Rules | Scent Detective

Rules and important info

General rules

Eligibility

Dogs and handlers of all breeds, ages, (dis)abilities can play, as long as they can safely navigate the search area and control the dog.
Multiple dogs can be run, but only the first dog may qualify for any placements or prizes. The subsequent dogs will be run for exhibition only, unless a different handler is used.

What to do when you arrive

You will be given a designated time slot within which to arrive, ask questions, and do your run. If you are late, you will be bumped to the end of the running order to avoid delaying all other start times.
Check in with the volunteer on-site to let them know you’ve arrived and find out where you are in the running order.
Leave your dog in your vehicle or in a crate until it is your turn. Do not allow your dog to socialize or interact with other dogs on site.
All odor, oils, containers, hot boxes, etc. must remain inside your vehicle. A warm-up box will be provided.

During the search

Dogs must always be on leash unless a specific puzzle has been designated as leash-optional.
You may talk, praise, encourage or touch your dog during the search, but you cannot touch or move any objects in the search area. (If the dog moves an item, do not put it back – the judge will reset it.)
You may have rewards (food/toys) on you during the search but you must not contaminate the search area by dropping food/toy on the ground.

Minor faults

• Handler error (eg. poor leash management, crowding, blocking odor)

• Dog displays lack of focus

• Mildly aggressive alerts (e.g. pawing, scratching)

Major faults

• Handler contamination (eg. dropping food or toys, touching objects)

• Aggressive alerts (eg. damages objects)

• Dog potties during search (this is not an NQ in this event; your search will end, however you will keep points earned)

5x5x5 rules

You have 5 minutes to find 5 hides in 5 rooms.
You may search the rooms in any order. You may leave a room and return later if there is time remaining.
Your time starts when the dog crosses the start line, and ends when the last object is found, or 5 mins has passed. Time does not stop as you travel between rooms.
There will be 1 hide in each room (no multiples and no blank areas).
The hide will be placed on a removable object. You must verbally identify the object (for example: “the green purse” or “the soap dish”). The judge will confirm correct/incorrect.
In the case of an incorrect call (false alert) you must leave that room to search the next available room. Once the remaining rooms have been searched, you may return to the room that you missed.

Point structure

Correct find	10 points each	50 points max
Placement	See "Placement points"	50 points max
Minor faults	See "General rules"	-1 point each
Major faults	See "General rules"	-5 points each
Sudden death	Dog potties in area; damages objects; exposes find.	Run is terminated (dog keeps points earned)
Max possible points	5 finds, no faults, first place =	100 points max

100 bones

100 pieces of evidence have been flagged, numbered, and laid out for review. The total number of hides is unknown.
You have 15 mins to sift through the evidence and find as many hot objects are you can.
When your dog alerts on an object, write down the evidence number on your score sheet. You can treat you dog (without contaminating) and continue searching.
You do not have to use all 15 mins and can finish whenever you want, but you may not search longer than 15 mins.
Whenever you are done, hand your scoresheet with numbers to a volunteer who will calculate how many correct/incorrect finds were made
This puzzle may be observed since correct finds will not be identified until after the search is complete.
This puzzle is not judged, therefore faults will not be counted. If a dog potties or damages the area, your turn will be terminated, but you can keep all points earned up until this point.

Point structure

Level 1 find (easier)		2 points each
Level 2 find (harder)		4 points each
Incorrect find		-1 point each
Placement	See "Placement points"	50 points max
Sudden death	Dog potties in area; damages objects; exposes find.	Run is terminated (dog keeps points earned)
Max possible points	First place with no incorrect finds	100 points max

Nosewitness lineup

This is a distance puzzle (2 searches), intended to test independent searching. You may search on-leash (long-line) or off-leash.
There will be 2 designated handler areas – one closer to the hide (easier) and one further from the hide (harder). More points are earned by being stationary and further back. You can talk to or direct your dog from this area, but cannot leave the area until an alert has been called. Leaving the area will terminate the search.
Area A will be 20-30 feet from the hide. You must sit in a chair and not stand until an alert has been called.
Area B will be 10-15 feet from the hide. You may walk around in this space, but may not leave the area until an alert has been called.
You may choose to start in Area A and move to Area B if the dog is having trouble, but cannot start in Area B and then move to Area A if it is too easy.
If a false alert is called, you can choose to retry at a cost of 10 points. Only one retry per search.

Point structure

Correct find from Area A	25 points each	50 points max
Correct find from Area B	15 points each	30 points max
Retry after incorrect find	1 retry per search allowed	-10 points
Minor fault	See “General rules”	-1 each
Major fault	See “General rules”	-5 each
Placement	See “Placement points”	50 points max
Sudden death	Dog potties in area; damages objects; exposes find.	Run is terminated (dog keeps points earned)
Max possible points	2 finds from Area A, no faults, first place	100 points max

Placement points

Placement points are used to break ties and are dependent on the amount of time taken in the search. For example, if two people finish a puzzle with 30 points each, the fastest time will place first and the slower time will place second.

Point structure

Anchor 1

Anchor 2

Anchor 3

Anchor 4

Anchor 5