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C4C SCENTWORK trials northumberand
Ten levels. One incredible nose. How far can you go?
Discover a new challenge for you and your dog.
Welcome to the College 4 Canines Scentwork Trials a progressive 10-level Trial.Pathway — a structured, reward-based programme designed to help you and your dog develop your scentwork skills, take on new challenges and celebrate your progress.
Whether you're taking your first steps towards scentwork trials or looking for a new goal to work towards with a dog who already loves searching, our progressive pathway gives you something exciting to aim for.
You'll develop your handling skills, learn to recognise your dog's passive freeze indication, tackle increasingly challenging searches and discover the satisfaction of working as a team.
10 levels. Progressive challenges. Achievements to celebrate. One incredible partnership.
C4C Scentwork Trials are an original programme developed by College 4 Canines. They are not qualifications awarded or endorsed by other scentwork organisations.
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WHY C4C SCENTWORK TRIALS?
Imagine watching your dog confidently investigate an environment, follow an odour and locate a hidden scent source that you couldn't find yourself.
Now imagine developing those skills together, taking on new challenges and watching your dog progress from simple searches to complex scent detection tasks.
That's what makes scentwork so rewarding.
Dogs experience the world through their noses. Scentwork gives them an opportunity to use this incredible natural ability, investigate their surroundings and enjoy the satisfaction of working things out.
But scentwork isn't just about the dog.
As a handler, you'll learn to observe your dog's behaviour, recognise changes in their searching, understand how scent moves through an environment and develop the confidence to trust what your dog is telling you.
Why take part in C4C Scentwork Trials?
Put your dog's natural scenting ability to work through engaging searches that encourage investigation, problem-solving and independent thinking.
Build confidence and focus
Progressive challenges allow you and your dog to develop skills together, building experience as you move through the levels.
Strengthen your partnership
Learn to recognise your dog's searching behaviour, understand their indications and become a more observant and confident handler.
Enjoy a challenge together
From straightforward foundation hides to complex blind searches, every level offers something new to learn.
Celebrate real progress
Work towards clear milestones, receive feedback on your performance and recognise the achievements you make along the way.
Who are the trials for?
C4C Scentwork Trials are designed for dog and handler teams who enjoy learning, searching and developing their skills.
They may appeal to:
Owners who have discovered scentwork and want something to work towards.
Dogs who love sniffing, investigating and exploring.
Handlers who enjoy training and developing new skills.
Experienced scentwork teams looking for progressively harder challenges.
Owners who want an activity that focuses on their dog's natural abilities rather than traditional obedience.
You don't need the fastest dog, the most obedient dog or a particular breed.
You need a dog who enjoys searching and a handler who is ready to learn alongside them.
The aim isn't to rush through the levels. It's to develop a confident, capable search team at a pace that works for you and your dog.
Learn the skills – work towards ten levels
C4C Scentwork brings together progressive training and an optional ten-level trial pathway.
Our training classes teach you and your dog the foundations and skills needed to develop as a scentwork team. When you are ready, C4C Scentwork Trials will offer a structured way to test those skills and work towards further achievements.
The ten-level progression
Each level builds on the skills developed before it, gradually increasing the challenge through scent quantity, hide locations, search environments, objects, search complexity and independence.
C4C Scentwork Trial 10-level Pathway
Level 1 Foundations
3 hides | 5 drops oil | 5 cotton buds per hide
An introduction to scent detection in a straightforward indoor environment.
Simple searches using accessible objects such as boxes and containers.
Clear, visible or easily accessible hide positions.
No blind searches.
Building confidence, finding the target scent & developing a passive freeze indication.
Level 2 Developing
4 hides | 4 drops oil | 4 cotton buds per hide
Developing consistency and confidence through slightly more challenging indoor searches.
Four hides to locate.
Greater variation in search objects and hide positions.
Introducing partially concealed hides.
No blind searches.
Building reliable searching and indication skills.
Level 3 Progression
5 hides | 4 drops oil | 4 cotton buds per hide
Taking the search beyond simple indoor setups and introducing greater environmental variety.
Five hides to locate.
Indoor and outdoor searches.
A wider range of search objects and locations.
More varied hide positions and concealment.
Developing confidence across different search environments.
Level 4 Intermediate
6 hides | 3 drops oil | 3 cotton buds per hide
Introducing the challenge of searching when the handler does not know where every hide is located.
Six hides to locate.
Introduction of vehicle searches and more complex objects.
Increased variation in hide positions and accessibility.
One blind search.
Learning to observe and trust the dog's indication.
Level 5 Challenge
7 hides | 2 drops oil | 3 cotton buds per hide
Dogs working independently in increasingly varied search areas.
Seven hides to locate.
Full-room and outdoor searches.
More concealed complex hide positions
Introduction of blank areas containing no target hide.
One blind search.
Developing independence & reducing handler influence.
Level 6 Advanced
10 hides | 2 drops oil | 2 cotton buds per hide
Developing accuracy and consistency when searches become more demanding.
Ten hides to locate.
More challenging search environments and hide placements.
Introduction of distraction odours.
Two blind searches.
Developing the ability to maintain focus and work through competing scent information.
Level 7 Advanced Plus
12 hides | 2 drop oil | 2 cotton buds per hide
Putting established skills into practice across more varied and challenging environments.
Twelve hides to locate.
Mixed indoor & outdoor searches.
Variation in search objects & concealment.
More challenging scent conditions.
Two blind searches.
Demonstrate confident, independent searching.
Level 8 Expert
15 hides | 1 drop oil | 1 cotton bud per hide
Increasing the complexity and demands of the search.
Fifteen hides to locate.
More challenging indoor and outdoor environments.
Complex & less accessible hide locations.
Multiple distractions & competing scent distrations.
At least two blind searches.
Introduction to searches where handler wont know the total number of hides.
Level 9 Expert Plus
18 hides | 1 drop oil | 1 cotton bud per hide
An advanced test of searching ability, accuracy and handler observation.
Eighteen hides to locate.
Highly challenging & varied search environments.
Complex, concealed & difficult-to-access hides.
Multiple distractions.
All searches blind, with unknown hide locations and hide counts.
Demonstrating consistent indication & independent searching.
Level 10 Elite
20 hides | 1 drop oil | 1 cotton bud per hide
Ultimate C4C Scentwork Trials challenge.
Twenty hides to locate.
The most demanding indoor, outdoor and mixed search environments.
Highly complex and concealed hide locations.
All searches blind, with unknown hide locations
Demonstrating consistent reliable passive freeze indication.
HOW C4C SCENTWORK TRIALS WORK
Learn. Search. Achieve. Progress.
C4C Scentwork Trials are designed to give dog and handler teams the opportunity to put their training into practice through a series of structured searches.
Each level has its own requirements, search environments and challenges. Your performance is assessed against the relevant C4C trial criteria.
1. Prepare
Develop your dog's scentwork foundations and build the skills needed for your chosen level.
This includes learning to:
Recognise and search for target odour.
Work through an environment methodically.
Develop a clear passive freeze indication.
Work across different search objects and environments.
Understand how to approach increasingly complex searches.
2. Search
Complete the required number of separate search areas for your level.
Depending on the level, these may include:
Indoor room searches.
Pipes, chairs, boxes and scent tables.
Outdoor seating and environmental searches.
Vehicle exterior searches.
Larger and more complex search environments.
Blind searches and areas with unknown hide counts.
3. Get Assessed
Your performance is assessed by the judge using the C4C 100-point scoring framework.
The scoring system considers the relevant elements of the search, including:
Correctly locating target hides.
Clear passive freeze indication.
Search coverage and strategy.
Blank and distraction discrimination where applicable.
Blind search performance and handler decisions where applicable.
Welfare and search management.
You'll receive a result and feedback to help you understand your team's performance and identify areas for development.
4. Progress
Celebrate your achievement, continue developing your skills and work towards the next level. Each level builds on the previous one, giving you and your dog a structured journey from Foundation to Elite.
Meet the trainer behind College 4 Canines
C4C Scentwork is led by Denise Devereux, an accredited Scentwork Trainer and Detection Dog Handler through the UK College of Scent Dogs.
My own scentwork journey began with my rescue dog Bear.
As a reactive dog, traditional dog sports weren't always the right fit for him. I wanted to find an activity where he could use his natural abilities, enjoy himself and work without the pressures that some other activities can bring.
Scentwork was the perfect answer.
We began our journey through the UK College of Scent Dogs, completing training that gave us the opportunity to experience a huge variety of searches, including rooms, buses, outdoor environments and even 747 Jumbo Jets.
Bear absolutely loved it. I loved watching him work.
And that was it – we were hooked!
Now I want to share that same passion with other dog owners.
Through College 4 Canines, I want to give dogs and handlers the opportunity to discover scentwork, develop their skills and enjoy the satisfaction of working together.
C4C Scentwork Trials is an extension of that passion: a structured pathway that gives teams something to work towards, with challenges that grow as their skills develop.
Because every dog deserves the opportunity to discover what they're capable of.
New to scentwork? Start with c4c scentwork training.
New to scentwork? Start with training.
If you and your dog haven't tried scentwork before, our C4C Scentwork Training classes are a great place to develop your foundations.
Learn how to introduce target odour, build searching skills, develop a passive indication and prepare for more challenging environments.
Our force-free approach puts the dog's experience first, allowing each team to develop at a suitable pace.
STILL NOT SURE?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are C4C Scentwork Trials?
C4C Scentwork Trials are a progressive ten-level scentwork achievement pathway developed by College 4 Canines. Dogs and handlers complete structured searches that increase in difficulty as they progress.
Does my dog need previous scentwork experience?
The pathway starts at Foundation level, but teams must meet the published entry requirements for the level they wish to enter. If you're new to scentwork, we recommend developing your skills through C4C Scentwork Training first. https://www.college4canines.co.uk/scentwork
What age can my dog take part?
Scentwork can be adapted for dogs of different ages and abilities. Suitability will depend on the individual dog, their experience and the trial environment. Please discuss any concerns before entering.
How much is C4C Scentwork Trials
Free entry to Scentwork Trials is included in the £100 monthly membership which entitles you to 4 x 1-hour weekly classes. Can be cancelled anytime
Can reactive or nervous dogs take part?
Scentwork can be a rewarding activity for dogs who prefer working independently. However, trial environments and arrangements vary. We want every dog to feel safe and comfortable, so suitability should be discussed before booking.
Does my dog need to be obedient?
Scentwork is not an obedience competition. The focus is on locating target odour and demonstrating a clear indication. Dogs must, however, be manageable and safe within the trial environment.
What is a passive freeze indication?
A passive freeze is when a dog identifies the source of target odour and holds a still indication. The dog is not required to touch, scratch or retrieve the hide. C4C progressively develops this indication from approximately one second towards three seconds
What is a blind search?
A blind search is an area where the handler does not know where the hides have been placed. The handler must observe their dog and work through the search without knowing the hide locations.
How many levels are there?
There are ten levels, progressing from Foundation through Developing, Progression, Intermediate, Challenge, Advanced, Advanced Plus, Expert, Expert Plus and Elite.
How many hides are in each level?
The number of hides increases from three at Foundation to twenty at Elite. The number of separate searches also increases as teams progress.
How are the trials scored?
C4C Scentwork Trials uses a 100-point scoring framework. Judges assess the relevant elements of the team's performance, including correct finds, indication, search coverage and level-specific criteria.
Do I have to complete all ten levels?
The pathway is designed to provide progressive stages of achievement. The published trial rules explain the qualification and progression requirements.
Where do C4C Scentwork Trials take place?
College 4 Canines is based at Acklington Village Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland. But further trial dates, venues and event information will be published as opportunities become available.
How do I enter a trial?
Register your interest using the form below. We'll be able to share information about upcoming trial dates, entry requirements and available levels.
Register Your Interest
C4C Scentwork Trials Northumberland
Our Scentwork Trials are held at:
📍 Acklington Village Hall
Acklington, Northumberland
NE65 9BW
Located between Morpeth, Alnwick and Amble, our venue provides a calm, accessible environment where dogs can focus, learn and build confidence. With plenty of space for indoor and outdoor scent searches, it's the perfect setting for developing your dog's detection skills.
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College 4 Canines | Phone: +44 7795 199208 | Training Venue: Acklington Village Hall, Acklington, Northumberland, NE65 9BW.
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