DKC Scent Work Trials – Volunteer Descriptions

JUDGE’S STEWARD
* Calls the Exhibitor into the search area, confirms the Exhibitor’s armband number to the Judge, and closes
the door (if applicable).
* Responsible for ensuring the search area has a clean up kit and the Judge’s supply kit which contains the
Judge’s score sheets for the day. The judge’s kit also contains Q ribbons which may be given by either the
Steward or the Judge.
*Checks Judge’s score sheets to ensure it is complete before handing over to score runner.
* In the Container and Buried elements, the Judge’s Steward may be asked to act as the hot box setter (see
description below).

CLEAN BOX/HOT BOX Setters in the Container and Buried Elements
*Handle the designated clean or hot boxes and containers as assigned. Replace or re-set per Judge’s
direction. Hot box setters will wear gloves, found in the search area clean up kit.

GATE STEWARD
* Manages the staging area and the Queue via the check-in board. Checks off each exhibitors when they chick-in
* Communicates with the Judge’s Steward.
* May have a walkie talkie to communicate with others as needed, depending on staging location.

PARKING LOT STEWARD
* As Exhibitors arrive, is stationed at parking lot and guides Exhibitors to check-in.
* May be asked to locate missing Exhibitors.

SCORE RUNNER
*Makes the rounds of the classes to pick up completed Judges’ score sheets and bring them to the Secretary.

FLOATER
* Is available to be plugged in to various jobs during the trial, as needed.
OFFICIAL TIMER - from AKC Scent Work Regulations
Each class must have an official timer who will monitor the official time for the class and communicate to the
Judge the final run time to the hundredth of a second. The official timer will give a 30-second warning to every
competitor in the Novice, Advanced, and Excellent level classes (no 30-second warning will be given in Master
level classes or the Detective Class). However, if the warning is late or is not given due to circumstance or
oversight, no re-run is due. The search time shall be determined as follows:
• For novice classes: The official time shall start when the dog’s nose crosses the start line, or when any part of the
handler’s body crosses the start line, whichever is first. The official time shall stop when the handler calls “Alert.”
• For classes with multiple hides in a single search area: The official time shall start when the dog’s nose crosses the
start line, or when any part of the handler’s body crosses the start line, whichever is first. The official time shall stop
when the handler calls “Finish.”
• For classes with multiple search areas: The official time for the first search area shall start when the dog’s nose
crosses the start line for that search area, or when any part of the handler’s body crosses the start line, whichever is
first. The official time shall stop when the handler calls “Finish.” The official time for the first search area will then be
recorded on the score sheet while the team is led to the next search area. The timer will then be reset, and the timing
will follow the same procedure for each additional search area. The official time for each search area will be recorded
independently and then combined for a total time.
• For the Detective Class: The official time shall start when the dog’s nose crosses the start line, or when any part of
the handler’s body crosses the start line, whichever is first . The official time will stop when the handler calls “Finish.”
See Chapter 9, Section 5 for additional details on the search time in the Detective Class.
* In the Container and Buried elements, the Timer may be asked to act as the clean box setter, (see description
above).