Novice Nosework- Competition Rules and Guidelines.
(These are based on the rules of the United Kennel Association, USA, modified following an initial Novice test conducted by Noseworx-Hamilton in February 2016 and September 2016, and adopted for New Zealand Novice Tests September 2016.)
 

Guidelines for Nosework Competitions:
 
Nosework is an uninterrupted performance by the dog and handler (the team) without direction from the official. The arrangement of the searches that are found in Nosework are randomly chosen and are similar to traditional working detection dogs. The team is evaluated on their ability to search for, locate, and respond to, target odours as determined by mutual agreement of the Nosework New Zealand foundation enthusiasts.
 
The overall performance should convey an image of fun, enthusiasm and the ability of the team to work in partnership. Nosework was created for the purpose of allowing any breed and type of dog to use their natural olfactory abilities to work in partnership with their handler and to respond to specific target odours, modelled after working detection dogs. This activity provides a safe and enriching environment, can be easily performed in a wide variety of locations, and builds a trusting and lasting relationship between handler and dog.
 
The concept of Nosework is to provide the opportunity for all dogs and handlers, regardless of physical abilities, and physical structure, to participate in Nosework. All dogs under reasonable control as determined by the official, should be able to participate in Nosework events. The dog is allowed unlimited communication, praise and encouragement from the handler without penalty and is judged on the overall execution and completion of each exercise.
 
Competitors are NOT allowed in the working areas of the trial until after they have run their search. If any competitor is found to be in the working areas prior to their run, they will be disqualified from the event for that day. Competitors are also prohibited from discussing any detail in relation to or the operation of the trial with any other competitor or spectator. This is to protect the integrity of the odour placements.
 
Competitors are NOT allowed to bring samples of odour into the testing area, or on site other than in the confines of their own vehicle.
 
The host organisation may, at their discretion, provide a waiting area that is away from the trial areas for competitors who are entered in the trial and have practice equipment available.
 
Handlers may carry their dog’s re-enforcer or reward with them at any time.
 
Competitors with more than one dog entered in a trial.
Competitors may handle only one dog in each trial. A competitor may enter more than one dog in the same trial so long as a separate handler is provided for each dog. This is to ensure the secret integrity of the hide location is the same for each competitor.
 
Judges/Officials entries:
Judges may NOT compete in Nosework trials they are judging. Officials may compete at the discretion of the judge and the competition organisers, but it must be in a manner that does not hinder the running of the trial.
 
 
NOVICE NOSEWORK – NN: REQUIREMENTS AND ELEMENTS
 
1. General Rules.
 
The purpose of the Novice Nosework level is to demonstrate the ability of the dog to detect a target odour under four different elements search conditions - Containers, Interior, Exterior, and Vehicles. Dogs must successfully find each hide in all four elements in the same trial in order to be eligible for placements and/or a qualifying certificate.
 
A participation certificate may be awarded at the discretion of the hosting organisation, regardless of the team’s level of success in completing each element.
 
There is only one hide in Novice Nosework for each of the elements.
 
The 4 distinct element searches can be run in any order, provided this is the same for each competitor, to the best of the host organisation’s ability.
 
Bitches in season will not be permitted at the venue during the conduct of the trial.
 
All competitors will be required to acknowledge their dog is brought to the venue in good health and is fully vaccinated against parvo-virus.
 
2. Target Odours & Hides.
 
Only one odour, Oil of Clove Bud, will be used in New Zealand Novice Nosework trials.
 
Odour hides may be securely taped or fastened to a surface, or can be put inside either a plastic or metal sealed container, between 30-100ml in size, with air holes to allow scent to be released into the area. Scent containers may be magnetic, have magnets attached to them, or be secured in place using tape or Velcro - provided this action does not obscure scent holes.
 
Additional hides or containers must be provided by the host organisation and be available for replacement in case of contamination.
 
No odour placements will be higher than 650mm from the ground.
 
No intentional distractions are allowed at this level.
 
3. Alerts.
 
Handlers will be responsible for identifying when they believe their dog has found the odour by calling “Alert” and raising one hand above their head. An audible and visual signal is required in the event of confusion as to the intention of the handler.
 
A formal and final response from the dog is not required at this level. It is therefore not required that the dog show any specific behaviour stated for this level, but the handler must still call the alert when they recognise the dog has found the odour in order for the test to conclude.
 
Officials may ask “Where?” and handlers should be able to identify the location of the source by pointing to, or describing the location without touching anything, and without re-cueing the dog for further search information.
 
Refer to scoring information for further detail.
 
 
4. Element Requirements for NN trials.
 
Container Search: Container search will consist of 10-15 cardboard boxes set in a geometrical configuration such as a straight line or regular columns in the middle of the ring or designated area. All containers are on the floor or ground with one containing the hidden odour.
The boxes can be uniform or random sizes but should be larger than 300mmx300mm and smaller than 600x600mm.
Search time commences when dog cross a defined entry line into the search area.
Search time limit 3 minutes.
 
Exterior Area Search: Search area must be no less than 75sqm with a maximum of 200 sqm. Area to be searched will be identified during the briefing for handlers, and may be visually identified using markers at the host organisation’s discretion. An official or steward will be available for questions prior to search commencing.
Search time commences when dog crosses a defined entry line into the search area.
Search time limit 5 minutes.
 
Interior Building Search: Search area indoors will be one area a minimum of 60 sqm and a maximum of 100sqm. This area may be within a larger area and marked off as the designated search area or be within the limits of an individual room.
Search time commences when dog crosses a defined entry line into the search area.
Search time limit 3 minutes.
 
Vehicle Search: Vehicle search will be one vehicle with clear access on all sides. The vehicle must be no less than 3m and no more than 10m from the starting line with one hidden odour placed on one point on the vehicle. Hides will not be more than 650mm from the ground and not more than 100mm underneath the vehicles outside edges.
Search time commences when dog crosses a defined entry line into the search area.
Search time limit 3 minutes.
 
5. Scoring and Running Time.
​
Each leg towards a full title is based on passing every search at one event and incurring no more than four (4) faults overall.
 
Search time on each element commences when a dog crosses a defined entry line into the search area and concludes when the handler calls “Alert” while also raising one hand above their head in a clear visual signal so that confusion of intention is eliminated.
 
In Novice a passed search is awarded when the handler correctly calls the alert after the dog finds the hidden odour within the allotted amount of time and without incurring more than one fault/penalty during that search element.
 
Dogs must successfully complete all four search areas to be considered for placements in these trials. Placements are determined firstly by the lowest number of faults, then by the fastest dog’s combined search time over all four elements.
A team with no faults will place above a team with faults regardless of their running time. Dogs must successfully complete the search for each element to receive a passing leg towards a title (number yet to be determined) for that day.
 
Search limit times for each element must not be exceeded and can be determined by the specific competition. Maximum times for each Novice Nosework element will not exceed five (5) minutes.
 
A judge may at their discretion allow a team to finish a search after “Time” is called, but the allowable time will be concluded within another 2 minutes to ensure equally sufficient time for each competitor is provided.
 
Each search requires that the handler state “Alert.” The “Alert” call consisting of both audible and visual signal should be made in order for the team to stop the timer and receive a passing leg.
 
A judge may ask “Where?” for further clarification after the alert is called and timing is stopped. If the handler is unable to accurately describe or point to the location of the odour hide then the judge may award a fault point as defined in more detail below.
 
At Novice level it is not expected that dog identify exactly where on a given item, container or location that the odour has been hidden, provided the location description and/or, if appropriate, the isolated item is identified by the handler correctly.
 
A handler may opt to forfeit a search, by speaking to the judge before, or after, the allocated search limit time is up and asking for assistance to locate the odour for their dog.
 
6. Faults.

A handler/dog team may receive less than four (4) total faults and still receive a placement. Faults will affect placements in the overall competition.
 
If a team receives more than one (1) fault on any specific element they will not receive a pass for that element.
 
Faults are given for infractions and incorrect calls.
 
Faults can be, but are not limited to:
 
a. Handling errors. Any action that causes the dog to perform incorrectly. Pulling a dog off odour or dropping food/rewards during the search would be an example of a handler error. Faults will not be given at Novice level for minor infractions of poor handling such as tangling leash, mistakenly blocking odours, inexpertly covering the area etc.
 
b. Incorrect Alert Call. An incorrect alert call will incur one fault, the judge will call “wrong, continue” and the handler is to continue the search until the hide is found, or the course time is reached.
 
c. Fringe Response. The dog responds with a formal alert posture on lower thresholds of odour and is not able to work odour truly to source. The handler can opt to continue the search if they wish in which case timing would not stop until the alert call and signal are made.
 
d. Stronger concentration of odour. The dog responds with a formal alert posture on a collected pool of odour in an area away from source. This may have been caused due to wind blowing the odour from the actual source and into another area that catches the odour. The handler can opt to continue the search if they wish in which case timing would not stop until the alert call and signal are made.
 
e. Compromising the Search Area. A fault may be assigned if the official determines that the reward delivery may have compromised the integrity of the search area. Handlers should be very careful not to contaminate the search areas with their rewards, or to touch surfaces and move objects in search areas. They should also ensure the dog does not damage or interfere with the hide placement in such a way that this might give a visual clue to subsequent competitors.
 
f. Safety, violations, and other infractions. At the official’s discretion, faults will be given for any of these circumstances. Examples might be, but are not limited to, taking the dog off leash in a leash only search area, allowing the dog in or under a vehicle during the vehicle search, and/or allowing the dog to be put in an unsafe situation.
 
g. Fouling. The dog urinates or defecates at any time while in the search area, or is considered by the judge to do so inappropriately while moving in or out of the assigned search space.


 Adopted 16 June 2016, updated September 2016.
 

For use in Novice Nosework Trials conducted by A.C.E. Dog Training from 1 July 2016, and Novice Trials conducted by Noseworx  from 1 September 2016.


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