About
The Club offers Scent Work Classes on Saturday from 12-1 and 4-6pm.
The new companion dog sport of Scent Work is designed around the fact that dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell that has been put to use over many years professionally in the detection of many different odours in a range of environments.
NSDTC offers classes in Scent Work on Saturdays within the NSDTC Training days.
These classes are to be in line with the ANKC Rules for the Conduct of Scent Work Trials.
Four Elements of Scent Work
The four elements of Scent Work training are:
Interior, Exterior, Containers and Vehicles. Dogs will be taught to work in all elements at all levels.
Classes
Level 1 & 2 Classes will be held from 4-6pm on Saturdays (excluding General Meeting and other non-training dates) in Dog Hut B and surrounds
Level 3, 4 & 5 Classes will be held from 12-1pm on Saturdays (excluding non-training dates) in Dog Hut B and surrounds
Five levels of classes will be offered:
Level 1 Beginners (6-week block using (primary)food)
Level 2 Introduction to Odour 1 (6-week block where Birch odour is introduced)
Level 3 Introduction to Odour 2 (4-week block where Anise odour is introduced
Level 4 Introduction to Odours 3 & 4 (4-week block where Clove and Cypress odours are introduced)
Level 5 Advanced class for Triallers (4-week block where searches will be for all 4 odours)
- All participants need to be fully vaccinated and current club members.
- No prerequisites are required of the dog
- All class numbers are restricted to 6 handler/dog teams.
Teams should be available for the entire block (6 weeks for Levels 1 & 2 or 4 weeks for Levels 3, 4 and 5). If not, they may go on a 12 week waiting list for the next available block at their level. - Dates for classes will be advertised monthly on the Club’s Website and Facebook page.
- Level 1 (Beginners) and 2 (Introduction to Odour (Birch)) blocks of 6-week classes will alternate, as will Level 3 (Odour 2 (Anise)), Level 4 (Odour 3 & 4 (Clove & Cypress)) and Level 5 (Advanced (Trailers)) blocks of 4-week classes. Each class level will be offered once in every 3-month period.
Promotion tests are required to move up levels.
Promotion to Level 2 – Find a blind Primary hide in Interior element
Promotion to Level 3 – Find a blind Birch hide in Container element
Promotion to Level 4 – Find a blind Anise hide in Container element
Promotion to Level 5 – Find blind Clove and Cypress hides in Container element
Bookings
Bookings for blocks of classes by email only will be accepted (goldsack@ozemail.com.au)
Schedule
The classes scheduled for the first half of 2023 are:
Level 2 Introduction to Odour (Birch) 10 December 2022 to 11 February 2023 – In progress, Fully subscribed
Level 5 Advanced 21 January to 11 February and 22nd April to 17 June – Fully subscribed
Level 1 Beginners 18 February to 1 April – Fully subscribed
Level 3 Introduction to Anise – 18 February to 11 March – Fully subscribed
Level 4 Introduction to Clove/Cypress 18 March to 15 April – Fully subscribed
Level 2 Introduction to Odour (Birch) 15 April to 17 June – very limited spaces available
For each class, please bring your dog, a large quantity of high value treats, a lead of between 3 and 5 metres in length, a harness with a back clip attachment and a water bowl for your dog.
When your dog is not searching, he will need to be crated outside the building or left in your car between runs.
Gael Goldsack
Scent Work Coordinator.