Foundation Trial Gun Oil 03.05.26

Service Description

The Foundation stage consists of 3 elements – Interior, Exterior, and Selection and may be on Kong, clove, or gun oil. Teams need to have membership of The NNA and have completed the relevant Foundation stage ORT for the odour they are competing on. Dogs may be worked on or off line for Interior and Exterior although some venues may require dogs to be on line during a search element and this will be discussed in the briefing beforehand. Handlers are not permitted to move anything within the search area without the judge’s permission, although handlers may touch items to encourage the dogs to search. One false call is permitted per search element, if a second false call is made in the same search element that is the end of that search element and no scores will be awarded. Handlers may reward the dog in the search area with food or a toy provided the handler does not drop the food or toy on the floor. If a handler is given a ‘not quite’ call from the judge when working to the hide it means that the dog isn’t quite close enough to the hide. Being surface hides, the dogs should be able to get their nose on. The Interior search will be 2 minutes at a venue where doors can be closed to create an enclosed area. There will be 1 hide in the space and this will be a surface hide within reach (defined as with all 4 feet on the floor) of the smallest dog competing. There may be 1 distraction in the search area in the form of an odour specific blank such as a piece of sock, a q-tip, or a clean shell. Handlers are not permitted to move anything within the search area without the judge’s permission, although handlers may touch items to encourage the dogs to search. The teams are expected to locate the hide and the dog to offer a clear and readable, non-damaging indication, and the handler to notify the judge of the find either verbally or by raising their arm. Handlers may ask for a time call to see how long they have used/left. Handlers may convert to training at any point if they feel that it would be more beneficial for them or even end the search early if they find it too stressful. The Exterior search will be 2 minutes in an outside area which may be the perimeter of a building or an open space with objects within. The Selection test is a line up search that may be boxes, tubs, shoes, plant pots, or pipes. There will be 6 items laid out in a pattern that the judge can clearly see, and the dogs must be worked on a line. Teams have 1 minute to complete the line up