AGGRESSION:

Lunging, snarling, snapping or biting a handler, assistant, person distractor or member of the public, human or canine. This will result in the team earning a disqualification and the dog being banned from further participating in Cyber Scent Work, Inc. Safety is a paramount concern.

AGGRESSIVE ALERT:

When a dog scratches, digs or bites at the hide location. This will result in a 5-point fault.

AGGRESSIVE HANDLING:

Giving leash or physical corrections, yelling or striking a dog. This will result in a disqualification of the team for the submitted search.

ALERT:

What handlers must say when their dog finds each hide within a search area.

ASSISTANT:

The person who designs the search area, sets the hides, times, videos and officiates the search, responding with “YES” or “NO” when the handler calls “ALERT” and “FINISH”.

BLANK AREA:

A search area that does NOT contain any target odor hides. This area should NOT have been used as a practice location within the last 2-months.

BLIND HIDES:

The handler is unaware of the location of these hides when they are tackling the search. The purpose is to prepare teams for formal Scent Work competition where all the hides will be blind. Blind hides are featured in the Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Master and Expert levels.

BONUS POINTS:

Cyber Scent Work, Inc. is designed to promote more training, so good decisions will be rewarded as well! Split into three categories: dog, handler and search area, each are worth 2-points and multiple bonus points may be earned in each search.

CHANGE OF BEHAVIOR:

An involuntary response from the dog to detecting odor and/or finding the hide (e.g., fishhook turn, sudden change of direction, opening/closing mouth, tail still/wagging, etc.). Review Officials will look for these subtle signs to confirm the dog is indeed hunting and not simply being led around the search area by the handler.

CONSECUTIVE SEARCHES:

When teams must go from one search immediately to another of the same element type. These are offered in the Advanced, Master and Expert levels and test the overall stamina of the team.