The Ten Commandments of Mantrailing

Our ten commandments to bare in mind on your Mantrailing journey:

1. Keep the Game Fun

   Mantrailing is all about having fun with your dog! If it starts feeling like a chore, or if your dog’s struggling, take a step back. Look for ways to make it fun again—maybe change the reward, choose a quieter area to trail in, find a new trail layer, or even tweak your handling skills. Your instructor will be able to guide you on this!

   
   

2. Follow Your Dog

   Remember, you can’t see or smell the trail, only your dog can! So trying to second-guess won’t work. Trust your dog—they know what they’re doing! After all, they were born with this ability. Mantrailing is all about letting the dog be in charge; we’re just along for the ride.

   
   

3. Use the Right Equipment

   When you first start, it’s easy to grab any old harness and lead, but as you get more into the sport, investing in the right gear makes a huge difference. A well-fitted harness and a sturdy long line will make trailing easier and safer.

   
   

4. Find the Best Reward for Your Dog

   Mantrailing is all about keeping your dog motivated, and that means finding the reward that gets them excited. It might not always be the most convenient thing for you, but if your dog loves it, it’ll make all the difference. Wet food, tuna, liver cake, or cheese are all popular choices. Some dogs even love toys and will get super hyped up, turning the reward into a mini celebration!

   
   

5. Learn to Read Your Dog

   The more you trail with your dog, the better you’ll get at reading their body language. You’ll start to notice their behaviour changes when they’re on scent, searching for it, or completely lost it. Watching video recordings of your trails can help you analyse their movements and improve your understanding.

   
   

6. No Rushing

   Mantrailing is all about laying a strong foundation. If you rush ahead and increase the difficulty too soon, your dog might struggle, and that’s not helpful for either of you. Be patient and let your dog build their skills at their own pace. Success comes with time and consistent practice.

   
   

7. Always Train With Positive Associations

   At Mantrailing Global, we’re all about positive reinforcement. Every dog is different, so we adapt our approach to ensure each trail is a positive experience. Whether your dog is nervous around people or has trouble working away from you, we’ll find a way to keep them motivated and happy to continue the game.

   
   

8. Learn to Be a Good Trail Layer

   Trail laying isn’t just about hiding somewhere and waiting for the dog to find you. It’s about carefully listening to instructions and setting the trail up correctly for dog you’re working with. As a Trail Layer (the person laying the trail), your actions play a huge role in keeping the dog motivated too, providing the reward, or/ and even throwing a little party with the dog once they’ve completed the trail!

   
   

9. No Obedience

   Mantrailing is about letting your dog think for themselves and work independently. It’s not about control or obedience, so we don’t want to over-command or micromanage the process. Too many commands can take away from the fun and motivation and also distract your dog from working, so it’s best to keep things relaxed and let your dog enjoy the game.

   
   

10. Record Keeping

    Keep track of your trails—how they went, what worked, and what didn’t. Our trailing log books and the mantrailing app Every trail is a learning experience, so recording your observations is a great way to monitor progress and figure out areas for improvement. Even if you’re not aiming for a Mantrailing Global level assessment, keeping notes will help you understand how well your dog is doing and what adjustments might be needed.

Start your Mantrailing journey today by finding your nearest Mantrailing Global Instructor.