I confess: I can never remember the requirements for nosework searches at different levels of UKC competition. This table helps me and my students when we’re planning searches and preparing for trials.
Click here to download the PDF version.
| Novice | Advanced | Superior | Masters | Elite | |
| Odor[i] | 1 odor:
Birch (B) |
1 odor:
Anise (A) |
2 odors: Clove (C) Reg’d + A OR B | 4 odor max: Myrrh Required
+ B OR A OR C |
5 odor max: Vetiver Required |
| # Hides | 1 | 1 | 2
Must call Finish |
2-3
Handler won’t know # hides before searching. Must call Finish |
3 or 4
Handler won’t know # hides before searching. Must call Finish |
| Height max | 2 ft | 2 ft | 3 ft | 4 ft | 4 ft |
| Distractions | No known distractions | No known distractions | 1 food or toy, not immediately next to hide | 2 Required | 3 Required |
| Time max | 5 min/element | 5 min/element | 10 min/element | 10 min/element | Time warning may be given by timer |
| Pretrial[ii] | 12 boxes in a straight line in the middle of a room | ||||
| Container[iii] | 12 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24
And Distraction box may be placed immediately next to the target odor box. |
| Interior | 1 area:
100-150 sf |
1 area:
150-300 sf |
2 areas:
100-150 sf |
2 areas: [iv]
1) 100-200sf 2) 300-400 sf Must call Clear areas |
2 areas: [v]
1) 100-200sf 2) 300-400 sf 3) 400-600 sf Must call Clear or finish for blank areas to pass |
| Vehicle | Front bumper only, 3 vehicles, same orientation, 4-6 ft apart | Any part of vehicle, 3 vehicles, same orientation, 4-6 ft apart | 5 vehicles, may include 1 other than automobile,
|
7 vehicles, may include 2 other than automobile,
Facing any direction, 4-6 ft apart. Distraction can’t be on same vehicle as hide, but may be on vehicle next to hide. |
7 vehicles, may include 2 other than automobile,
Facing any direction, 4-6 ft apart. Distraction may be on same vehicle as hide. |
| Exterior | 1 area, 200-400 sf | 1 area, 500-750 sf | 1 area, 1000-1500 sf | 1 area, 2000-3000 sf | 1 area, 3000-4000 sf
Distractions may be placed immediately next to the target odor. |
Notes
Published March 8, 2016. Rules may change, so don’t forget to check for updates: http://res.ukcdogs.com/pdf/2015NoseworkRules.pdf
[i] No hide can consist of more than 1 odor. Target odors are never mixed within the same hide. So in Masters, you can expect 1 Myrrh hide, 1 Clove hide + 1 Anise hide for a total of 3 hides. You will never see a hide containing Myrrh with Birch, or a hide containing Myrrh and Clove, and Vetiver, etc.
[ii] In Pretrials, no formal indication/alert is required. In all elements, handler must list indication behavior(s) on her entry form. When the handler calls the alert, the dog must be exhibiting that behavior.
[iii] In the Container element, the dog only needs to find the box the hide is inside. In interior, vehicle, and exterior searches, handler should be accurate within approx. 2-6 inches and hides may be in/on/under objects e.g. chair or non-object hides such as in a crack on the ground.
[iv] In Master Interior, hides will be as follows:
- All hides in one area with 1 distraction in that area, and a distraction in a blank area (and area without a hide) or
- All hides in 1 area with 2 distractions in a blank area or
- 1-2 hides and 1 distraction in one area, and the additional hide(s) and 1 distraction in the other area.
[v] In Elite Interior, hides will be as follows:
- The smaller space can contain not more than 2 itemsukc nosework requirements by level mar816ukc nosework requirements by level mar816
- The larger 2 spaces may contain not more than 3 items (hides and/or distractions) in each space.
