Behind the Hide: The Hidden Machine That Powers Scent Work Trials

by Anita Ambani of The Scholarly ScentZ, LLC

Most competitors only see the search they're about to run. They walk to the line, take a deep breath, listen to the briefing, send their dog into the search area, and before they know it, it's over.

What you don't always see are the dozens of volunteers working behind the scenes to make those few minutes possible.

Someone greeted you when you arrived and pointed you toward parking. Someone was setting hides long before competitors started checking in. A gate steward is making sure every team gets to the right search at the right time. A timer is watching for the exact moment your dog's nose crosses the start line. Depending on the organization, someone may be recording your search. And tucked away in another room, volunteers are processing scores, printing ribbon labels, and organizing paperwork so results are ready as quickly as possible after the final dog runs.

I've been every one of those people.

Over the years I've worn more hats than I can count across NACSW and AKC. I've served as a Certifying Official, judged searches, chaired trials, worked in the score room as both a volunteer and Score Room Lead, stewarded rings, timed searches, run score sheets, acted as the unofficial videographer, and yes, even stood in a parking lot flipping number signs before parking lot apps existed.

As strange as it sounds, some of the biggest breakthroughs I've had as a handler didn't happen with a leash in my hand.

They happened while volunteering at trials.

Every Organization Has Its Own Community

Although AKC and NACSW operate very differently, one thing they have in common is this: neither could function without volunteers.

My Journey Through AKC Scent Work

My volunteer journey actually started in AKC Scent Work.

Like many people, I began with one of the roles every trial is always looking to fill: gate steward. I've been told I have a loud voice and I'm pretty good at herding cats, so it was a natural fit. My job was to keep competitors moving through the staging area, answer questions, and make sure everyone found the correct search at the right time.

One thing I loved about gate stewarding was getting to interact with every competitor. Trial days can be nerve-wracking, especially for newer teams, and it felt good to be the friendly face helping calm a few nerves before they stepped to the line.

Depending on the trial, I was sometimes able to watch searches while I worked. The more I watched, the more fascinated I became. I realized there was so much to learn simply by observing other teams.

That curiosity eventually led me to timing.

As a timer, I had a front-row seat to hundreds of searches. I watched incredible dog-and-handler teams work through challenging environments, but I also started noticing patterns. I saw handlers unknowingly pull their dogs off odor with leash pressure. I watched dogs solve scent problems in ways I never would have expected. Watching so many teams tackle the same search became one of the best learning experiences I could have asked for, and it absolutely made me a better handler.

As I became more involved with my local clubs, new opportunities opened up. Volunteering consistently meant people got to know me, trusted me, and were willing to mentor me into new roles.

Eventually I served as Trial Chair, where I learned just how much work happens long before the first competitor arrives. Hiring judges, coordinating volunteers, communicating with exhibitors, and solving last-minute problems gave me a whole new appreciation for what it takes to make a trial look effortless.

Around the same time, I decided to pursue judging myself. Serving as a judge's steward gave me an education I never could have received as a competitor alone. Standing beside experienced judges taught me about hide placement, odor theory, judging criteria, and the countless small decisions that go into creating fair and challenging searches.

Even today, if I have downtime between my own runs, I'm happy to volunteer as a score runner. It may not be glamorous, but getting score sheets back to the trial secretary quickly helps results get posted, ribbon labels printed, and awards stay on schedule.

Looking back, every role taught me something different. Gate stewarding taught me how important a welcoming volunteer can be to someone's trial experience. Timing sharpened my eye as a handler. Judge's stewarding deepened my understanding of scent theory and search design. Trial chairing gave me a whole new appreciation for everything happening behind the scenes.

Each new hat didn't just make me a better volunteer—it made me a better competitor.

My Journey Through NACSW

Unlike AKC, my first volunteer role in NACSW wasn't ringside—it was in the score room.

At the time, the Score Room Lead (SRL) was still a volunteer position, and not many people wanted to take it on. It sounded intimidating, but I enjoy organization, computers, and puzzles, so I decided to give it a try.

What I quickly discovered is that the score room is the operational hub of the entire trial.

While competitors are focused on their next search, the score room quietly keeps everything moving. Scores are processed and verified, videos transferred, ribbons prepared, paperwork organized, and final results readied for awards. If an injury or incident occurs, the score room also helps coordinate the necessary paperwork with the Certifying Official.

It's a lot.

But that's exactly what made me love it.

Every trial day felt like solving one giant puzzle where dozens of moving pieces all had to come together at exactly the right time.

One unexpected benefit was spending the day working alongside Certifying Officials from all over the country. Between processing scores and answering questions, we'd inevitably start talking about the searches: why certain challenges were designed, how odor behaved in the environment, and what competitors could learn from each search. Those conversations became an education in themselves.

Eventually I completed my approval as a Score Room Lead, a role that has since become a paid position. Looking back, it's one I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys organization, multitasking, and being at the center of the action.

Once I had my SRL approval, I started branching out into other volunteer positions. Like AKC, I found myself drawn to gate stewarding and timing because I enjoyed interacting with competitors and watching teams work through searches. Videography quickly became another favorite because you get to watch every team tackle the same search, and it's incredible how many different solutions dogs come up with to the exact same scent problem.

I've also spent plenty of time as a score runner. It's one of those jobs that competitors rarely notice, but it's essential to keeping the trial moving efficiently.

Before parking lot apps existed, I even spent mornings flipping numbered parking signs, a role that competitors can still do while earning volunteer credit.

One of the things I appreciate most about NACSW is how approachable volunteering is. Unlike AKC, where volunteering often starts with reaching out to the trial chair or secretary, every NACSW trial includes a volunteer sign-up link. Most positions require no previous experience, provide clear instructions, and pair new volunteers with experienced ones who are happy to help.

NACSW also recognizes volunteers through its volunteer program. After seven full volunteer days, you earn a double draw for a trial of your choice, increasing your odds in the random draw process. Volunteer credits can even be donated to another competitor, so it's common to see spouses, family members, and friends volunteering together to help support someone else's trial goals.

Volunteering gives back more than one may realize

For me, though, the biggest reward has never been the volunteer credit.

It's the perspective.

Looking back, I never started volunteering because I thought it would make me a better competitor. I volunteered because clubs needed help.

Somewhere along the way, I realized every role had taught me something different. Watching hundreds of searches sharpened my handling eye. Working beside judges changed how I thought about hide placement. Sitting in the score room gave me a new appreciation for everything that happens after a search ends.

These days, when I arrive at a trial, I don't just see search areas anymore.

I see the people making them happen.

And I think that's been one of the greatest lessons this sport has given me.

Anita Ambani is a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) and Certifying Official with the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW), as well as a licensed scent work judge for AKC, NACSW, and C-WAGS.

Her journey into dog sports began with her first dog, Zuri, exploring Trick Dog, Agility, and Rally Obedience before discovering Nose Work in 2017. Originally introduced as a way to build Zuri's confidence and help her overcome fear reactivity, Nose Work quickly became far more than a training exercise—it became a passion for both dog and handler. Together, they entered the competitive scent work world in 2019, competing across multiple organizations. Along the way, Zuri became the first—and currently highest-titled—Bolognese in the sport. Today, as Zuri enjoys the transition into retirement, the pair continue working toward her remaining AKC Elite titles while also enjoying the opportunity to revisit the lower levels simply for fun.

With her second dog, Figment, Anita found herself on a very different journey. Figment's sensitivity and "big feelings" required a thoughtful training approach, leading Anita to combine Nose Work with confidence-building exercises through Project Poodle. That foundation allowed the team to begin competing in scent work in 2023, and they continue to work their way through the upper levels of NACSW and AKC while pursuing AKC Elite titles.

Inspired by the transformative impact Nose Work had on both of her dogs, Anita is passionate about helping other teams discover the same confidence, partnership, and joy. Through The Scholarly ScentZ, LLC in Ohio, she teaches K9 Nose Work classes for dogs and handlers of all experience levels, hosts seminars, volunteers extensively within the sport, and is dedicated to giving back to the community that has given so much to her.

Scent Work University has been incredibly fortunate to host Anita for a number of online webinars and virtual events. Check out her entire library here.