DogScout Dog Training

27/02/2025

Unleash Your Dog’s Inner Tracker with Mantrailing! 🐾🔍

Mantrailing is an exciting activity that taps into your dog’s natural scenting abilities, providing mental stimulation, building confidence, and strengthening your bond.

Ideal for all dogs, including reactive ones, it offers a safe and supportive environment where they can thrive. Plus, after completing the intro course, you’ll have the option to continue progressing with follow-up sessions!

Why choose my Mantrailing course?

Unlike other sessions, this isn’t just about letting your dog follow a trail—we dive deeper into the skills behind Mantrailing, giving you and your dog a truly comprehensive experience:

- More than just an intro – Learn lead handling & how scent moves in the environment
- Small class sizes – Max 4 teams per class for plenty of trailing & personalized support
- Designed for reactive dogs – A safe space tailored to individual needs
- Keep progressing – Optional follow-up sessions after the intro course

📅 Starting April – Dates TBC
📲 WhatsApp or DM 07960 586798 to book your spot!

This isn’t just any Mantrailing course—it’s a fully immersive training experience you won’t find anywhere else! 🐶✨

25/02/2025

Let’s Get You and Your Pup on the Same Team! 🐶💪

Ready to build a strong foundation for your puppy’s future? In our
Adolescent & Older Puppy Training class, we’ll tackle essential life skills
like recall, loose-lead walking, and polite greetings—so your pup grows
into a confident, well-mannered companion you’re super proud of.

Through skill training and games-based learning, we make sure every
lesson is fun, engaging, and effective for both you and your pup.

🕖 Tuesdays Evenings starting 22/4/25 (6-week course)
📍 Wood Farm, Bramdean Road, Alresford, SO24 0JH
🐾 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
🐶 Limited Spaces – Only 5 Puppies per Class!

💡 What to Expect:
✅ Strengthen your bond with your puppy
✅ Learn key life skills for everyday situations
✅ Enjoy games that make training fun
✅ Receive expert advice throughout

Let’s turn training into teamwork—book your spot today!
📲 WhatsApp or DM us at 07960 586798

21/02/2025

🐶 Myth Busted! "You should always be the ‘Alpha’ to control your dog." ❌

Dogs aren’t trying to dominate you—they’re looking for guidance, consistency, and trust!

What actually works?

Positive Reinforcement – Reward good behavior with treats, praise, or play.
Clear Communication – Use consistent cues and body language.
Patience & Understanding – Dogs aren’t stubborn; they may just be confused.
Trust & Bonding – A strong relationship makes training easier and more enjoyable!

Ditch the dominance mindset and focus on cooperation instead! 🐾

19/02/2025

Did you know that scent work is one of the most rewarding activities for your dog? 🐶

It’s not just about finding scents—it’s about mental stimulation, confidence building, and stress relief. Plus, it’s a fantastic alternative for dogs who can’t go on long walks due to weather, age, or mobility issues!

Boosts confidence – Perfect for nervous or reactive dogs
Relieves stress – Sniffing is naturally calming
Low-impact exercise – Great for senior dogs or those with mobility challenges
Strengthens your bond – Work together as a team!
Improves focus & impulse control – A great skill for all dogs
Fun & engaging – Indoors or outdoors, for fun or competition

Give your dog an exciting new way to use their natural abilities! 📲 WhatsApp me at 07960 586798 to book your session!

19/02/2025

This is SO true! It would be great if the AKC could see this!

To the American Kennel Club,

For decades, you have positioned yourselves as a leading authority on dogs in the United States.

With that position comes immense responsibility, to ensure that policies and practices reflect the best available science and prioritize the well-being of the animals entrusted to us.

Yet, when it comes to modern, science-backed dog training, your policies remain alarmingly outdated and increasingly at odds with every major behavioral science organization worldwide.

Let’s be clear: there is no credible scientific body that supports your stance on allowing aversive training methods, including shock collars, prong collars, and coercive techniques.

The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB), the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioral Medicine, and even your counterparts, The Kennel Club in the UK, have all reached the same conclusion: aversive training methods are harmful, unnecessary, and counterproductive.

And yet, you continue to stand in opposition to legislative efforts aimed at protecting dogs from these outdated practices.

In 2025, you actively lobbied against New Jersey Senate Bill 3814, which sought to establish humane, evidence-based regulations for dog training by eliminating cruel and scientifically discredited aversive methods.

You opposed Bill 3814 to protect aversive training methods, yet had no issue with its exemption allowing violent and inhumane practices in police dog training. Your priorities are clear, and they are not in the interest of canine welfare.

Instead of embracing this opportunity to lead, you defended archaic techniques that have been shown to cause fear, distress, aggression and unnecessary harm.

You labeled the bill “restrictive,” insisting that trainers need “flexibility” in their methods, even when those methods violate the overwhelming body of research demonstrating the dangers of aversive training.

This is not leadership; it is negligence.

Your current stance is not merely outdated, it is dangerously out of step with scientific consensus and directly undermines canine welfare.

Research consistently shows that punishment in training increases stress, anxiety, and aggression in dogs while offering no advantages over positive reinforcement.

So, why does the AKC continue to defend the indefensible? Is it a reluctance to evolve? A desire to appease outdated training factions? Or a fundamental misunderstanding of the science that governs animal behavior?

Whatever the rationale, the consequence is the same: you are obstructing progress and putting dogs at risk.

Contrast your actions with those of The Kennel Club UK, which has embraced modern science, championed humane training, and lobbied for a complete ban on electric shock collars in England.

They took this stand because they recognized that dog welfare must come before outdated traditions.

The question before you is not a complex one:

Should the public trust the overwhelming consensus of the world’s most credentialed veterinary behavior experts, or should they believe that the AKC alone possesses knowledge that somehow eludes the world’s leading experts in animal behavior and welfare?

It’s time to modernize your stance to one that prioritizes dog welfare by eliminating harmful training methods.

Take a leadership role by publicly rejecting shock collars, prong collars, and coercive techniques.

Align your policies with the overwhelming scientific consensus that positive reinforcement is not just the most effective method, it is the ethical path forward.

History will remember those who led the way and those who stood in the way.

Zak George

Sources for more info
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SW-sUZ8bhZxXqKGv1qz9wLVqfTy9wzbdY_suFGG_OrA/

18/02/2025

New donor registrations have been really low recently, and we need to ensure we have enough blood in stock for any dog that needs it 😢

Could you help us to spread the word by sharing this post?

If your dog meets the following criteria, they could become a lifesaving blood donor and help other dogs in need:

🎂 Between 1 and 8 years old
⚖️ Weigh over 25kg
💪 Fit and healthy
🐶 Confident and enjoy meeting new people

Coming to a donation session takes only 45 minutes and each donation can help save up to four other dogs ❤️

Register today to start making a difference!

www.petbloodbankuk.org/welcome

17/02/2025

Looking to start your puppy’s training journey? 🐶

My puppy training classes are starting in April! Join me on Tuesday evenings for a 6-week course designed to set your puppy up for success and teach them all the essential life skills they will need.

Little Puppies (4-7 months) – Socialisation & Foundations
🕠 Time: Tuesday evenings starting 22/4/25, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM�
📍 Location: Wood Farm, Bramdean Road, Alresford, SO24 0JH�
🐾 Limited spots – Only 5 puppies per class!
💷 Only £129 for six weeks!

Give Your Puppy the Best Start in Life!

Join our fun, confidence-boosting puppy class, where you’ll build an
unbreakable bond with your pup through socialisation and engaging
games! 🐶💛

Get expert advice on house training, curbing chewing, and managing
those bursts of over-excited zoomies (before they turn into nipping!).

With dedicated Q&A time, you'll get the support you need to raise a
happy, well-adjusted pup.

Start your puppy’s journey to confidence, good manners, and a lifetime
of trust—book your spot today! 📲 WhatsApp 07960 586798 to book your place now!

15/02/2025

Using treats in training doesn’t mean your dog will only obey for food! 🍖

In fact, treats are just one tool in a positive reinforcement system that helps build a strong bond between you and your pup.
With consistent training, your dog learns that good behaviour earns rewards, but over time, they’ll also respond to praise, affection, and other rewards.

It’s about creating lasting habits, not just temporary motivation! 🐕

14/02/2025

🐾 **Mantrailing Course Launching in April!** 🐾

Exciting news! 🥳

My **Mantrailing Course starts this April**—a fantastic way to engage your dog’s natural tracking instincts while boosting confidence and strengthening your bond. 🐶👃

✅ Suitable for all dogs, including reactive ones
✅ Fun, low-impact mental stimulation
✅ Builds focus, trust, and teamwork

📅 Dates & times TBC—**register your interest now!**

📲 **Message me on WhatsApp at 07960 586798** for details!

13/02/2025

Mantrailing is an exciting, mentally stimulating activity where your dog follows a human scent trail—perfect for all breeds, ages, and temperaments, including reactive dogs! 🐶👃

It builds confidence, strengthens your bond, and provides a fun challenge with minimal physical strain.

🚨 **Exciting News!** I’m launching a **Mantrailing Course this April!** Dates & times TBC—register your interest now!

📲 **Message me on WhatsApp at 07960 586798** for details!

07/02/2025

I love Alexandra Horowitz! She is an animal researcher in the US and has explained dog's noses very ably. Here she is talking about dogs generally - lovely to hear!
https://www.ted.com/talks/elias_weiss_friedman_the_unique_love_between_humans_and_dogs?user_email_address=4e0c116d10ca958c4a3bc8b6fad36848&lctg=62d1a43d1c794c328cb7a1a5

05/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/100064812813459/posts/1005927074911044/?

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Karen Pryor, a pioneering animal trainer, author, and expert in behavioural psychology and marine mammal biology. As the founder of the Karen Pryor Academy and a leading advocate for clicker training, her innovative methods have profoundly influenced animal training practices worldwide. Her legacy will continue to inspire and guide us in the field of animal behaviour and training. Our thoughts go out to all Karen’s loved ones, colleagues and peers.

30/12/2024

As dog owners, we all know that our furry friends can sometimes do things that leave us scratching our heads. 🤔
From barking at the door to digging in the garden, these behaviours often have specific reasons behind them.

Let’s break down some common dog behaviours and why they happen:

Barking at the Doorbell 🚪🔔 - Dogs often bark at the doorbell because they're excited or protective. It's their way of alerting you that someone is nearby or even just reacting to the sound.

✅ Training Tip: Use positive reinforcement to teach your dog to stay calm when the doorbell rings.

Digging in the Yard 🌱- Digging can be caused by boredom, anxiety, or an instinct to create a comfortable resting spot.

✅ Training Tip: Increase mental stimulation with interactive toys or try mantrailing to redirect that energy into something fun and rewarding!

Chasing Their Tail 🌀 - While some tail-chasing is just playful, it can also be a sign of stress, anxiety, or even a medical issue.

✅ Training Tip: If the behaviour becomes obsessive, consult your vet or trainer to rule out underlying causes and develop a training plan.

Eating Everything in Sight 🍽️ - Some dogs have a tendency to eat things they shouldn’t, whether out of curiosity or hunger.

✅ Training Tip: Keep your dog’s environment safe by setting boundaries and offering appropriate chew toys to satisfy their chewing needs.

📚 Want to learn more about dog behaviour and training tips? Drop your questions below! What behaviour has your dog exhibited that you're curious about?

27/12/2024

Mantrailing involves following a human scent trail, mimicking search-and-rescue missions in a fun, recreational setting. It's an excellent way to provide mental exercise and support reactive dogs in a calm, controlled environment.

Not only does mantrailing enhance focus and confidence, but it also strengthens the bond between you and your dog. Plus, it requires no special equipment—just a harness, a long line, and a treat to reward your pup!

Discover the adventure of mantrailing by visiting https://dogscouttraining.co.uk/dog-training/mantrailing-a-fun-and-fulfilling-activity-for-all-dogs-especially-reactive-dogs/ to learn how this unique discipline can benefit your furry friend and strengthen your bond.

25/12/2024

This Christmas, let’s celebrate with our loved ones and the joyful barks of your beloved pups and furry companions and cherish the moments that bring us together.

Whether it’s cozy gatherings or festive feasts, may your hearts be filled with joy and your homes with laughter. Here's to making beautiful memories with family and friends this holiday season! ❤️🎄

23/12/2024

People with dogs in East/West Meon and Dog Owners of Alton & Surrounding Villages, please read!

23/12/2024

Winter Adventures with Your Dog: Share Your Stories!

Winter can be full of fun activities for dogs, but it's also important to keep them safe and warm. We want to hear from YOU!

👉 What’s your favourite winter activity to do with your dog? 👉 Do you have any funny winter stories or challenges you've faced with your pup in the cold weather?

Maybe you and your dog love a good game of fetch , or maybe your dog refuses to leave the warmth of the couch! Or perhaps you've got some clever tips for keeping your dog active indoors when it’s too cold outside. 🐕‍🦺

💬 Drop your stories and tips in the comments below — we’d love to hear how you and your furry friend are staying warm and active this winter!

Bonus: Share a photo of your dog bundled up in their winter gear! 📸

21/12/2024

Mantrailing is a rewarding and mentally stimulating activity that engages dogs of all breeds, ages, and temperaments by allowing them to follow a human scent trail.

This unique discipline not only taps into their natural instincts but is also particularly beneficial for reactive dogs, offering a calm and controlled environment for training.

With no special equipment needed, mantrailing is accessible to everyone and can be adapted for dogs with mobility issues.

It strengthens the bond between handler and dog while providing a fulfilling adventure that helps dogs thrive.

Whether you're looking for a new hobby or a positive outlet for your furry friend, mantrailing could be the perfect fit!

Read more here at https://dogscouttraining.co.uk/dog-training/mantrailing-a-fun-and-fulfilling-activity-for-all-dogs-especially-reactive-dogs/