NACSW Trial Judge Pilot Program for NACSW members
We offered our first Judge Training Pilot Program in the beginning of 2022. The individuals selected are working on completing their training. We will continue to evaluate the program and anticipate that we will have another round of applications later in 2022 or early in 2023.
The information on the initial program is included below for your reference. Updates may be made for our next round of applications.
Listed below are the selection criteria and the process for applying to our Judge Program. Individuals selected will go through a required training program before being approved as an NACSW Judge.
Selection Criteria:
1. Minimum of 2000 hours of search observation of dogs working scent in a variety of conditions such as:
Day and night
Rain
Snow
Heat (80+ degrees)
Humidity
Cold (20 degrees or lower)
Wind 2-40 mph
2. Minimum of 1000 hrs of experience of setting/judging hides.
We require experience setting NACSW odor for all levels of teams.
3. Ability to explain odor problems including, but not limited to:
Converging odor
Trapping odor
Pooling odor
Inaccessible (contained vs open)
Effect of corners
Effect of surface changes
Effect of thresholds
Effect of temperature changes
Effect of differing environmental conditions
Effect of changing wind on a hide
4. Five years of handling scent detection dogs, preferably in competition, but if your dog is unable to compete due to behavioral or health conditions, minimally, in classes, seminars, etc.
Additional considerations:
1. Geographic location. We want to ensure we have the appropriate number of judges in every region
2. Commitment to NACSW. This is determined through the number of volunteer hours, hosting ORTs/Trials, working on committees, etc.
3. Current teaching status. Active teaching a plus, CNWI status a plus.
4. Competition success in NACSW. An ELT 2 title is preferred but not required.
5. References from instructor, student and peer (3 total) with optional 4th reference from an NACSW Certifying Official or Judge
6. Some applicants may be asked to submit videos or additional information.
Requirements for those selected into the NACSW Judging Program:
1. Pay $75 fee (to cover cost of online class)
2. Participate in an online training class (required) - there will be video to review prior to attending the online training session from 4:30-6pm Pacific time on April 21, 2022.
3. Shadow an NACSW supervising judge (3 trials days with 3 different judges at differing competition levels)
4. Supervised Judging – this initial approval to judge will be provisional – CO’s will evaluate performance and these reviews will be used to finalize approval
Any questions should be sent to judgesprogram@nacsw.net
