The Nosework is divided into 2 sections, the track & the search square. The track is approximately 800yds long and aged between 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on the stake.

U D Stake  30 minutes ;  W D Stake  1 hour 30 minutes ;  P D Stake 2 hours ;  T D Stake 3 hours

The Track is laid by a person walking a specific pattern, the start is indicated by a pole in the ground and the handler as no idea of the track pattern.

The Track can be laid on a number of different surfaces Grass, Stubble, Winter Wheat, Plough, Rolled Plough, Set Aside and Heather such as that on Ashdown Forest, The New Forest and Lauder Common are the most common surfaces.

The Search Square is usually laid after the track and is therefore usually on the same type of land. The search square is 25 yards  square with a pole to mark each corner. The square layer walks into the square in a set pattern and positions the judges articles in predetermined positions. The dogs has to go in the square and find the articles and retrieve them to the hand of the handler.

 The handler must keep outside of the square but may walk around and/or encourage the dog (with a possible loss of points), if the handler or part of the handler enters the square a major loss of points, if not disqualification, will occur.

The track pattern and square pattern are the same for every dog in that stake unless in the case of a handler who as more than one dog in that particular stake where alternative patterns may be run.

The following are some pictures of Manda's young dog Astra Storm tracking after about 2 months of training

Storm starting a track                                        Storm tracking well, on the 4th leg of the track

Same track (860yds long, 10 legs, 30 mins old)       Storm reaches the end and finds his toy.

                                                                               Paul Morling and Basil The Bounder

Manda tracking Jake at ASPADS Stamford PD Championship Trial July 2005