Last month, Paula Ratoza, head trainer at Baebea’s Dog Training, was licensed by AKC to judge Scent Work trials at all levels.  AKC Scent Work trials will debut in fall of 2017.

Many people are familiar with Nose Work.  AKC’s Scent Work program is similar, but different.

Nose Work, National Association of Canine Scent Work – NACSW, dogs must pass an ORT (Odor Recognition Test) to be allowed to enter a trial. Once the dog passes an ORT for birch, it can be entered in a NW1 trial.  The dog must then pass all 4 elements – interior, exterior, container, vehicle – in the same trial to earn a NW1 title.  At the NW2 level, the dog must search and alert to birch and/or anise.  At the NW3 level, the dog must search and alert to birch and/or anise and/or clove.

AKC’s Scent Work program does not require a dog to pass an odor recognition test to enter a trial.  Titles can be earned in individual elements, instead of passing all 4 elements to earn a title.  The 4 elements in AKC are interior, exterior, container, and buried.  A club may only have two elements in a trial.  The dog needs to pass an element 3 times to earn a title in that element.  So to earn a Novice Interior title, the dog must search and alert to birch at 3 different trials.

At the Advanced level, the dog must search and alert to birch and/or anise.  At the Excellent level, the dog must search and alert to birch and/or anise and/or clove.  At the Master level, the dog must search and alert to birch and/or anise and/or clove and/or cypress.

AKC also has a Detective class where the dog searches and alerts to up to 15 hides.

And AKC will also have a Scent Detection class where the dog searches and alerts to an item that has been scented with the owners scent.

All healthy dogs are welcome to compete in Scent Work.  Tripods, blind, and deaf dogs are welcome so long as they do not appear uncomfortable.

BaeBea’s Dog Training currently offers Scent Work classes Tuesdays, 6-7 pm and Wednesdays 9-10 am.

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