ScentWork/NoseWork

Scent Work

The sport of Scent Work is based on the work of professional detection dogs (such as drug dogs), employed by humans to detect a wide variety of scents and substances. In AKC Scent Work, dogs search for cotton swabs saturated with the essential oils of Birch, Anise, Clove, and Cypress. The cotton swabs are hidden out of sight in a pre-determined search area, and the dog has to find them. Teamwork is necessary: when the dog finds the scent, he has to communicate the find to the handler, who calls it out to the judge.

In so many dog sports the handler is in control but this isn’t true in Scent Work. Neither the dog nor handler knows where the target odor is hidden. The handler has to rely on the dog, and follow the dog’s nose to success. In Scent Work, it is the canine who is the star of the show.

There are two main organizations which provide events for competition:

Many Norfolk’s love the game and competition is open to any dog over the age of 6 months. Please contact your Norfolk's breeder, if you have a question about your Norfolk’s ability for participation in this sport.

Reference: https://www.dingledaysphotography.com/blog/akc-scent-work-vs-nacsw-nose-work

Frequently asked questions

Scent Work/Nose Work

AKC Scent Work trials will often have dogs lined up in the sight of each other, but dogs will work alone. Unlike NACSW, AKC Scent Work is NOT designed to accommodate dogs who are fearful or reactive to other dogs. In general, dogs must be AKC registered to compete. However, AKC has a program for registering mixed breeds and purebred dogs without registration papers.

AKC Scent Work has two Divisions:

The Odor Division
And the AKC Handler Discrimination Division

In the Odor Division, Dogs search 4 Elements:

Containers
Interiors
Exteriors
Buried Hides

There is no requirement for a “pre-test” to enter a trial; All AKC trials are entered by each ”element” individually.

Both the AKC and NACSW challenge dogs to detect hidden odors, but there are some key differences in the details.

Please Check more information on AKC website. (https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-scent-work/)

K9 Nose Work – National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW)

In the sport of K9 Nose Work, the dog and handler search four elements in a trial, and the team must qualify in all four elements of individual competition to title

For K9 nose work, you have four elements of individual competition

Interior Search
Exterior Search
Vehicle Search
Container Search

Note: for most trials, each search area's time limit is typically between two and four minutes.

You will not use any boxes for the vehicle search because the vehicle itself is considered a large container.

At NW1 competition, the target odor is birch. The critical point is that the source of odor is accessible to the dog at this level.NW2 and NW3 add new scents and increase the search's complexity, but the four essential search elements remain the same.

Nosework Accommodation

It’s no secret that NACSW is one of the most accommodating organizations when it comes to reactive dogs - let me explain. You see, it is a basic tenet in all K9 Nose Work activities that dogs are kept apart. The separation allows all dogs to enjoy the sport. Dogs are not in the search area at the same time. They do not pass through doorways at the same time. They are crated or, weather permitting, in their vehicles when waiting to work.

By allowing the dog to work without other dogs present, one can develop focus and confidence. Many Nose Work classes with a local trainer follow this SAME philosophy.

Unique to NACSW, an ORT (Odor Recognition Test) is required as a prerequisite for Trial. The ORT is a box drill. Your dog must indicate which box out of 12 boxes, usually in two rows of six, pending on the space, has the birch, anise, or clove odor in it. The search will be “blind,” meaning you will not know which box contains the smell, and you must be able to correctly identify when you think your dog has found the odor box. It is a 3-minute, on-leash test, with one target odor per test. Each additional odor at the test event will be a separate test.

For trials held on or after April 1, 2021, one must pass all three odors at ORTs. You and your dog are then eligible to compete at a NACSW Trial at the Nose Work 1 (NW1) level.

Odor Recognition Title

In NACSW, the Odor Recognition Title is earned by successfully passing all three odor recognition tests (Birch, Anise, and Clove). There is no requirement to pass all three odors at the same event, but you will not earn the ORT title until you pass all three odor tests.

K9 Nose Work also has “Element Trials.” And an ORT is required for these, too.

An ORT Title is required for eligibility in NW1 and Level 1 Element Specialty Trials

Element Specialty Trial Titles

L1C (Level 1 Containers)
L1E (Level 1 Exteriors)
L1I (Level 1 Interiors)
L1V (Level 1 Vehicles)
L2C (Level 2 Containers)
L2E (Level 2 Exteriors)
L2I (Level 2 Interiors)
L2V (Level 2 Vehicles)
L3C (Level 3 Containers)
L3E (Level 3 Exteriors)
L3I (Level 3 Interiors)
L3V (Level 3 Vehicles)

For the Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Element Specialty titles, the dog/handler team must qualify in all the searches at the same trial or earn a qualifying score with no more than three faults at two separate trials for the same level/element.

Handlers must be members of NACSW and renew annually (Membership runs from August 1 to July 31 of each year.). Dogs are enrolled for life.

Please check more information on NACSW Website. (https://www.nacsw.net/)