Mantrailing NZ

20/04/2025

🔔Calling all dog professionals🔔

Mantrailing NZ are excited to announce for the first time in New Zealand a five day Mantrailing foundations course with Kathryn Jones of Trailing K9s UK.

www.trailingk9s.com

Currently taking expressions of interest for the full five day working.

Date: 8-12 November 2025

Location: Wellington region
Price: $3000.
Application form:
https://form.jotform.com/251080452689057

Fully immerse yourself in all things Mantrailing. Small working group means more one on one time picking the brain of one of the UKs top Mantrailing instructors. The instructor of instructors.

With a behavioural background and over 10 years experience in the canine industry. Kathryn has an FdSc in Applied Animal Behaviour, was an NTIPDU Instructor and Handler for Detection and Protection dogs, was previously a Mantrailing Global Instructor and is currently a Level 2 Scent Imprint for Dogs Tracking/Trailing Instructor, and continues to pursue in person learning at workshops and through online education to stay ahead with the latest advancements in the science behind how dogs process scent and the teaching ethics.

While this course has a set criteria for each day. Mantrailing is not a one size fits all and the days will be tailored to meet each individual team’s needs for the highest chance of success.

What will you come away with?

- An understanding of human scent and how it preforms in the environment
- An understanding of how to lay trails and teach exercises
- A foundational understanding of how to teach Mantrailing as a non operational, fun sport
- An understanding of how to read a dog’s body language on the trail
- An understanding of how to problem solve
- Advice on how to incorporate Mantrailing into your existing business.
- Practical and theory learning, including an evening seminar with Kathryn Jones
- Six months of one on one mentoring with Kathryn Jones
- ongoing support from Mantrailing NZ community

And much more. It’s really up to each team to make the most of and squeeze every bit of information out of Kathryn as you can 🤪

There are a limited number of working spots for this course and is best suited to people already in the dog industry with experience in training dog and people. Although all dog professionals are welcome to apply!

An evening of geeking out on human scent, talking about human scent and the science that is out there, will be available to anyone interested in scent. Whether you're into scent sports or dog training, this is an amazing chance to geek out on scent theory and pick the brain of one of the UK's top trailing instructors Kathryn Jones!
Details and booking information coming soon — stay tuned!

If you're interested, please submit your forms by Sunday 11th May, as that is when we will begin reviewing them. Any forms submitted after this date will only be considered if spaces remain.

08/03/2025

MANTRAILING: Its a Journey NOT a Race:

Every dog’s Mantrailing journey is unique. Some dive in with confidence, charging forward with their noses glued to the ground, while others take a more thoughtful approach, pausing to analyze each scent. Some progress quickly, while others need time to build confidence in themselves and their handlers. And that’s exactly how it should be.

Mantrailing isn’t about speed or competition—it’s about teamwork. It’s about learning to read and trust your dog, understanding how they process scent, and appreciating the little moments of progress along the way. Each time you hit the trail, you’re uncovering the puzzle that is your dog—how their nose, breed, behaviour, past experiences, and quirks all come together to shape their unique trailing style.

Progress happens at your dog’s pace. Some days, everything falls into place effortlessly. Other days, you’re problem-solving, adjusting, and learning together. And that’s part of the joy! Because at its heart, Mantrailing is an adventure—a shared experience that strengthens your bond and builds a deeper understanding of your dog.

So, whether your dog is meticulous or fast-paced, a natural or still finding their confidence, embrace their journey. Trust the process, celebrate progress—no matter how big or small— and know that with every trail, you and your dog are growing into an even stronger team.

👣

24/02/2025

21/02/2025

Slow is steady, steady is fast.

In mantrailing, every step counts. Trust the process, follow the scent, and let the trail guide you. Consistency brings results, and patience leads to success.

14/02/2025

love is in the air, and so are the scent trails!

this valentines day let’s celebrate the unconditional love and loyalty that our dogs bring into our lives🐾

whether they're sniffing out a trail or curled up by your side, dogs show us every day what true love and teamwork are all about

at MantrailingNZ, we train with passion, dedication, and a whole lot of heart. It’s not just about following a scent—it’s about building trust, bond, and connection with our dogs 🐾

Happy Valentine’s Day from MantrailingNZ to all the dog lovers and trailblazers out there! ♥️🐾

05/01/2025

Starting off 2025 with a bang!

31/12/2024

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve completed my 2024 CPD requirements for Mantrailing instructors! This training ensures I stay at the forefront of the latest techniques, strategies, and research in the world of Mantrailing.

17/11/2024

Some happy Trailers….

25/09/2024

https://www.mantrailingglobal.com/learning-hub

08/09/2024

**What’s the Difference Between Mantrailing and Tracking Dogs?**

Ever wonder, “What’s the difference between mantrailing and tracking in dog sports?” You’re not alone! Both involve a dog using their superhero-level nose to track a person’s scent along a trail. But there are some key differences in how they go about their sniffing business.

In **mantrailing**, dogs don’t necessarily follow the footsteps. Instead, they follow the scent instinctively—wherever it goes. Think of it like this: your dog’s nose is a sniffing GPS, and they’re locking onto the scent that’s been carried by the wind, the ground, moisture or the vegetation —basically, wherever that magical scent cloud floats to.

**Tracking**, however, is a bit more, well, “by the book.” It’s a nose-to-the-ground operation where the dog carefully follows the exact footsteps of a person, sniffing out ground disturbances like a little detective on the case. Precision is the name of the game.

# # Sniffing Out the Fun

At the end of the day, the difference between tracking and mantrailing comes down to how we ask the dogs to work. Mantrailing lets them use their nose with more freedom, while tracking is more about precision. Both are fun for dogs and give them a natural outlet for all that sniffing power they’ve got bottled up!

The good news? Both sports can complement each other. Tracking makes your dog more accurate on the trail, while mantrailing teaches them to use scent more efficiently. Win-win! 🏆

Whether you choose mantrailing, tracking, or both, they’re excellent ways to bond with your dog, learn how to read their body language, and give them a low-impact but high-reward mental workout. Plus, you’ll meet a community of awesome people who love to let their dogs do what they do best—sniff! 👃🐕

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and let your dog’s nose lead the way! 🐾🐾