Judges Report Level 1

Firstly a warm welcome to those of you just starting your ScentWork UK journey. I don’t think it could not have gotten much warmer!. As always thank Jackie for inviting me to judge and the team around you without whom trials would not happen.

Starting with tables and chairs: 2 wrong alerts on the chair directly opposite. There was a slight breeze inside so something to bear in mind. Also try not to rush, I know the competitive edge takes over, but 3 minutes is a long time.

Next the vehicle search, which was a bit more of a challenge. Remember to take the wind into account and again don’t call too quickly or talk your dog into an indication. The odour was pooling under the van slightly and the breeze carrying it. Your dogs show interest then let them puzzle it out to get to source ( or within the 6 inch axis).

Back outside for the exterior search and it showed that the dogs were much happier searching items. It was god to see that you let your dogs take the lead in searches and not just focusing on the 3 items.

Finally boxes and bags ( this was always my nemesis) but teams did really well on this again with some speedy finds and some great indications.

Some highlights for me as a judge was the calm manner you all conducted the searches, some of the start routines were terrific,; the dog needs to know what it is going to do and not just be sent in there. Line handling was great, and you as handlers know when it was best to work your dogs off line.

As a judge I may not have seen your dog work before, and I have no knowledge of what you are working on, indication duration etc, but two teams that stood out with supper indications and dogs not released until they had their cue were Hilary & Rosie and Louisa & Iona.
The quick movers today were Jess & Otter and Chloe & Sass both handlers were aware of their dogs speed and it was fantastic to see the dogs when the knocked odour and came back to the items.

Congratulations to Jess & Otter winning to the trial today pipping Chloe & Sass who came second, ( these 2 separated by the smallest time margin) to Hilary & Rosie in third place ( just had to give a judges hug – for those that don’t know Rosie was scared to walk on a wooden floor but hard work and patience has won out) and to Denise and Cookie in fourth place.

Well done to those that qualified and those that didn’t it’s the taking part that counts and I hope my comments at the time may help.

At the end of the day YOU ALL TOOK THE BEST HOME.

Judges Report: Level 4

A small group today but all worked their paws off. We started with table,chairs and perimeter. Clove was on the bottom of table legs where the two tables met. It was pleasing to see the dogs working out where the source was as they hit odour on the far side of the table, at table height, but all worked their way to the source. The gun oil at the bottom of the toilet door. The two distraction scents; shampoo on the rear door of the hall and coffee on the radiator piping at the rear of the hall. Two teams alerted on the coffee, their humans talking themselves into the dogs interest because that was a good place to hide a soak. Sue- Megan a joy to watch with solid indications, she paid minimal interest to the distraction scents, just a cursory sniff.

The exterior search was worked well by all teams and all found the hides, ignoring the distraction scents. The trainer had gun oil, the black reel clove ,the swim tubes coffee and camping kettle the shampoo. There were a variety of items and handlers made sure that the dogs searched systematically. Lesley – Chiara gave you some lovely indications.

Back inside for containers and bags. Three boxes were scented – a small flat amazon box with gun oil, a larger box with clove and coffee in a larger amazon box. All teams were successful here. Sally – Pipkin is a joy to watch as she just loves to search and is so enthusiastic.

Lastly, the wall search, it was getting quite hot and the dogs did well in the heat. Again all teams found the hides. The clove was hidden on the edge of the plant pot holding the ornamental tree, the gun oil at the rear of the wooden fence.

As always tried to place hides that were challenging yet ensuring the guidelines for me.

Well done Sue and Megan in your first place and gaining your excellent, to Lesley and Chiara for second place and Pipkin and Sally for third. You all worked hard and I know the pressure is on when you call a wrong alert in the first search.

As always thank you to Jackie for asking me to judge and thank you for all the willing helpers. You all took the BEST home.