What is the maximum number of hiders used in an event?

• A. 2
• B. 4
• C. 3
• D. 5

Answer: (B)

Understanding event constraints helps you see why the cap is set this way. In a controlled K9 search activity, the number of hiding participants is limited so each hider can be placed in distinct zones with enough distance, and so the dog teams can work through separate scent trails within the allotted time. Four hiders strike a balance: it provides a fair, solvable challenge without overloading the dogs or the handlers, and without crowding zones where scents could overlap and confuse tracking. Adding more than four would make the search harder to manage, risk safety, and potentially extend the time needed beyond what the event intends.