About the NASDA Sports

The North American Sport Dog Association (NASDA) was formed in 2016 to demonstrate the breadth of dogs' olfactory abilities. Trials are designed to resemble both historic working and competitive field work as closely as possible. NASDA Working Dog Trials offer an opportunity for all dogs to engage in scent games previously open to only a select few breeds and working dogs.  Competing teams can get titles and championships that showcase their merits and abilities within hunt and search situations.

In levels I and II, as well as the puppy aptitude test, the hides are known by the handler — the

handler may watch the judge place the hide and lay the trail (for T&L) and/or ask for information at the start of the course. At level III and above, the hides are "blind" and the team may not watch the judge's preparation of the course nor watch other teams prior to their own run.

One key difference with NASDA sports is that the judge determines what constitutes a successful find. The judge will call "Yes" when they feel the dog has accurately found the hide, typically by actively scenting up to or within a short distance of the hide itself. The handler may not cue or actively guide the dog to the quarry. Dogs may typically be rewarded at all levels in the quarry area AFTER the judge verifies their success.

 Urban Locating trials simulate the work of both historic and modern urban hunting dogs, with working tests to show the dog's ability to locate a quarry (two rats in a cage) in a natural human built environment, whether indoor or outdoor. Appropriate search environments may include urban parks, a street, a developed garden space, a warehouse, or a working barn as examples. 

 Trailing and Locating trials determine the dog's ability to track, trail (follow), and locate a quarry (two rats in a cage) above ground, in a natural hunting terrain. Trails are set by the judge using prepared rat scent from the start line to a point directly in front of or below the quarry in each level. The trail may not be a direct path from the start line, and at higher levels of competition false trails and false quarry distractors are also present.

 Searching for shed deer antlers is a growing pastime for whitetail deer hunters who are learning that the use of the canine greatly increases the odds of success. Shed Dog sporting events are also growing in popularity, designed to simulate this common field work, with trials mimicking a natural hunting terrain as much as possible. Shed hides do not have a scent trail leading to them, however, the antler is freshly treated with artificial odor prior to each event.

Lost Item trials are designed to determine the dog's ability to locate lost items scented with human  odor. This form of scent tracking involves identifying an object, having a judge hide it, and having the dog air scent and locate. Dogs start out in Level I searching for their handlers' items, but progress to matching and finding stranger-scented  items in the upper levels.