6 Tips to Help You Read Your Dog While Mantrailing

Mantrailing is all about learning to read your dog and knowing when they’re on or off the trail.

It’s a skill we develop as handlers, being able to tell when our dog is unsure about the scent and needs some time to figure it out, or when they’re charging ahead, eager to find their reward.

It’s not always easy keeping an eye on your dog, managing the line, and watching your footing, all at the same time. Sometimes, in the process, you might miss some important signals, which could lead to either influencing your dog or not being able to support them when they need it.

To help you get better at reading your dog on the trail, we’ve put together 6 tips to make things a little easier!

Here are some top tips to help you get better at reading your dog while Mantrailing:

1. Record your trails. If possible, have an instructor or a flanker record your trail. A chest-mounted camera can also give you a great perspective but having you in the shot helps you analyse your handling skills better. This allows you to see what’s happening in real-time, as well as subtle behaviours that you might miss while you're focused on handling. Watching the video later helps you understand the trail, figure out what you could have done differently, and spot the things that helped or hindered your dog. Plus, you can share the video with others for feedback—sometimes they spot things you might miss!

   
   

2. Reinforce the foundations. It’s easy to get carried away with advanced trails, especially with a high-drive or smart dog. But don’t forget to revisit the basics from time to time. It’s perfectly okay to slow things down and inject some fun back into trailing again. This lets you better read your dog’s decisions and ensures you are reinforcing the foundations.

   
   

3. Line handling. How you handle the line can greatly impact your dog's success on the trail. Mastering line handling is often the key to a smooth and effective trail.

   
   

4. Get a new perspective. If you’re always trailing in the same location or with the same instructor, you might miss certain behaviours. Trying different environments—like moving from rural to urban areas or taking your dog into open spaces—can help you see new ways they work the trail. You could also try visiting another Mantrailing Global instructor for a fresh perspective. Every instructor brings their own experiences, and sometimes a different set of eyes can really help.

   
   

5. Blueline trailing. Blueline trailing is when you know where the trail layer went, and you can step in to help your dog if needed. This doesn’t mean rushing to the end of the trail, making your dog go faster or second guessing their decisions. It’s an opportunity to observe your dog’s behaviour at decision points, surface transitions, different environments or weather conditions to build a better understanding of how they work the scent in different contexts and scenarios.

   
   

6. Keep a behaviour log. In addition to logging your sessions in your level books, make note of your dog’s behaviour on the trail. Focus on body language—how their head, tail, ears, and nose move. Tracking these subtleties will help you spot when they’re on the trail or when they’ve lost it. This log will be a valuable reference as you continue to learn about your dog’s trailing behaviour.

Learning to read your dog’s body language while Mantrailing is a skill that takes time, but it’s incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about trailing—it helps you understand your dog better in everyday situations too.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to reading dogs, as every dog has their own way of communicating. Be patient with yourself as you learn—dogs are natural scent masters, and our job is to fine-tune their skills and learn how to support them.