Are You Overworking Your Mantrailing Dog?

When you're having a great Mantrailing session, it can be tempting to keep going.

Your dog is keen, your trails have been a success, and your adrenaline and dopamine have well and truly kicked in. So you think: 'Just one more trail...'

But knowing when to stop is an important part of Mantrailing too.

Why Are Breaks between trails Important in Mantrailing?

Breaks between trails aren't just simply about giving your dog a rest. They're important for both the dog and handler.

Mantrailing requires a lot of processing and thinking. Your dog is processing scent and working the trail, while at the same time, you're watching your dog, managing the line and interpreting their behaviour.

That's a lot of mental work for both of you!

A break gives you an opportunity to step away from the trail and process your learning between trails. In fact, sometimes the most productive part of a training session happens between the trails, rather than while you're actually trailing!

Don't Confuse Short trails With being Easy

One of the easiest mistakes to make is judging how much your dog has done by the length of the trail.

A short trail isn't necessarily an easy trail. Your dog might have had to work through a complicated scent picture, make difficult decisions, navigate a challenging environment or deal with distractions. They may have found the Trail Layer quickly, but that doesn't tell you how much effort was involved in getting there.

It's important not to use the length of the trail or how quickly your dog finds the Trail Layer as your only measure of how much work they've done.

A high-energy dog isn't necessarily a dog that can keep working effectively indefinitely either. Some dogs will happily keep going long after they've stopped working at their best. Sometimes they can even look like they're trailing, when they've actually just gone self-employed, because their brain is no longer able to focus on the task at hand (Remember, movement doesn't = trailing!)

Wanting to work and being able to work productively aren't always the same thing.

That's why it's important to look at the quality of the work, not just the quantity of trails.

How Many Trails Is Too Many?

There isn't a magic number of trails that dogs should undertake in one training session, as it very much depends on the individual dog and handler. However, with over a decade of Mantrailing experience, working and training instructors across the world and thousands of dog and handler teams using our method, we can honestly say that 2-3 trails per session is the sweet spot.

That doesn't mean 2-3 trails without breaks. When you're doing multiple trails in one session, your dog should have an opportunity to rest and reset between every trail.

A break between trails gives both you and your dog an opportunity to:

• Have processing time to reflect and learn.

• Have a drink and refresh yourselves.

• Cool down if it's hot or humid.

• Take some time away from the training environment.

The time in between your trails is also a great opportunity to keep learning without asking your own dog to keep working. While your dog relaxes and recovers in your vehicle, you can watch another team work their trail or even Trail Lay for another team.

Watching other teams can give you the opportunity to observe different handling styles, think about how other handlers respond to their dogs and learn from what you see.

Having a rest between trail in Mantrailing isn't wasted training time. It's part of the training!

Taking breaks during a trail

Longer trails may require you and your dog to take breaks, particularly if you and your dog have been working for an extended period or if the weather is making an impact. In warmer or more humid conditions, taking a break may be necessary to prevent you and your dog from becoming overheated or overworked.

Dog welfare and your own safety always needs to come first, and if a break is needed, it must always be taken. But, in general, breaks also need to be used thoughtfully too.

We don't want to take breaks so frequently that they start affecting your dog's drive, confidence or ability to work through a problem. Repeatedly stopping them can interrupt their work flow, make them question whether what they were doing was 'wrong', and may also affect their ability to pick the trail back up and continue working.

If your dog isn't used to being stopped when trailing, you may need to build up their ability to cope with breaks during a trail. You can carefully introduce this into your training set-ups at times while they're confidently trailing.

Start with everyday things, such as stopping briefly to zip your jacket up before continuing. You could then gradually increase the length of the break, perhaps stopping to pretend to tie your boot lace, before progressing onto a longer stop such as having a brief discussion with your instructor.

By gradually building up the length and unpredictability of these breaks on a trail, your dog can learn that stopping doesn't mean the trail is over and that they can confidently return to working when you continue.

It's Better to End on a High

Knowing when to finish (or take a break) in Mantrailing is often easier said than done.

Your dog has worked hard, you're on a high, they’re still enthusiastic and you’re having a great time. So why stop now?

Because sometimes, that’s exactly the right time to stop.

You don’t need to squeeze another trail out of them just because they’re willing to keep going. Finishing while they’re on a high is just as important as knowing when they’ve had enough.

Mantrailing isn't about how many trails you can fit into one session. It's about the quality of the learning you're creating for you and your dog.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your dog’s training is finish while they still want more.

So, next time you find yourself thinking: 'Just one more trail...'

Stop and ask yourself: Does my dog need another trail, or do I just want to do one more?

Knowing the difference can make a big difference to your training!

Love learning about Mantrailing? Join our Online Mantrailing Club for in-depth training, video lessons and on-going support

👉 Learn more here: https://www.mantrailingglobal.com/mantrailing-membership

Want to turn your passion for Mantrailing into a career?

Our Mantrailing Global Instructor Course gives you the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to teach Mantrailing to others.

👉 Discover more here: https://www.mantrailingglobal.com/instructorcourse