15/12/2025
Great post from Sam! My lot knows how much I spend putting calmness and clarity into the trails.
What Good Mantrailing Looks Like
We have realised we have been taking something for granted.
For a long time, we assumed most teams were being taught the same baseline foundations we prioritise: safety, control, clarity, and a dog who can trail thoughtfully without being pushed into situations they cannot cope with.
After hearing a range of experiences from handlers who have trained elsewhere, and seeing more industry content shared by instructors themselves, it is clear that the baseline is not always consistent. Some avoidable issues are being normalised, and they do not need to be.
Mantrailing is a brilliant sport. When things go wrong, it is rarely “because mantrailing is chaotic”. It is usually because key foundations are missing, or the training plan is not supporting the team in front of us.
Here is the baseline we work to.
Non-negotiables
• Safety first. Dogs and handlers should not be routinely getting injured in training.
• Line management matches the environment. The line should be used to keep the dog safe from traffic, steep drops, and other hazards.
• Trailing, not freelancing. We are building a dog who follows the correct trail to the end, not a dog who runs a “find any human” treasure hunt.
• No pressure at the find. Dogs should not be pushed into uncomfortable social situations to complete an exercise. We always have a Plan A, B, and C so dogs can finish the trail in a way that works for them.
• Calm is part of the goal. We want enthusiasm with thinking. If a dog is frantic, over-aroused, or unsafe, that is feedback to simplify the setup and strengthen the foundations.
Red flags
• Handlers being dragged around, dogs that cannot be safely managed, or dogs that become unreadable because everything is frantic and chaotic.
That is not “drive”. It is a gap in structure, handling, and progression that needs addressed.
• Random people, random hiding spots, and random environmental distractions becoming interesting.
In well-built trailing foundations, the trail becomes the main event. Dogs learn early what is relevant and what is not. If a dog is regularly sampling strangers, checking every bush, or playing “try your luck”, that is useful information, something is missing in the foundations and should be addressed in the training plan.
• Coaching that focuses mainly on off-trail behaviour, with little help for handlers to recognise on-trail work.
Good instruction improves a handler’s ability to read both. Not just “what it looks like when it is wrong”, but what purposeful, committed trailing looks like when it is right.
• When issues show up, the default fix is more intensity or more complexity.
Most of the time, that is the opposite of what is needed. Clarity, safer setups, and step-by-step progression are what build competent, balanced teams.
If you are unsure whether what you are seeing is part of learning or a sign that something important is missing, get in touch. We are happy to support both trailing teams and fellow instructors, whether that is sense-checking foundations, troubleshooting a sticking point, or helping you build clearer progression within your clients’ training plans, so trailing stays safe and genuinely enjoyable for dogs and handlers alike.
