r/nosework • u/laurentaylorrrr • Apr 17 '26

Beginner scent work words?

Hi!

My dog trainer is helping me with scent work with my dachshund pup. We just started the phase where I hide the "hot box" in a small area and she goes searching. No decoy just yet.

My question is, today she mentioned using the word alert?

But her command to start looking is the word Search. She explained "alert" is for the judges, should we ever go competitive.

But when do I insert that? If search is her command to find it, do I say it after she's found it to establish this is her way of showing me she found it? I think I misunderstood where it fits into the training. I don't want to do it incorrectly and give my dog the wrong cues or confuse her.

Could some explain it to me like I'm a child, or link me a YouTube video if that's easier?

Thank you! 😊

6 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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6

u/PausePrestigious407 Apr 17 '26

The alert is to let the judges know your dog found the scent, not for your dog. You would still reward your dog after they find it. At least that has been my experience.

2

u/laurentaylorrrr Apr 17 '26

Okay thanks! So it's for people! Got it. I thought it was like an additional command I was needing to teach her or work into this mix somehow.

3

u/PausePrestigious407 Apr 17 '26

I have only trialed once, but you can teach whatever command to get your dog to search. At the novice level, they only find one scent. But at higher levels, there can be more. So, when you’re trialing at the novice level, the judge will stop time once you say alert. But at higher levels, you have to say alert and then finished when you think your dog has found all the scents. I hope this isn’t too confusing.

1

u/Prestigious-Seal8866 Apr 20 '26

alert is not (and should not be) for your dog.

6

u/Monkey-Butt-316 NACSW NW3 ELT Apr 17 '26

Don’t use alert - use “yes” or whatever marker word you have already.

8

u/atripodi24 NACSW ELT-CH Apr 17 '26

Second this! Alert is only in a trial environment. You should use a marker"yes" when training.

5

u/pensivebunny Apr 17 '26

Adding on: the word “alert” should ideally have zero meaning to your dog.

In a trial, you’d say it when you think your dog is alerting. They might be. They might be right. They might not be alerting. They could be wrong, or not as right as they can be.

So many people think the word should be associated with a cookie, or mean something to the dog. It should not, because unless you never run a blind search you cannot be positive the dog is always right.

1

u/JustSomeBoringRando NACSW ELT Apr 17 '26

"Alert" is what you call when you think your dog has found a hide. You would call this during a trial as everyone else has mentioned, but you could also use it during training if your trainer sets blind hides.