Today’s session saw our trailers working through ever changing weather! Humidity, sunshine, wind and rain really impacted the scent picture for the dogs but they were able to work through this to locate their trail layers!
Team Minji completed their first ever trails in true dachshund style - determining, small and mighty!
Teams Blue and Pepsi, seasoned pro’s worked through trails in a highly contaminated area and open spaces, giving us the opportunity to witness their natural casting skills!
Team Joppi an exciteable 5 month old Toller found his focus and pushed through difficulties!
Team Sienna a big 11 month old pup also found her focus and slowed her pace to ensure accuracy and the guaranteed reward!
Amazing work to teams ✨Blue✨Pepsi✨Minji✨Joppi✨Sienna✨#mantrailingdog #mantrailingglobal #englishcockerspaniel #tollerpuppy #corsicandog #dachsundsofinstagram #youcanrunbutyoucanthide #weather
Look at Team Rayne smash their vehicle find! When we make one thing harder we make another easier, she completed this on an Intensity start with lots of firing up from her Trail Layer. I love watching her hone in.
Good work!!
You get the feeling your dogs on to something but don’t know what to do? It may be time to help! But the question is - when to and when not to help your dog on the trail 🤔
As a general rule of thumb, mantrailing is dog led, so their handlers must follow in a way that doesn’t influence. However; at times handlers are required to provide assistance when their dogs are closing in.
Here, Bruno is taking on a high find (the trail layer is hidden above the ground).
Bruno follows the trail with his handler in tow and displays clear behaviours that “he’s onto something” around the play area.
At this point it is up to the handler to find a way for Bruno to investigate and make a confirmation within the area he is showing confidence in.
Now that, is the true meaning of teamwork!
Our first trailing snow day of the year! Great visuals for the handlers to see the exact trail and witness first hand how their dogs can discriminate between scents. The colder climates and very little wind we could see the dogs following the scent almost exactly where there Trail layers had walked. This can be seen with how the dogs find the trails on and off the paths! #amazing #snowday #mantrailingglobal #mantrailingdog #weimaraner #spitz #airedaleterrier
We are diving into 2024 with excitement and happiness🥰
We can’t wait for the mantrailing fun 2024 will bring. We have lots of exciting plans up our sleeve. 😏
Sessions will resume on 6th Jan, and we can’t wait to see you!
Happy New Year! 🤩🦮🕵️♀️
Teams Pepsi and Blue, along with our Trail layer superstar!
Pepsi and Blue trail very differently so their handler sometimes struggled to read their trailing behaviour which made her nervous when attempting single blinds (she doesn’t know where the trail layer went).
But now, with lots of practice, video analysis and breakdowns she is asking for single blinds and her dogs don’t disappoint!
Both Pepsi and Blue are lead reactive, however, when they’re trailing nothing else matters!
A very special shout out to Sandra who joins near on every introduction to be trail layer for new dogs and handler teams beginning their mantrailing journey. She has a natural ability to get all dogs motivated and loving the game, and her understanding for more sensitive dogs is priceless. On top of this she commits to Pepsi and Blues progression with absolute pride and joy.
Thank you Team Pepsi and Blue for being epic!
Team April!
April was rescued from the streets of Bosnia as a pup and she found the perfect family to understand her needs and help her thrive in the big wide world.
When April began mantrailing she was extremely nervous and hesitant to get going. But slow and steady won the race! With her brilliant mother and daughter duo handlers they are taking on new challenges in every session and breezing through.
Buses, trams and busy streets would make April shut down.. and now she can trail next to a bus with no more than a slight glance.
This team warms my heart on every session.
From scared and timid, to excited and raring to go.
Happy holidays Team April! 🌼
Team Jessie!
When this handler duo and Jessie began their mantrailing journey, Jessie was naturally cautious approaching people, sensitive to eye contact and human posture. Ontop of this, her excitement could sometimes be hard contain.
But now.. she greets everyone happily and lovingly, and to see her demeanor change during the harnessing up process is a spectacle - she goes from excited and loud to calm, focused and ready to work!
Jessie’s handlers bring joy and many laughs to every session they attend, they commit to their handler responsibilities and take time to perfect their line handling outside of sessions to be sure they’re on top form for the next time.
Happy Holidays Team Jessie! 🍻
Team Luka! - When Luka was a pup he and his glorious handler tried their hand at some tracking and trailing, and then found themselves unable to access sessions close to them.
Since they’ve been trailing with Frank ‘n’ Scents they have thrived! Luka’s focus is becoming super refined and unbreakable when in the past his sheer excitement could see him “losing his head” and at times losing the trail. With this, his handler sometimes struggled to maintain a steady pace without getting tangled or stumbling. - with a great focus on line handling and revisiting foundations and starts regularly, this team are a force to be reckoned with!
Happy holidays Team Luka! 💪
Team Bruno!
This team brings light and positivity to every session they attend!
Bruno’s handler jumps into every aspect of mantrailing including her trail layer duties with absolute glee!
Bruno.. he’s a giant terrier! Although he is dog reactive, sniffing out cats has been the biggest challenge to overcome.
With the help of many intensity starts in difficult environments and playing with different rewards, it’s been amazing to see him working through areas heavily contaminated by local dog walkers and resident cats without reacting.
Bruno has always taken things at his own pace, and that is absolutely fine by me! As long as he’s enjoying the game along with his lovely handler, I’m happy!
It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey!
Happy Holidays Team Bruno! 🧸
Next up - Team Meau!
When this glorious team began their mantrailing journey, Meau was let’s say.. a little over enthusiastic. This meant his brilliant handler at times didn’t always feel confident or safe handling him.
We spent time double lining Meau to slow down his pace and now, WOWZERS.. this team are steady and solid on all of their searches. Meau’s handler reads his trailing behaviours with great accuracy and loves a single blind trail!
Happy holidays Team Meau! 🍻
Team Pluto!
That moment when the wind hits just at the right time. Scent pool found, trail layer located!
Happy Pluto bounces all round 🤩
I think Bruno and his trail layer had equal amounts of fun on their first high find! Good job!
The Mantrailing Effect!
Our dogs work their socks off on their trails!
I love everything about mantrailing and the positive effects it has on our dogs. They get a great mental workout, they make positive associations along their trails, they’re rewarded very well for their efforts and they always win.
Not to mention, they’re super content after the “job” and go home fulfilled and ready to rest. 😍
OF COURSE! Puppies already have the ability to follow scent from the moment they’re born. Introducing your puppy to mantrailing doesn’t only give you something really fun to do, it can also be a great socialisation tool, introducing pup to new people and environments in a positive way, all whilst allowing pup to sniff, releasing all those happy endorphins. The magic of mantrailing 🤩🦮🕵️♀️ #puppylove #mantrailingdog #mantrailing #viszla #happydogs #dogtraining
Those of you who have met me will know mantrailing is not a job to me… it is a passion, born from trailing my own dog, Sprocker Spaniel Frank.
Frank and I continue to trail regularly, and travel far and wide to do so!
As an instructor, Introducing and progressing teams throughout their mantrailing journey is an absolute joy and something I will do until my legs give out because, in my “unbiased” opinion, a mantrailing dog, is a VERY happy dog!
Frank agrees! 🐶
Here is a video of Frank and I trailing just last week in Germany with Lisa of Revolution Dogs - Zentrum für Nasenarbeit and Mantrailing Global
- of course, slightly sped up! 🏎️
Frank does not do heat! But he does sniff a lot! So we take this inside with the help of some treats and some chopped up pieces of kong for him to locate and indicate too. This training at home has really helped to solidify his indication whilst mantrailing too! Frank and I have fun together indoors whilst still improving and learning! #hotdogs #summerdays #mantrailingdogs #KeepCool #kongdogtoys #sniff #happydogs #sprockerspaniel
“My dog is reactive, can we still take part?” This is a question I am often asked, so I’d like to draw your attention to these videos 👀 Not only can they do it, but they love doing it! Blue and Pepsi, trailing through off lead dogs, one of which follows Pepsi for most of his trail. And guess what? They are both lead and dog reactive! Would you have guessed? Blue can also be people reactive, especially when someone is stood in a static position. See him approach his trail layer who has been placed in a position that would once make him nervous 🤩Using positive reinforcement methods only, our dogs quickly learn that working with their handlers to achieve the reward at the end of their trail is far more important than anything else around them! Reward and team work is key! The game of mantrailing truly is remarkable! #cockerspaniel #mantrailingglobal #mantrailingdog #happydogs #NoProblem #yesyoucan
Let’s talk line handling!
When trailing, our long lines are approx 10m long. The line must have tension at all times ensuring a smooth line of communication between dog and handler.
That line of communication can and often is broken or misunderstood by our dogs when the line either becomes slack (resulting in the loss of communication entirely) or when it snags (giving an inadvertent correction and sometimes pulling the dog off trail).
Just because we have a 10m line available to us doesn’t mean it will always be suitable to use all of it on every trail.
What do you see in the video?
What I see is a great team bond between dog and handler! With the dog committing to direction of travel and handler in tow. The handler is adapting her line handling and pace to suit the environment with no knowledge of where their trail layer is. Every obstacle and change of direction is dealt with calmly and smoothly ensuring they remain connected without anything breaking that line of communication! (Not even a fallen tree!) - this handler has worked really hard on her line handling both inside and outside of sessions, and it’s made the world of difference! Bravo Team Blue and Pepsi! 👏
Line handling.. a skill that should always be practiced, improved on and adapted to suit all environments by all handlers! 🦮🕵️♀️
HAPPY 2nd Birthday to Meekie! .. our tiniest mantrailer! Meekie first attended sessions as a nervous girl.. and now, she comes to her sessions and she’s ready for action! It provides her a safe place to be free to use her natural abilities without fear with her loving owner in tow.
Not only can she do it.. she loves doing it!
“People think small dogs can’t do anything - this proves them wrong” - Team Meekie
