’s natural ability to locate things with their nose and builds a strong bond between the dog and handler.
NACSW
NACSW is an organization that sets the standard for the sport of canine scent work, aka nose work. There are other organizations, but NACSW was the first. All COs, judges, and score room workers are thoroughly trained, tested, and vetted to ensure the highest standard of excellence.
Learn more about NACSW by visiting their website at www.nacsw.net.
Trial Flow
- When competitors arrive, they're assigned a parking spot and a run order number.
- Competitors and their dogs remain in the parking lot until it's their turn to search.
- A volunteer uses a number flipper to indicate which team is up next.
- When a competitor's run order number comes up, they leash and remove their dog from the car, then make their way over to the volunteer.
- Volunteers are staged along the path to the search area to help direct the team to their destination.
- Upon their arrival, the judge reiterates the search parameters and time limit and the search begins.
- After completing the search, a volunteer directs the team to the exit and then welcomes the next team to the search area.
- Competitors return to their vehicle to wait for their next search.
Search Videos
NACSW has video examples of search areas for each level and each element. Check them out here.
Search Areas (aka Elements)
Search areas mimic real-world detection work scenarios where they'll search:
- Interiors (such as a classroom), inspired by police K9 searches
- Exterior spaces (such as a grassy or picnic area), inspired by search and rescue
- Vehicles (exterior only), inspired by border patrol dog investigations
- Containers (such as backpacks or boxes), inspired by a TSA dogs searching luggage
These are referred to as 'elements'.
Hides
Dogs are trained to search for birch, anise, and clove essential oils. Oils are placed on q-tips which are then placed in a small container about the size of lip balm. The container is hidden completely out of sight and can be placed inside an object or attached through magnets, hooks, or museum putty. Care is always taken to ensure objects are not damaged.
Responsible Owners
Learning nose work and getting to competition-level is hard work. Dog and handler teams spend years training and practicing in new and interesting areas to prepare and progress in trials.
These dogs are highly trained and well behaved. Handlers are grateful for trials and are respectful of the space.
Only one dog and handler team is ever searching in an area at one time.
Poop bags and trashcans are provided by the trial host and workers comb the potty area to ensure no poop is left behind.
Location Requirements
The number of search areas required depends on the trial level and the number of days requested. Trials typically span over a weekend where Saturday is one level trial and Sunday is another. Search areas cannot be reused, as odor may still be lingering from a previous search.
NW1-NW3 trials must have a minimum of one search area for each of the four elements - interior, exterior, containers, and vehicles. NW2 trials must include one additional search area and NW3 trials have two additional search areas.
Trials can have up to 50 teams competing, plus approximately 15 workers. Competitors must be parked in a centralized area, such as in a parking lot or field, and cannot have line-of-site to any of the search areas. Workers can be parked anywhere.
A potty area must be located next to the parking area. Trashcans and poop bags are provided, and workers will comb the area after the trial to ensure no poop is left behind.
Additional requirements can be discussed.