Nose Work Terminology

ACCESSIBLE HIDE: Hide placements positioned so the dog can physically get very close to the source, allowing them to pinpoint the exact location of the odor. Dogs searching for primary reward can immediately access the food or toy. Dogs working on target odor can get very close to the odor vessel.

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ALERT: The word used by the handler to indicate that their dog has found a hide during a competition. 

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BLANK SEARCH: A search area completely free of any target scent. NOTE: In training, it's essential to verify that the space contains no trace amounts or leftover odor that might trigger a response from your dog.

 

BLIND SEARCH: A search where hide location/s remain unknown to the handler. All searches in a competition/trial are run blind, unless if you ask for help.
 

• SEMI-BLIND SEARCH: Searches where you may know some hide locations, but others remain unknown. Sometimes people run semi-blind searches where they do not know the hide locations but have their assistant/coach tell them when to reward their dog.  Either way, semi-blind searches require an assistant to place the hides and provide accurate, immediate feedback when you and your dog achieve successful finds.

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BLURT ALERT: What happens when we are a bit too excited about our dog working odor that we call "Alert" too soon. Raise your hand if you've done this (I'm raising both of my hands!).

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BRACKETING: When you see a dog working back and forth, marking where the odor cone stops, until they determine the approximate area of the hide. Dogs can bracket left-to-right, front-to-back, and/or top-to-bottom as they source a hide location.

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CHANGE OF BEHAVIOR (COB): Particular behaviors the human observes when the dog detects odor. This can be anything from a head snap, speed changes, to breathing pattern shifts. These behaviors are often unique to each individual dog. 

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CRITTERING: When a dog is sniffing an odor in the environment that is not the target odor/primary reward. This typically accompanied with a stiff body and, at times, very rapid breathing pattern. Sometimes the dog will appear to be frozen in time when crittering.

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DETAILING: When a dog begins investigating an area within the search that is close to the hide. The dog may perform detailing on their own, or the handler may step in to offer access to areas to search, by using their movement to direct the dog to a specific area.

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DWELL TIME: The amount of time that elapses between when you set a hide in the search environment and when you bring the dog out to run the search.

 

FALSE ALERT: A true false alert happens when the dog completes a "final response" incorrectly. This is different than when the handler calls an "Alert" too early (see Blurt Alert).

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FINAL RESPONSE: A behavior the dog has been trained to exhibit in the presence of target odor. This behavior may be passive (sitting, staring, looking back at the handler) or active (biting, scratching). In K9 Nose Work a passive final response behavior is desired.

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FINISH: The word used in all scenarios at NW2 (and above) when you wish to declare that you have completed searching an area. 

 

FRINGE: When a dog is interested in/investigating scent that drifts away from the actual source due to airflow, temperature, or environmental factors. This sometimes causes dogs to false alert in the wrong location, leading to incorrect alerts during trials (I'm looking at you, container searches). 
 

HIDE: The hidden item your dog is seeking out during any given search. This could be food, toys, or target odor used in K9 Nose Work like birch, anise, or clove.

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HOT BOX: The box (or another container-like object) that contains the hide (treat, toy or target odor).

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INACCESSIBLE HIDE: A hide that the dog can detect but cannot physically reach. Examples of inaccessible hides might include odor placed behind a cabinet, underneath a table with chairs around it, or elevated above the dog's head.

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LINGERING ODOR: Scent molecules that remain suspended in the air after a hide is removed from the area. Think of how the smell of chocolate chip cookies might be present in your kitchen long after you've eaten the cookies (no judgement here!). Lingering odor is different than residual odor.

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ODOR VESSEL: A container used to hold the scented cotton swabs during searches. NOTE: Never place uncontained cotton swabs in search areas, as this causes excessive contamination. Always use proper containers (metal tins, plastic tubes, straws, etc.) for scented swabs.

 

PAIRED HIDES: The process of using target odor hides in conjunction with high-value treats/toys that are positioned directly on them, enabling dogs to self-reward upon discovery. This creates an association through simultaneous classical condition as the dog is initially lured in with the food/toy but then sniffs the target odor as they are consuming/grabbing their reward. NOTE: Paired hides must always be within your dog's reach to ensure they can access their reward.

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POOLING ODOR: Refers to an area of high odor concentration without consistent directionality or flow, often caused by factors like inaccessible hides or physical barriers that prevent the odor from dispersing.
 

PRIMARY REWARD: A search where the source the dog is searching for is his reward (food or toy), and the dog self-rewards by finding the source and eating it or playing with it.

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PRODUCTIVE AREAS: Likely places where the dog might find odor. The dog has learned to explore these areas through hide placements. They are likely to produce odor and therefore lead to source and his reward. Examples: boxes, corners, thresholds, and wheels of vehicles.

 

RESIDUAL ODOR: The physical odor contamination remaining after a hide is removed. Using the kitchen metaphor: this represents the melted chocolate left on the baking pan after making cookies. NOTE:

Residual contamination represents actual odor and must be prevented at all costs.
 

RUN: A single attempt at completing a nose work exercise. For example, a particular class or private lesson might have a team conduct two separate runs, each run with distinct search area, setup, and objectives.

 

SCENT CONE: Refers to the cloud of odor emitted by the object giving off the odor.

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SEARCH ELEMENTS: The primary categories of search environments used in nose work competitions. The four standard elements are Interiors, Exteriors, Vehicles, and Containers. For video examples of each element, please visit: https://walkthrough.nacsw.net/
 

• INTERIORS: Enclosed spaces, typically with four walls and overhead coverage. Examples include bedrooms, bathrooms, office spaces, classrooms, and warehouse settings. 

• EXTERIORS: Open-air areas with typically no more than two walls. Partial overhead coverage or overhangs are acceptable. Examples include porches, park shelters, fenced in gardens, and carports.

• VEHICLES: Searches involving various forms of transportation. Think broadly—use any wheeled items including automobiles, trucks, SUVs, bicycles, motorcycles, snow blowers, lawn mowers, riding mowers, wheelbarrows, carts, or dollies. Vehicle searches can occur either indoors or outdoors, so it's important to practice in both scenarios!

• CONTAINERS: Searches performed indoors or outdoors using multiple containers arranged in various patterns (linear, grid, random, etc.). Please review each nose work organization's rules for different types of containers you can see in competition. The NACSW has their current approved containers on their website here: https://www.nacsw.net/trial-information/trial-rule-book

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SMELLING: A passive and general experience, where scents are detected in the environment without actively seeking them out. Smelling is considered a subconscious and automatic process.

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SNIFFING: A more deliberate and focused action, where one inhales deeply to specifically detect and identify a scent. Sniffing is a more intentional and concentrated effort to perceive and analyze odors.

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SOURCE: The location of the hide that your dog is searching for.

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START LINE: The designated beginning for each search. While visual markers aren't required for training, they can be beneficial for competition preparation. At minimum, position two cones to mark the start line boundaries and ensure you and your dog pass between them when beginning your search.

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TARGET ODOR: A novel scent you train your dog to locate. In K9 Nose Work, you use scented cotton swabs (contained within odor vessels (metal tins, tubes, straws, etc.)) of birch, anise, and clove that are hidden in the search area. 

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THRESHOLD HIDE: Hides positioned near the search's start line. The term also applies to physical entry points within the space, including doorways to additional rooms or closets.

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TRAPPING ODOR: Occurs when scent molecules accumulate in significant quantity, often due to factors such as humidity and/or airflow.