The 2021 Boneyard Challenge

• Competition will be divided into 3 divisions. Level 1: Untitled/Started; Level 2: Advanced/Excellent and Level 3: Elite or Professional. Competitors may only enter a single dog per level, but can enter a second dog in a level higher than they are titled in. Each dog/handler team may only compete ONCE, regardless of where they enter.
• Each division will have 1st to 3rd placements, with SDDA providing the awards and prize money after the event is completed and results have been submitted. Prize money will be $100 for 1st, $50 for 2nd and $25 for 3rd place.
• Each competitor will be given a time slot to arrive, check in and ask any questions and do their 5-minute search so hosts are encouraged to provide as much information in their welcome letters as possible. There will be NO walk-throughs.
• Scented objects can be anything identifiable and removeable and the difficulty of the location will increase with each level. Scents will be wintergreen for the first level, pine and/or wintergreen for the second level and thyme/pine/wintergreen for the third level.
• Items will be placed by the host or a designated alternative judge who will accompany the team into each area to confirm if they identify the correct item.
• Handlers must identify the object to the judge verbally. For example: “the green purse” or “the soap dish.” The judge will reply with “correct” or “no/incorrect”. Handlers must not touch the items.
• NEW! In the case of an incorrect call (a called false alert) the team must leave that room to search the next available room. Once the remaining rooms have been searched, they may return to the room that they missed.
• Dogs may touch or walk on objects but dogs that damage objects or reveal the hide will be excused.
• The two timers will start their stopwatches at the threshold of the first room and stop the time when the final object is found or call “time” when the time runs out. The official recorded time will be the average of the two times noted.
• NEW! One timer will record the find times for each room, ideally using the timers lap function. In order to break ties, the team with the fastest find of the last-found item will have the higher placement.
• Entry fees will be $50. The host will forward these to SDDA along with the results after the event.
• Once all entry times and results have been received by the SDDA, awards will be mailed by the SDDA. Prize monies will be e-transferred where possible. Cheques will be mailed if e-transfer is not available.

1. Host name, phone and email address
2. Judge name if different from host
3. Venue name and address
4. Date of event (you may apply for two days, but each day is a separate event)
5. Description of the rooms to be used (eg. Hotel rooms, offices, classrooms etc.). A photo of at least one of the rooms is helpful.
6. Estimated number of competitors (per day)

Note: all hosts are expected to follow their provincial and municipal guidelines for Covid19 protocols.

1. You can level up. That is, you may enter the next level up from your dog’s title (you cannot level down). Eg. If you have an Advanced titled dog and an Excellent titled dog, one dog can be entered at Level 3 (Elite/MACH).
2. You can enter another dog on a different day if available. This can be in your own province or another if travel is allowed.
3. You can enter another dog with a different handler. Of course, no discussion of the search areas is allowed, so the dog should remain with the alternate handler in a separate location from you until both dogs have run.