Sniffing Around Scent Work

There have been a few facebook posts recently asking about scent work trial etiquette. I thought I would take a stab at writing some up, a reminder for me, some instruction for my students. Many of us are experienced dog sport competitors, but new folks are starting scent work all the time, and it’s good to have guidelines for them.

1. MOST IMPORTANT: after you have run your dog, DO NOT talk about the search until THE CLASS IS OVER. You can say things like “ we passed! It was fun! We’ll talk about it later”

That is ALL. You cannot say “ boy he was really fast, he zipped right past that chair!”

That was so easy!

It was so hard, he really sniffed hard over in the corner.

Saying anything specific about the course will put ideas in other people’s heads. And it doesn’t matter if you are talking to your friend who is not entered in that class. Other people in the area might overhear you and they might be entered in your class.

This is not about cheating (although that is an issue also) this is about spoiling the experience for everyone else.

There will be plenty of time to chat and debrief and agonize and celebrate AFTER the class has finished. Most classes don’t run more than an hour. Surely you can have that much self control.

• KEEP the trial venue clean! Pick up after your dog, Potty ONLY in the designated potty areas. Don’t know where that is? Don’t see any area clearly marked? ASK! Sometimes the outside areas need to be used as search areas. DO NOT let your male dog pee on the building or on the landscaped shrubbery around the building. It is extremely difficult to get good scent work venues, and no one is going to rent to a group who leaves a very smelly building behind. Don’t have a poop bag on you? Ask someone nearby if they have an extra. See a poop on the ground? Be neighborly and pick it up!2
• Don’t rush to wait in line. Everyone is anxious to run their dog; all competition venues (dog or human) involve a lot of waiting around and everyone gets impatient. But chances are your dog does not understand or enjoy waiting in line, and making him/her/them wait for a half hour before asking them to search is potentially sabotaging their performance by adding extra stress. If you pay attention, and/or ask the stewards, they can tell you when to get your dog for a minimum of wait time.
• Be polite to the stewards and timers and anyone else trying to help run the trial. These people are volunteers and are giving up their free time so that you can enjoy yourself.
• If you have a complaint that absolutely needs to be addressed, go to the trial chairperson. There is a briefing before the start of the trial, and the chair usually introduces herself at that time. Can’t remember who that was? Just ask around, someone will be able to point her out.
• This shouldn’t even need to be said, but I will put it out there anyway: practice good sportsmanship. If the search goes wrong, remind yourself that mistakes happen and put a good face on it.
• Yes, you can treat your dog in the search area. But try not to drop treats (FYI: this is a fault under the rules). It can cause other dogs to be distracted when their turn comes.
• Be polite and wait your turn to use the warm up boxes. Also, FYI, the rules prohibit bringing odor onto the trial grounds.
• Read the rules! Or get your instructor or an experienced friend to explain them. Knowing the rules can help you avoid mistakes during the search.
• If you have an indoor crating area: be considerate and don’t take up a lot of space.  You brought four dogs because you can’t leave them at home? Stack your crates. You don’t need to stake out a half-acre of property, you are not going to be raising crops for the winter.
• Keep your dog on a short leash, especially when walking to and from search areas and in and out of doors.   Even if he/she is friendly, misunderstandings and accidents can happen. No one wants a dog fight.

I hope this is helpful. What have I left out?

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