So you think you might be interested in competing in scent detection, but aren't quite sure where to start?  This is for you!

In order to compete, a dog needs to have a number assigned to them by the organization holding the competition.  This allows the organization to keep track of all of the competing dogs and their progress.  In our area, there are two main organizations offering trials, the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) and the Sporting Detection Dog Association (SDDA).  Currently, the closest trials are held by the Muskoka District Kennel Club (CKC trials) in Gravenhurst, and various groups holding SDDA trials around the Barrie area.  The Red Barn Event Centre in Barrie also regularly holds CKC trials.

The SDDA only holds scent detection events, and all dogs register the same way through their website.  Since trials can fill quite quickly, and registered participants get priority entry, I do recommend also becoming a registered participant yourself.

The CKC does allow unregistered purebred dogs and mixed breed dogs to register to compete in scent detection events.  Unregistered purebred dogs can get a PEN number and mixed breed dogs can get a Canine Companion number.  The requirements are on the forms.  You will also need to become a member of the CKC.

While dogs don't need to get their nose right on the hidden scent, it is an advantage in competition if they can do that.  This blog is not intended to discourage those with dog that may find some of these things challenging, they can absolutely still play, have fun, compete and be successful even if they don't like to crawl under or put their paws up.  Many dogs are out there showing that to be true.  However, I still believe it is easier for you the handler if your dog is comfortable with these skills if they are needed, so if your dog is physically able, you may wish to introduce them to your dog away from searches initially.

My preference is to teach dogs that they will be rewarded for finding and indicating on the designated scents, as opposed to starting searching for food or pairing with food because I know that food distractors will be a challenge in competition, and I don't want to have to turn around and discourage finding food if I'd previously encouraged it earlier in the learning process when another option exists.  This is not to say that it can't be successfully done, or that some dogs may benefit from pairing.  All dogs are individuals.

I also like to use a marker, either a word such as "yes" or a click noise, to identify when a dog is correct.  I find this extremely helpful because I can give my dog that information independently of what my body is doing, making it easier to teach my dog not to rely on my body position or movement to solve the scent problem.

You've probably heard of dogs that can detect drugs, or bedbugs, or missing people, but there are a wide variety of jobs dogs do that put their sense of smell to use, such as:

• Drug Detection - for illegal drugs, often hidden by people trying to avoid detection.
• Explosives - for explosives or traces of explosives in airports, luggage, or large buildings
• Currency Detection - for large quantities of hidden money being smuggled across the border or in criminal operations.

What is a pink dog?  Some people in scent detection refer to dogs that tend to fringe alert, or alert on scent further away from the source as "pink dogs".  This comes from the idea that as scent moves further away from its source, that it gets a little stale.  That scent molecules are the freshest right when they have evaporated from the liquid essential oil into a gas that gets carried on air currents.