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Blueline trails are an incredibly useful part of Mantrailing training, especially when you're learning to read your dog. When you know where the Trail Layer has gone, you can observe your dog's behaviour and learn what they look like when they're confidently following scent, searching and making decisions. But there's a potential problem... you know where the trail goes. And without even realising it, you can start giving your dog information about where they should go. A loo

Before your dog can follow a trail, they first need to know exactly where to take scent from so they know which scent they are being tasked to follow. It sounds simple, but target sniffing is one of the most important foundation skills in Mantrailing. Without it, your dog can't confidently identify who they're looking for. After all... If there's no start, then there's no trail. What Is Target Sniffing? Target sniffing is the skill of teaching your dog to confidently place th

One of the biggest challenges in Mantrailing isn't actually the trail, It's us. As handlers, it's completely natural to want our dogs to succeed. We want them to find the Trail Layer confidently. - We want the perfect trail, no mistakes and a quick find. But sometimes, that desire to succeed can become the very thing that gets in our dog's way. The Problem With Expectations When we arrive for a Mantrailing session, most of us already have an idea of how we want the trail to g

If you've spent any time around Mantrailing Global, you've probably heard us say the phrase: 'No start, no trail.' It's a very simple concept: if your dog isn't motivated to find and start the trail, there is no trail. Before your dog can solve scent problems, work through contamination, navigate challenging environments or make confident decisions, they first need to actually want to do the job. We need to create motivation, right from the start. Why Motivation Is Important

One of the biggest things handlers learn during Mantrailing is just how much influence they can accidentally have on their dog during a trail. Because while dogs are reading scent, they’re also constantly reading us. Dogs naturally pay attention to things such as line pressure, body language, movement, emotions, tension and positioning, and sometimes without even realising it, handlers start influencing the trail instead of allowing the dog to independently work the scent. H

This exercise can help you become a better line handler in Mantrailing because: Our line is a communication tool Keeping everyone safe during trailing No negative impact Step One: Attach the line to and object at the height of your dog. Step Two: Reel your line all the way out. Step Three: Put the lead down on the ground, and then naturally pick it up with both hands in the middle - this will help you decide you natural handling style without overthinking. Step Four: Move b

Three beginner mentoring mistakes almost everyone makes: 1. Rushing the start - Give your dog time to process the scent before moving. Quick fix: Slow down at the scent article to ensure they target sniff accurately & allow time for the dog to make a decision on a direct of travel before following them. 2. Talking too much - Constant cues can distract your dog from using their nose. Quick Fix: Stay quiet to allow the dog to focus better without distraction. 3. Not trusting

One of the biggest skills in Mantrailing is learning how to read what your dog is telling you during the trail. Because dogs are constantly communicating through their body language. And the better we understand those signals, the better we can support them on the trail. What Does A Dog Look Like When They’re Confidently in Scent? When dogs are comfortably and confidently trailing, their movement is usually purposeful, focused and forward. You’ll often notice commitment to di

One of the most important parts of Mantrailing happens before the dog even starts the trail. It’s called the Starting Ritual. And while it might look simple from the outside, there’s actually a lot happening during those first few moments. What Is The Starting Ritual? The Starting Ritual is the routine we use to tell the dog 'your job is about to begin'. It creates consistency and clarity for the dog before every trail, and over time, the ritual itself becomes highly meaning

''MASTERY IS ACHIEVED THROUGH DELIBERATE PRACTICE'' - Author Unknown FOUNDATION TRAINING The strength of a building lies in its...

It's time to talk about a topic that nobody really talks about, but that everybody does.... Let's set the scene because we've all been...

With 2023 seeing lots of new teams trying a paw at Mantrailing, we thought we would start the first blog of 2023 by sharing some...

6 Tips to Help You Read Your Dog While Mantrailing. Mantrailing is all about being able to read when your dog is on or off the trail.

Just like a pair of bad fitting shoes could ruin an adventure for us, the wrong fitting harness can have exactly the same effect on our...

When trailing with your dog at a Mantrailing Global session, you will hear may terms and phrases being said. We have put all the main...

Why are we so excited to get puppies started with Mantrailing? Because it’s such a fantastic way for them to burn off energy, build...

Ever heard someone say, "Don't contaminate my trail!"? When you’re out trailing with your dog, other scents—like wildlife, other people,...

While we’re out Mantrailing, there’s a whole conversation happening between us and our dogs, and a big part of it comes through the line....

A – Association Creating positive associations is essential to Mantrailing success! The goal is for your dog to link the trail layer ’s...

Our ten commandments to bare in mind on your Mantrailing journey: Keep the Game Fun Mantrailing is all about having fun with your dog! If...