What to Watch: Nosework

Tactic (DH)

• DH must state tactic before deploying the dog. If not stated = fault.
• Area: walking the perimeter is forbidden. Rubble: the pre-search perimeter inspection without D is permitted within search time.
• DH running = fault (area search).
• Watch for “witness questioning” as tactic element — listed as an evaluation criterion.

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Alert Quality

• Barking: must be continuous and oriented to VP or scent cone — not barking in the air.
• Bringsel: independent pickup and delivery without dropping. A longer return route and one locating command are permitted by the 2026 guideline; see the full alert procedure.
• Free indication: no leash allowed at any point. Route back-and-forth must be direct.
• Alert exercise: D must travel to VP without detour — not spiraling or sniffing around.

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False Alerts

• Penalties are large (−40 in A/B levels). Document carefully.
• A false alert is a full-commitment alert at a location with no VP.
• 2nd false alert → termination of the phase.

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VP Not Found

• Test cannot be passed regardless of other scores.
• In A/B levels: if one VP is found (of 2/3), the test still fails.
• Max achievable with 1 VP missing in A/B = 139 points — document explicitly in results.

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Rubble — Key Differences from Area

• T A and T B: D must not have visible/physical contact with VP. Harder to verify; watch approach to hide.
• DH may dispatch D once for continued search after alert in T A/B.
• DH may inspect perimeter without D — but it eats into search time.

Sources

FCI/IRO 2025, §3.4; 5–6. Binding IRO guideline, approved 25 August 2026.