Nosework & Alerts
Alerts — Full Description: D, DH, and TJ Roles
Core reference for FL/T alerts and their separate alert exercises. Explicitly labelled F/MT/L comparisons are included; this is not a complete guide to those disciplines.
Before Any Nose Work — Declaration
DH announces the chosen alert type to TJ when reporting in (on leash, GS).
TJ registers the declared type. Use its prescribed procedure. The specific rule scoring a different declared style as Insufficient appears in the tracking chapter (§4); do not generalise that sanction to every discipline without its applicable rule.
During the Search — When the D Finds a VP
Step 1 — D alerts independently
The D must alert independently, clearly, intensively, and in a directional way until the DH arrives. Prohibited assistance scores zero for the alert; specifically permitted commands and procedures below are not prohibited assistance.
Step 2 — DH reports the alert
DH announces the executed alert to TJ verbally as soon as the D is alerting.
DH may NOT approach the D yet.
Step 3 — TJ gives permission
Permission is required before approaching or following the dog back to the victim. TJ gives the instruction for the DH to approach (barking, scratching) or is brought by the D (bringsel, free indication).
Step 4 — Ending the alert
After the DH reaches the VP, the DH ends the alert. At DH’s discretion:
- Recall D to his side in the vicinity of the alert, OR
- Walk to D, take it into heel, lead it approx. 2–3 m away from the VP and place it in down
Where the down procedure applies, D lies ~3 m from the find and stays calm without disturbing the situation. DH walks to the VP and makes contact (talks to VP).
Rubble: moving D away and downing it depends on the terrain. The 2026 guideline allows DH to choose between a down 2–3 m away and D remaining calmly beside DH during victim contact. The separate pipe/crate exercise below has its own recovery sequence.
Step 5 — Change of motivation
The D must show a change in motivation — transitioning from alert drive to calm behaviour with contact established at the VP.
This counts for 30% of the alert points.
During contact period: D behaves calmly at the designated place.
Step 6 — TJ closes the alert
TJ gives instruction: DH returns to D and leaves the alert place together with D.
Alert Types — Execution Details
Barking
Disciplines: F, FL, T, L, MT
D: Orients definitively to VP or scent cone. Barks continuously and directly until TJ gives instruction for DH to appear. D should not touch the VP.
DH: Waits. Announces alert to TJ. Approaches only at TJ instruction. Ends alert: either recalls D to his side near the VP, or walks to D, takes it into heel, leads it 2–3 m away from VP and places it in down.
TJ: Observes orientation, continuity, directness. Gives instruction for DH to approach once alert is clearly established. Evaluates: execution, barking quality, remaining at alert place.
Rubble (T) specifics:
At closed hides reachable for D: D indicates scent cone through directed behaviour.
Penetrating behaviour is not faulty.
D must NOT touch the VP.
Leaving the alert place:
- Leaves once, returns independently → maximum Satisfactory
- Leaves again after returning → Insufficient
- Does not return independently → 0 points
Bringsel
Disciplines: F, FL, T
Setup: Special collar with bringsel attached before the search begins. Must have a release mechanism for D’s safety. Norwegian bringsel: verify D can carry it freely and drop it.
D (sequence):
- Finds VP
- Picks up the bringsel from the collar
- Returns to DH carrying the bringsel without releasing it. The 2026 guideline allows an indirect/longer return route, including retracing the outward route; one additional verbal command may help D locate DH. Pickup and delivery remain independent
- Releases bringsel to DH (sitting in front is not required)
- Takes DH back to VP via direct route, maintaining contact with DH
- Arrives at VP, remains there independently
- DH takes D off leash, ends alert: recalls D nearby or leads it 2–3 m away into down
DH: May take D on leash (max 10 m) during the lead-back to VP. In rubble, leading on the leash is not permitted. The permission above for one locating command is not permission for continuous prompting. May give AC for stopping/moving on if terrain requires it.
TJ: Watches independent pickup/delivery, lead-back and remaining at VP; do not penalise the permitted indirect return to DH. Evaluates: execution, bringsel pickup, bringing without releasing and lead-back to VP.
Fault thresholds:
- Not holding bringsel calmly: not faulty
- Strongly chewing bringsel: devalue
- Contact interrupted briefly in dense terrain / D pauses while DH closes gap: not faulty
- Prohibited assistance from DH/VP/TL: 0 points; the expressly permitted locating/terrain commands are exceptions
Free Indication
Disciplines: F, FL, T, MT
D (sequence):
- Finds VP
- Runs back to DH via quickest direct route
- Shows declared contact behaviour at DH (e.g., jumping up, bumping, barking at DH, eye contact)
- Runs back to VP via direct route
- Repeats until DH reaches VP or alert place
- Remains at VP until DH arrives
DH: Follows D toward VP. D must never be put on leash at any point during the exercise. Declared contact behaviour must be made known to TJ before the nose work.
TJ: Watches that route is direct (both ways), that the contact behaviour at DH is clear, and that D does not detour. Prohibited assistance = 0 points.
Contact behaviour examples (DH declares one before work):
- Jumping up or bumping the DH
- Barking at the DH
- Eye contact between DH and D
Indication (static)
Disciplines: F (articles and FHL), MT (trail layer / TL)
D: Remains in chosen position (sit, down, or stand) at the article or person until DH arrives. Must show clear, calm behaviour — not bothering the VP.
DH (F): Goes to D when it has indicated. Raises the article to confirm find to TJ. Resumes work.
DH (MT): Must clearly recognise the alert and directly identify the TL. Reports alert to TJ. Approaches D only at TJ directive. No previous conversation with VP/TL.
TJ: Observes that position is assumed immediately and held. Unsteady or unclear behaviour devalues. If DH triggers the alert: 0 points.
Scratching and Penetration
Disciplines: L (Avalanche only)
D: Orients continuously and definitively to VP. Shows penetration behaviour through scratching until DH appears and ends the alert. Barking is not faulty and is evaluated as a measure of intensity and interest.
DH: Waits for TJ instruction to approach.
TJ: Scratching and penetrating are intensity indicators — they can be done in combination with barking. TJ evaluates orientation, continuity, and intensity.
Special: If VP remains in the hide after the alert, D can be dispatched from there again — but only if it is the first alert.
Separate Alert Exercise — Timing and Finish
The alert exercise is outside the search area: before search in FL/T/L A/B; after the track in F V. FL/T V have no separate alert exercise.
The 2026 clarification allows at most three commands to finish (e.g. stop/quiet, heel); more are faulty and repetition is not permitted. For FL A/B and F V, immediate vicinity means DH is at least beside the dog’s tail, not standing behind it 2–3 m away. Minor touches while entering the hide do not automatically mean Insufficient; assess behaviour and any harassment. Barking too close to the victim’s face is harassment and devalues. Obedience elements must not outweigh the alert itself.
Version 1 — Open / Visible VP
Applies to: FL A/B, F V
Setup:
- VP outside search area, sitting or lying visibly at 20 m from dispatch point.
- VP goes to alert place without being seen by D beforehand.
Sequence:
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| TJ | Gives instruction to start |
| DH | Readies D; sends D with 1 AC and/or VC to VP |
| D | Goes by most direct route to VP; alerts in declared style |
| DH | Announces alert to TJ |
| TJ | Gives instruction for DH to approach (or D leads DH for bringsel/free indication) |
| DH | Goes to VP (or is led by D); ends alert nearby and brings D into GS |
| D | Placed lying down ~3 m from VP, stays calm |
| DH | Walks to VP, talks to VP |
| TJ | Gives instruction |
| DH | Returns to D; D assumes GS (AC/VC) |
| FL A/B: search follows. F V: the track has already been completed |
Barking duration: ~15 seconds before TJ gives the instruction.
Version 2 — Hidden VP (pipe, crate, or snow hide)
Applies to: T A/B, L A/B
Setup:
- VP in pipe with lid, crate, or snow hide, outside and clearly separate from search area.
- Hide is shown to DH.
- Work begins at 10 m marker in front of hide.
- Snow hide: loosely constructed with snow blocks so D can penetrate by scratching.
Sequence:
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| TJ | Gives instruction to start |
| DH | Readies D; sends D to hide with 1 AC and/or VC |
| D | Picks up scent at hide; alerts in declared style |
| DH | Announces alert to TJ |
| TJ | Gives instruction for DH to leave the location |
| DH | Ends alert (recall near VP or pickup) |
| D | Placed lying down ~3 m from find location; stays calm; must not disturb recovery |
| DH | Helps free the person (removes snow/opens crate) |
| DH | When opening large enough: allows D to advance to VP |
| TJ | Gives instruction for VP to leave the hide |
| TJ | Gives instruction |
| DH | Assumes GS with D via AC and/or VC |
| Nose work (search) follows |
Barking duration: ~15 seconds before TJ gives the instruction.
Bringsel and free indication: execution is analogous — same sequence of TJ instructions, adapted to the alert type.
What TJ Evaluates — Alert Summary
| Criterion | Weight / Notes |
|---|---|
| Execution (approach to VP, alert behaviour) | Major component |
| Alert quality (orientation, continuity, directness) | Per alert type spec |
| Remaining at alert place | Explicit — leave once = max Satisfactory |
| Change of motivation | 30% of alert points |
| Prohibited assistance by DH/VP/TL | 0 points; distinguish expressly permitted commands |
| Infraction against VP by D | Devalue accordingly |
| Tracking: different style from declaration | Insufficient under §4 |
A prescribed return to DH in bringsel/free indication is part of the alert, not abandonment.
Scoring Cliff Summary
| Situation | Result |
|---|---|
| D does not indicate VP | 0 points |
| Separate alert exercise: D abandons the alert and returns to DH | 0 points |
| Prohibited assistance (DH/VP/TL) | 0 points |
| Alert triggered by DH | 0 points |
| D leaves once, returns independently | max Satisfactory |
| D leaves again after returning | Insufficient |
| D does not return independently | 0 points |
| Tracking: style different from declaration | Insufficient under §4 |
| Alert exercise: D doesn’t go directly / detours | Devalue |
Sources
FCI/IRO 2025, §3.4.4; 4.1; 5–6. Binding IRO guideline, approved 25 August 2026.
Source: exercises/18_alerts_full.md