AKC Scent Work

22/04/2024

The Scent Work Department is announcing two additions to the Rules and Regulations:

Size of the cotton ball for HD and a new Fix and Go option in Detective.
You can find them in the link below. These changes will go in effect on May 1st 2024.

19/04/2024

Numeric Elite Level titles

In re-examining how qualified scores are applied towards a Numeric Elite Level title, we understand that, on occasion, a team may happen to earn more than the required number of qualified scores per element while working towards earning their Numeric Elite Level title which currently requires a total of 40 qualifying scores (10 per element). If that should occur, the excess qualified scores will be applied towards any subsequent Numeric Elite Level title, regardless if they were earned prior to the most recently earned Numeric Elite Level Title. This means that qualified Elite level scores beyond the 10 required, in any element, will always carry forward towards the next Numeric Elite Level title. For more information on the Regulations regarding Numeric Elite Level titles please visithttps://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn-origin-etr.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/28164016/7.2022.VSWTperm.NumEliteTitles.pdf For questions please email: [email protected]

12/04/2024

The Scent Work Department regularly gets questions about collars permitted in Scent Work.
We copied the relevant part of the Regulations for AKC Scent Work below.

Chapter 5 Section 13. Collars, Leashes, and Harnesses. Dogs must wear a properly fitted collar or harness approved by the judge. The harness will be constructed of plain, pliable material and will be designed so that there is minimal restriction of the dog’s movement. No special training tools, such as electronic collars, prong collars, head halters, choke chains, or no-pull harnesses may be used during the search. Martingale collars are permitted. No odor-emitting collars (such as no-bark collars that spray citronella, or DAP calming collars) may be worn or present in the search area. A wearable camera such as a Go Pro may be mounted to the dog’s harness, if desired.

While our Rules clearly state what may not be worn in the search area, they do not address what may be worn on the trial grounds. Unless there is an exception made in a sport, the "Rules applying to Dog shows" will apply. This means that, with there being no exception for Scent Work, special training devices that are used to control and train dogs, including but not limited to, collars with prongs, electronic collars used with transmitters, muzzles and head collars will not be permissible on the grounds.

The link to “Rules applying to Dog shows” can be found below. See page 67

27/02/2023

Dyed or artificially colored dogs in AKC Scent Work.

The AKC Scent Work department was aware of participants’ desire to compete in Scent Work with dyed or artificially colored dogs.
As many of you may know, the previous decision had been that it wasn’t allowed.

We recently revisited our previous decision about artificially colored dogs and have decided to allow them to participate in AKC Scent Work.
However, dogs colored with color powder will not be permitted.

For questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]

Judith Powell
Field Director of Scent Work

23/02/2023

The AKC Scent Work Department is announcing some changes and clarifications to the Scent Work Judge’s approval process in order to ensure new judges are prepared for their assignments in this growing sport which also offers a geographically and equally attainable pathway for new judges.

* New judge applicants are no longer required to apprentice under an expert judge. They may apprentice for the difficulty level in which they seek approval, under any fully licensed judge in good standing. Fully licensed judges are those who are approved to judge all difficulty levels plus Detective level of AKC Scent Work.

* A maximum of 3 educational credits can be earned from hide stewarding.

* Provisional Novice/Advanced judges need to complete an assignment in at least 2 elements for each difficulty level and Handler Discrimination before becoming approved for Novice and Advanced levels.

* Provisional Excellent/Master/Detective judges need to complete an assignment in at least 3 elements in Excellent and Master before being a fully approved judge who can judge any and all classes.

To find complete information on Scent Work Judges Eligibility, please visit: https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-scent-work/judges-resources/

These changes will fully take effect June 1, 2023. Applicants who have already started and submitted their paperwork will be able to finish their process according to the previous regulations.

For questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]

Judges that apply to judge Scent Work are first approved for provisional status and can begin judging Novice and Advanced levels only for all elements and Handler Discrimination. After meeting further requirements, provisional judges can progress to approved status for Novice and Advanced only and w...

10/11/2022

The AKC Performance Events Department welcomes Judith van Heugten Powell as the new Field Director for the Scent Work Department. Judith brings to the AKC Scent Work Department over 30 years of detection and working dog experience.

She grew up in the Netherlands loving animals, especially dogs and horses. Her grandmother’s home was next to a kennel of Police K9’s where her special fascination with detection work began. It was not by chance that her first dog was a Belgian Malinois pup out of true working lines. In over her head, but not willing to admit it, she quickly developed some much-needed skills to handle her challenging dog. That journey led to a position with the KNPV- Royal Dutch Police Dog Association, where she spent 10 years immersed in the world of working dogs. The Netherlands, renowned for its breeding and training programs producing some of the world’s best police dogs, allowed Judith further insight to the work and behavior of a working detection dog.

Judith continued to further her experience through her local dog club where many of her fellow members were active law enforcement who worked their dogs in narcotics as well as protection. Upon moving to the USA, she and her husband opened Seven Pines Kennel in 1998, with the goal of training and supplying dogs to law enforcement and deploying dogs for security as well as conducting sweeps for narcotics.

Countless successful working dogs have passed through her hands, each of them teaching her something new while she was training them. Shortly after the AKC Scent Work program launched in 2016, Judith became an approved Scent Work judge, followed by joining the Scent Work team in the field as a contractor. Judith recognizes the work of detecting can be a wonderful journey for all dogs and their handlers and she looks forward to her new role at AKC.

Please send any comments or questions to: [email protected] .

16/08/2022

The annual statistics for 2021 have been published in the AKC Gazette. You can find some Scent Work stats on page 344.

AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.

22/07/2022

FYI: Do you know how many different breeds have titled in Scent Work? The AKC Gazette Annual Statistics lists the number of different breeds that have titled in Scent Work. While this is not a statistic of ranking by breed, you can review this report at the link below starting on page 256.https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2020_AnnualStats.pdf . The next report is expected to be published in August.

06/06/2022

Please see the latest Scent Work Blog. http://akcscentwork.blog/2022/06/06/scent-work-handler-discrimination-hd-class-the-box/.

04/06/2022

2022 Regional Championship, Northern Region: Due to unforeseen circumstances the August 20th-21st North Regional Championship event has been canceled. If you have any questions please reach out to the Scent Work Department at [email protected], or by phone 919-816-3844.

01/06/2022

Please take note of the following clarification of the set up and judging of the sections of the Novice classes. Chapter 2 Section 11 Sections A and B of Novice Classes, on page 8 of the Scent Work regulations is straight forward, the criteria for the "A & "B" section remains the same. This means if it is necessary to use a second judge the location, search area set up and hide placement do not change. Handlers are not allowed to handle a dog in the A section and another dog in the B section of a class as it is the same class. Chapter 3 Section 23 One Judge Per Class. Stipulates that the reason a club could split the class would be to balance the judge's limits. This means only if necessary may a club assign another judge to a novice class. Please see Chapter 3 Section 11 below.

Chapter 2 Section 11. Sections A and B of Novice Classes. Novice A and Novice B are different sections of the same class. The hide location does not move between Novice A and Novice B. Teams are judged under the exact same criteria in Novice A and Novice B.

Chapter 3 Section 23. One Judge Per Class. Each class has only one assigned judge; classes cannot be split between judges, with the exception of the Novice class. Clubs are able to assign one judge to the Novice A section and a different judge to the Novice B section if that is required for balancing of judging limits.

Please reach out to the AKC Scent Work Department if you have any questions or discrepancies pertaining to these regulations.

05/05/2022

An account of a scent work team. Below features Kort-Mar Louie, American Eskimo Dog named Louie, and his owner Gretchen Hannefield. This delightful team competed at the very first AKC Scent Work trial at the Eukanuba Performance Games September 2017, Louie was just six years old. At this event Louie earned his first AKC Scent Work legs from Novice Container, Interior and Exterior classes. Since then, Louie along with his owner have achieved several Scent Work titles SWAE, SWM, SHM and has five legs towards his AKC Detective title. He also competes at the Master level in Barn Hunt. Louie is the first dog in the US to earn a UKC Nosework Grand Champion title The dedicated team went on to participate in the first Scent Work Regional Championship event on April 9 & 10, 2022 and making it into the Championship Round Odor Division, Master level where the team placed second and earned an invite to the AKC Scent Work Nationals. What makes this story unique is Gretchen and Louie are the only team to have competed in the first AKC Scent Work event and five years later the first AKC Scent Work Regional Championship event. Way to Go!

05/05/2022

Here are some high-lights from the Scent Work Regional Championship events, Region #4 event. The teams where spectacular to watch!

29/04/2022

Scent Work Regional Championship, Region # 4
A Big Congratulations to all Champion Winners!
Many thanks to our Regional host; East Texas Scent Club

29/04/2022

Scent Work Regional Championship, Winners Results, Region #4