Mini League Levels
There are two types of assessments available: urban and rural.
Each type consists of 13 levels, which are duplicated in both urban and rural settings.
You have the option to take part in either the urban assessments, rural assessments, or both, depending on what suits your dog and yourself best.
For experienced trailers, you can start at any level. Once you have successfully passed an assessment at a certain level, you can only progress further up the league and cannot move down.
It is possible to be at different levels in the rural and urban assessments.
For example, you could be at level one in the rural assessment and level eight in the urban assessment. However, it is important to note that regardless of the different levels, you can only continue progressing up the league and cannot move down.
This system allows for flexibility and accommodates the individual needs and abilities of both the dogs and their handlers.
THE RULES
During assessments, rewards such as treats or toys need to stay with the handler. This is to ensure that the dog is truly trailing the scent of the person, rather than being guided by the scent of the reward or the person holding it. By keeping the rewards with the handler, it helps prove that the dog is following the correct scent trail.
Scent articles, which are used to establish the scent trail, are sealed in a bag and presented to the dog after the scent inventory process. This prevents the dog from picking up scent from the open bag or article on the floor (pre scenting), which can distract them or lead to them not wanting to take the scent when offered.
Trail Layers must maintain a neutral response when the dog approaches. They should not react or provide any cues until instructed to do so. This ensures that the dog is not influenced by body language or unintentional signals. The rewards can be delivered by the trail layer once they have been handed across, this should be done quickly to avoid any confusion.
During the assessment, the assessor, will not be as close to the handler as during regular instruction sessions. They will not be talking or coaching the handler through the assessment. Instead, they will be positioned further back, allowing the handler to work with their dog and solve any problems independently. This promotes independent problem-solving and showcases the handler's skills in working with their dog.
These differences in training methods help ensure that the dog is accurately following the scent trail and that the handler can effectively read and work with their dog during the assessment process.
It is possible to be at different levels in the rural and urban assessments.
The Team can switch to TRAINING MODE at any time, (this will mean they fall the assessment)
Level 3 - Scent Article Preparation Guidance:
Hard Owned (bottle, keys, phone):
Must not be handled by others. Place in a sealed bag or glass jar immediately until used.
Environmental (leaf, rock, etc.)
Trail layer must handle, hold the item for at least 2 minutes.
Food (apple or carrot)
Held by the trail layer for at least 2 minutes before sealing.
Surface (chair, wall, etc.)
Trail layer must sit or rest on the surface for at least 30 seconds.
Handle (e.g. gate, not owned by TL)
Trail layer must hold the handle for at least 15 seconds.
Swab from TL:
Handler opens a sterile swab pack and wipes suitable areas (e.g. neck). Store swab in a sealed bag to allow scent to mature.
Swab from TL car:
Handler wipes suitable areas inside TL's car using a sterile swab and seals it a bag for the scent to grow.
Contaminated cloth (held by another person):
That person remains at the start; cloth must only be held by them, then sealed.
Body Pickup:
TL and another person rub against each other. TL leaves, the other person remains. Scent is collected from the contact area.
Disposable Glove:
Worn by TL. May be turned inside out after use before sealing.
Money Coin or Similar:
Held by TL for 1 minute and dropped into a sealed bag.
Water Spat into Bag:
TL takes a mouthful of water, spits into a bag, then seals it. Breath deposits in the bag aid the dog’s scenting ability.
Mini League One
Level 1 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Cloth 20cm x 20cm in a sealed bag
Length: 100m
Junction: 0
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: Trail layer standing hidden
Level 2 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Cloth 20cm x 20cm in a sealed bag
Length: 100m
Junction: 1 (90 degree) 15 to 5 metre from the end.
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00min
Details: Trail layer standing hidden
Level 3 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Hard article (in a sealed bag, keys cup etc)
Length: 100m
Junction: 1 (90 degree) anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00min
Details: Trail layer standing hidden
Level 4 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Soft article (in a sealed bag)
Length: 100m Split start
Junction: 1, anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 0
Decoys: 1, 25 to 50m from the start and not visible
Time: 15:00min
Details: Split, both to leave start at the same time and not be visible
Level 5 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Soft article (in a sealed bag)
Length: 100m Split start
Junction: 1 anywhere
Aged: 0
Decoys: 1, 5 to 10 meters from the start and visible
Time: 15:00mins
Details: trail layer and decoy to walk out together and decoy will be visible
Level 6 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Soft article (in a sealed bag)
Length: 75m, Split start
Junction: 0
Aged: 0
Decoys: 1
Time: 15:00min
Details: Trail layer and decoys at least 30 m apart and visible
Level 7 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel Item (Held by TL for a minute, in a sealed bag)
Length: 150m
Junction: 2 anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00min
Details: Trail layer sitting.
Level 8 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Soft article (in a sealed bag)
Length: minimum of 100m
Junction: 1, anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00min
Details: Walking trail layer
Level 9 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel Item (Held by TL for a minute, in a sealed bag)
Length: minimum of 100m
Junction: 1, anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00min
Details: Walking trail layer
Level 10 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Soft article (in a sealed bag)
Length: 200m
Junction: 2, anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 15
Decoys: 0
Time: 20:00min
Details: Trail layer standing open
Level 11 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Soft article (in a sealed bag)
Length: 300m
Junction: 3, anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 30
Decoys: 0
Time: 20:00min
Details: Trail layer standing open
Level 12 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Car or door handle.
Length: 100m
Junction: 0.
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00min
Details: Trail layer standing hidden
Level 13 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Car or door handle.
Length: minimum of 150m
Junction: 1.
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00min
Details: Trail layer walking
Mini Trail League 2 Scent Articles
Level 1 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Hard owned by TL (bottle, keys, phone)
Length: 250m
Junction: 2 junction
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: Trail layer sitting talking on phone
Level 2 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Environmental (found in the area, leaf, rock etc)
Length: 250m
Junction: 2 junction
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: Trail layer sitting talking on phone
Level 3 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Food apple, carrot, brocolli etc
Length: 250m
Junction: 3 junction
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: Trail layer sitting talking on phone
Level 4 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Surface (chair wall somewhere TL has sat)
Length: 250m
Junction: Split Start (45°), 2 junctions
Aged: 0
Decoys: 1
Time: 15:00mins
Details: Trail layer sitting talking on phone, DC at the first junction hidden.
Level 5 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Handle on gate door (not owned by TL)
Length: 250m
Junction: Split Start (20°), 2 junctions
Aged: 0
Decoys: 1
Time: 15:00mins
Details: DC & TL standing talking on phone at the end.
Level 6 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Swab, from TL
Length: 250m
Junction: Split Start (20°), 2 junctions
Aged: 0
Decoys: 1
Time: 15:00mins
Details: DC standing on the first junction. TL r standing hidden at the end
Level 7 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Swab, from TL car
Length: 250m
Junction: Split Trail, 2 junctions
Aged: 0
Decoys: 2
Time: 15:00mins
Details: DC's standing on the junctions. Trail layer standing hidden at the end.
Level 8 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Contaminated Soft (held by someone else who remains at the start)
Length: 250m
Junction: 2 junctions
Aged: 0
Decoys: 2
Time: 15:00mins
Details: DC1 at the start, DC2 at the end with the TL. Both sat talking together
Level 9 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Body Pick up
Length: 250m
Junction: 2 junction
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: Trail layer hidden
Level 10 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Disposable glove worn by TL
Length: 250m
Junction: 2 junction
Aged: 0
Decoys: 1
Time: 15:00mins
Details: TL & DC hidden together 3–6 meters apart
Level 11 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Money coin or similar held by TL
Length: 250m
Junction: 2 junctions (first at 50m approx)
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: TL to begin to walk towards the dog when close (ignoring the dog)
Level 12 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Water spat into a bag by TL
Length: 250m
Junction: 2 junctions (first at 3m approx.)
Aged: 0
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: TL to begin to walk towards the dog when close (ignoring the dog)
Level 13 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Coins in a bag
Length: 400m
Junction: Split Start (20°), Split Trail 1 junction
Aged: 0
Decoys: 2
Time: 20:00mins
Details: DC1 - 20m away from start, DC2 & TL 100–150m to junction. DC stands there, TL carries on to 300m. Walks towards the dog when close
MINI LEAGUE 3 LONG AGED
Level 1 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel placed in the environment.
Length: 250m
Junction: 2
Aged: 15
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: Trail layer standing in the open
Level 2 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel held and presented by someone else
Length: 300m
Junction: 2
Aged: 15
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: Trail layer sitting in the open
Level 3 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel Environmental
Length: 350m
Junction: 2
Aged: 15
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: Trail layer standing hidden
Level 4 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Hard in a bag
Length: 400m
Junction: 2
Aged: 15
Decoys: 0
Time: 15:00mins
Details: Trail layer sitting hidden
Level 5 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel environmental trail layer sat on something (both decoys to sit next to them)
Length: 250m Split start
Junction: 2 anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 30m
Decoys: 1, Decoy at 50m standing in open
Time: 30:00mins
Details: Trail layer standing in the open
Level 6 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel environmental trail layer sat on something (both decoys to sit next to them)
Length: 300m, Split start
Junction: 2 anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 30m
Decoys: 1 Decoy at 150m standing in open.
Time: 30:00min
Details: Trail layer standing in the open
Level 7 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel environmental trail layer sat on something (both decoys to sit next to them)
Length: 350m
Junction: 2 anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 30m
Decoys: 1 Decoy split start. Leaves in the opposite direction to trail layer and stands 20m away hidden,
Time: 30:00min
Details: Trail layer sitting in the open
Level 8 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel environmental trail layer sat on something (both decoys to sit next to them)
Length: 400m
Junction: 2, anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 30m
Decoys: 1 Decoy split start. Leaves in the opposite direction to trail layer and stands 20m away hidden,
Time: 30:00min
Details: Trail layer sitting in the open
Level 9 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: soft article tied in a tree or at height,
Length: 250m
Junction: 5, anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 45m
Decoys: 0
Time: 45:00min
Details: standing in the open
Level 10 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: soft article tied in a tree or at height,
Length: 300m
Junction: 5, anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 45m
Decoys: 0
Time: 45:00min
Details: standing in the open
Level 11 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel item on the floor,
Length: 350m
Junction: 5, anywhere along the trail.
Aged: 45m
Decoys: 0
Time: 45:00min
Details: standing hidden
Level 12 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel item held and presented by Instructor, (keys ect)
Length: 400m
Junction: 5
Aged: 45m
Decoys: 0
Time: 45:00min
Details: standing hidden
Level 13 Urban & Rural
Scent Article: Novel item held and presented by Instructor, Decoy SA cloth item on the floor 1 metres away
Length: 500m
Junction: 5.
Aged: 60m
Decoys: 1 - Decoy to drop SA close to the start and walk in opposite direction of the trail. 10 mins before the dog team starts
Time: 45:00min
Details:. Trail layer to have been out for 50 mins before decoy and sitting in the open.