In AKC Scent Work, dogs search for cotton swabs saturated with the essential oils of Birch, Anise, Clove, and Cypress. The cotton swabs are hidden out of sight in a pre-determined search area, and the dog has to find them. Teamwork is necessary: when the dog finds the scent, he has to communicate the find to the handler, who calls it out to the judge.

Odor Search Division where your dog searches for the odor of one or more specific essential oils. Handler Discrimination Division where your dog searches for the scent of his handler. Each division has four levels of difficulty (Novice, Advanced, Excellent, and Master).

Searches in AKC Scent Work are completed in a variety of environments, known as “Elements.” The Elements in AKC Scent Work are:

Container: The target odor is concealed within a container (such as a cardboard box or briefcase), and the dog must indicate in which container the scent is hidden.

Interior: The target odor is concealed on or in an object in an indoor search area.

Exterior: The target odor is concealed on or in an object in an outdoor search area–this requires the dog to locate the scent despite changing airflow patterns, weather conditions, and natural distractions.

Buried: The target odor is concealed within a small container and then buried beneath sand or water.

Novice A Classes are open to dogs who have not completed any title for that particular element, who have not completed a comparable title with another organization, and whose handlers are neither Scent Work judges, nor have ever worked as professional detection dog handlers.
Novice B Classes are open to all dogs.
Advanced Classes are open to dogs who have achieved the Novice title for that particular element.
Excellent Classes are open to dogs who have achieved the Advanced title for that particular element.
Master Classes are open to dogs who have achieved the Excellent title for that particular element.
The Detective Class is open to dogs who have achieved any Master title within the Odor Search Division.

Dogs that have previously earned the same or higher level AKC Scent Work titles may enter lower level classes. Dogs are able to enter up to two (2) difficulty levels in each element, in each trial. If a dog is entered in more than two difficulty levels for a single element in a single trial, the score for the lowest level entered will be disallowed, regardless of whether the dog ran or qualified in all levels. Dogs may only enter classes for which they are eligible, according to the above guidelines. Dogs may only enter a class once in each event. A class is defined as a particular difficulty level within a particular element. For example, a dog may run in both Novice and Advanced Interior in the same trial but may not run in Novice Interior twice in the same trial.

Three qualifying searches are required in order for the dog to earn a title in any of these classes. Any search in which all of the hides are found and called within the allotted time, and no non-qualifying faults or behaviors requiring excusals are committed, is considered a qualifying search.

AKC Scent Work offers many titles. When a dog earns every element basic title in the same difficulty level, they will be granted a level title. A level title supersedes all basic element titles of that level. AKC also awards Odor Search Elite Element titles. The title is awarded when ten qualifying scores are earned during Odor Search Division classes. 

When a dog earns every element Elite title in the same difficulty level, they will be granted the Elite level title. An Elite level title supersedes all Elite element titles of that level.

Handler Discrimination Division Elite title will be granted when ten qualifying scores are earned during Handler Discrimination Division classes.

The Scent Work Detective (SWD) title will be granted when ten qualifying scores are earned in the Scent Work Detective class.