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Iti was going to be a “dancing dog!” She was going to dance in the main ring at Crufts. She had been in 5 Heelwork to Music competitions and had been placed in the top 4 each time, but I wasn't happy. Iti just wasn't enjoying herself. She was doing it for me, not for herself, there was no enthusiasm. So I pulled out of competitions. My other Jack Russell, Freyja, was not into the dancing malarkey at all, so I began looking for something for Freyja to do. I saw a Mantrailing introduction course advertised on social media, and taking place in the Forest of Dean, so I booked Freyja on it. There was a spot left so I asked if I could book Iti on the course too. Luckily Lisa said yes, so Iti got her first taste of Mantrailing. Iti has always found it difficult to figure out how to cope with strange situations, and Mantrailing was no different, and if she didn't know what to do, she'd come back to me for help! Slowly she learned to cope. Trail 1 – Loose dogs appearing after the trail layer had set off..... Iti waited patiently and did a faultless trail. Trail 2 – a contaminated article..... not normally an issue because one of the other people was present at the trail start, so the dogs had been able to eliminate them straight away. This time both people were away from the start, so Iti, rightly, indicated beautifully on the first person. No reward and a wrong person indication, and Iti would normally have gone to pieces - not this time. She got up, carried on and found the correct person! As if that wasn't enough....... Trail 3 - Just as she was about to make a right turn, a man put a screaming baby in a backpack down right on her trail and in a place where she couldn't get past! Iti took herself away from the baby and sniffed a blade of grass until the man had sorted baby and had gone, and then she picked up the trail again and carried on as though nothing had happened I was over the moon with her. Her confidence had improved so much! The final confirmation that her confidence had grown so much, came the weekend before New Year. A friends rescued Jack Russell (who'd been in his new home less than 24 hours) slipped his harness and disappeared! I offered the girls help if needed, even though they'd never trailed an animal before, and 3 days after he went, we were asked to help. We went to the place he was last seen and I decided to ask Iti to trail first. She found the scent and set off with drive and focus, the scent trail was over 24 hours old! After a mile or so she wanted to go up the side of a very steep hill with bracken and scrub for very thick ground cover. Her body language said plainly the trail goes up there, but I’m not going through that!! Our next stop was where the car had been parked when the dog had run off. The owner wanted to know if the dog had tried to return to the car. Iti worked the entire area, which amounted to about 10 no scent indications. Not many weeks previously either event would have really upset her and caused her to give up. But she had enough confidence to cope with not finding her quarry! It is wonderful to watch her working out a new problem by herself with confidence! And to think, Iti only got into Mantrailing because someone pulled out of the introductory course! Written by Steph Randall (Iti´s owner)

In March 2015, about a year before I was due to retire, a picture of a Border Collie popped up on my Facebook newsfeed ‘Free to a Good Home'. Heart breaking. I tagged my husband into the post not really expecting any response. However, whilst I was in work, he arranged to meet the dog that evening. She stole my heart the minute I saw her. She was so excited to see us and squirmed her way onto our laps one at a time. The story was that she was born on a farm from working stock, but got kicked by a horse and was deemed unsuitable to work. The lady who had her took her from the farmer on NYE having lost a Border Collie some time ago. Bonnie was about 4 months old at this point. Then, due to a change in personal circumstances, this lady found herself back in full time employment and Bonnie was home alone for about 12hrs a day. After a long chat and many tears, we left for home with Bonnie clinging to my lap, trembling and dribbling not knowing what was happening. That night my husband slept downstairs with her. The following morning, I took her for a walk before I went to work and got a glimpse of her true persona. It took ten minutes to walk less than 50 metres as she lunged and swung on her lead accompanied by high pitched yelling, with me hanging on for dear life. My street is like catworld and Bonnie has a pathological hatred of felines. Later that day she scaled the 6ft perimeter garden fence in pursuit of a cat across the back and it took an hour to retrieve her. We had been told that her recall was variable but it appeared it was non existent. During the first week Bonnie went over the wrought iron garden gate and slipped her collar whilst chasing cats. Each time it took ages to get her back. The first time we took her out in the car we discovered her hatred of wheels and in particular bicycles (now also known as devils´ device). Although secured by a harness on the back seat, she would scream and tell at the mere sight of a bicycle and lunge around trying to get at it. Car journeys were a nightmare; walks were a nightmare. She appeared to have so many triggers and such a high prey drive that taking her out became a constant battle trying to control her hysterical behaviour whilst keeping her and me safe. During our time at ActionPetz we started agility training in the hope it would give Bonnie some focus and although she was quite good when she put her mind to it, she was impatient and vocal waiting for her turn and would then jump out of the enclosed area into the dog park and refuse to come back. It was whilst agility training that I first met Lisa. ActionPetz Cardiff then closed. However, a friend from agility training put a post on Facebook about doing a Mantrailing introduction course so I contacted Lisa and made some enquiries. I was concerned that Bonnie's reactivity to so many stimuli would make her an unsuitable candidate for Mantrailing but Lisa encouraged us to have a go. On our Mantrailing introduction course it was evident from the outset that Bonnie ‘got the game. For me it was joyous. Here was a dog who had absolutely no interaction with me on a walk apart from the constant battle to do her own thing, transformed into a focused, attentive collie. That was April 2017. Since then we have regularly attended Mantrailing training two or three times a week. Bonnie has grown in confidence and her ability never ceases to amaze me. She is wiley enough to find the shortest trail distance to make her find and is learning to cope with things she finds overwhelming. She still reacts to bicycles and other triggers when trailing but is quick to come back to the job in hand. She has on occasion been so focussed that she has trailed past bikes in close proximity. Mantrailing has given me a bond with Bonnie which I had come to believe was impossible. Whereas my walks always result in a fight with her over something, Mantrailing is nothing but a positive experience from start to finish. She succeeds and gets praise always. My girl loves it and gets excited from the minute I start preparing the Mantrailing bag. When we are on a trail she interacts with me eager to show me the way. Our training sessions are a bit of a social event where we get to meet like-minded people, who may also have dogs with issues. From feeling isolated and despondent I now feel supported and hopeful. Lisa Gorenflo, Founder and Head Instructor at Mantrailing UK has a wealth of knowledge about this sport for pet dogs which she imparts with a relaxed, easy style and ensures the training sessions are varied and fun. We get to train in some amazing places some of which are themselves a challenge to find. We have even trailed in a busy city centre with so many distractions (bikes, push chairs, skateboards and, of course, people). Bonnie and I are grateful for the support we have received over the past eighteen months and would recommend Mantrailing as a great way to have fun and bond with your dog and keep fit in the process. There is no doubt in my mind that Bonnie has benefited hugely from Mantrailing and has been able to relieve some of her frustration by just having a job and as such Mantrailing has probably saved my sanity. Written by Denise

GL Potts is an experienced dog handler from Texas. His dogs have been assisting successfully in searches for criminals and missing people. We have interviewed him, to find out more. Tell us a little bit about you. GL Potts is an Independent K9 Handler, and former Texas Peace Officer in the Dallas Fort Worth Area, and a member of the American Bloodhound Club. He responds to missing person situations for more than a dozen local and federal police agencies. This is all done free of charge as a form of his witness to God and community service. Set up through the court system his dogs are trained with kids that have got in trouble and need to perform community service hours. By working with the dogs these kids learn such life skills as responsibility, communication and respect for others. What are your dog’s achievements in real life cases? The dogs currently utilized are two Bloodhounds, Journey and Reign to young dogs that have quickly shown they have the relentless personality and determination that are required in being superior mantrailing dogs. Both are high drive working dogs, and both dogs use their nose to follow the scent of a specific individual. Mantrailing is the best game for them to use their high powered nose and intense work ethic. They have also been known to visit local schools and symposiums to discuss the use of bloodhounds and what one should do if they get lost or separated. 2018 was a hard year as three working dogs all passed and were in need of replacing. K9 Storm, Radar, and Hogan all three former Certified Trailing Dogs passed away due to various issues. With a need to get other working dogs up to speed K9 Reign was purchased and started her training at 8 weeks of age. K9 Journey only 8 months old herself was quickly brought up to speed as her training efforts were put into high pace. K9 Journey is now ready for work and K9 Reign not far behind. Over the past few years GL and his dogs have assisted in the searches for several different fugitives and missing persons. In February 2013 they assisted Miami Dade and Grapevine PD in the Search for escapee Albert Morales. This person assaulted a transport officer and escaped into the community. In April 2013 GL and his dogs helped the US Marshall Service in the hunt for escaped inmate Donald Greenlee. Again in October 2013 he assisted the Parker County Sherriff for fugitive Winfred Watson, an individual that that been in a shootout with a local sheriff. 2014 and 2015 saw a much larger increase in work for runaways and missing persons for the Fort Worth Police Department, Burleson PD and Cleburne PD. 2016 had such successful searches as a FT Worth case for a missing elderly women who wondered off from her home in 104 degree temperatures. This case resulted in a walk up find by K9 Hogan. Another search involved K9 Hogan and Strom in the search for a missing child in downtown Ft Worth. This child was abducted from her home. K9s located a direction of travel and the child soon located less than 300 yards from the spot where the dogs lost scent. 2017 K9 Strom made a find of a missing murder weapon for the Parker County Sheriff’s Office and then minutes later she would have a walk up find on a call out with the Weatherford PD for a car thief that wrecked the car and ran off from the location. Why do you think a good training/support team is so important? Team training does not really exist as GL is an independent handler. The use of Community Service workers and the dedication to teaching them the requirements to assist in working with the dogs does however provide a group atmosphere that can result in success. The more people are willing to assist and provide positive input the better chance of having a solid training environment. How often do you train per week? With a young puppy 5-6 days a week averaging around 5-10 minutes in length. Older dogs train 34 times a week. Seasons Dogs 2-3 times a week. Training will vary from motivational runaways to varied blind aged trails. Thank you for your service GL Potts and K9´s!

Mantrailing has so many benefits for both the dog and their owner. This includes things such as:  Mental Stimulation: Mantrailing provides dogs with mental exercise as they engage their sense of smell, problem-solving abilities, and concentration. Physical Exercise : While Mantrailing is primarily a mental activity, it still requires physical effort. Dogs get to burn off energy during these sessions, which can contribute to their overall health and fitness.  Enhanced Bond:   Working together in Mantrailing strengthens the bond between dogs and their owners. It's a collaborative effort that builds trust, communication, and teamwork. Owners learn to read their dogs' subtle cues and share the buzz of the trail together. Confidence Building: Our training methods are tailored so that any   pet dog can take part and enjoy it, even the nervous and reactive ones! Everything during Mantrailing is choice based, letting the dog lead the way, making Mantrailing a great confidence building tool which often transitions into their day-to-day life too. Problem-Solving Skills:   Mantrailing challenges dogs to use their problem-solving skills to follow a scent trail and make decisions independently.  Emotional Well-Being: Engaging in Mantrailing can contribute to a dog and owners emotional well-being by reducing stress and anxiety. The mental stimulation and positive interactions, as well as it encouraging them to spend time outdoors, helps create a sense of contentment and happiness.  Community: We pride ourselves in the community we have built for our clients. Many of the dog owners who attend our Mantrailing sessions feel that the social aspect of our training sessions is just as impactful and important as the Mantrailing itself. Creating a space where you can be around likeminded people who share the fun of the trail has always been very important to us, and for those with reactive dogs, it also means they are part of an accepting and understanding community where they can enjoy spending time with their dog without judgement .

You can't win without a great team behind you! It doesn't matter whether you're training for IGP, Mantrailing, Agility, Fly Ball, Treibball, Obedience, Dog Dancing, or if you're an operational dog handler—or even just teaching your puppy to be a well-behaved companion. The key to success is having a solid support system. That might be your family, your dog club, or even a group of like-minded friends who are all in for the training journey. The best part? You get to choose who’s on your team! Be open to new ideas and suggestions along the way. Add tools to your toolbox that work best for you and your dog. Attend workshops, go to seminars, and check out other trainers. Even if you don’t end up agreeing with a certain approach, you’ve still learned something valuable—like what doesn’t work for you, and why. Sometimes, stepping outside the familiar can make a huge difference in how you approach training. It will definitely help you grow as a trainer. As Wikipedia puts it: “Dog training is the application of behaviour analysis which uses the environmental events of antecedents and consequences to modify the behaviour of a dog, either for it to assist in specific activities or undertake particular tasks, or for it to participate effectively in contemporary domestic life.” By that definition, every dog owner is a dog trainer—whether you train every day, or just a little here and there. It doesn’t matter how or why you train, as long as you're working together. Embracing different approaches to dog training is the first step toward becoming a better trainer. And by building a team with diverse strengths, you and your dog can become an even stronger team. Now, go out there and enjoy the wins!

While the primary focus of Mantrailing is not behaviour modification, it can certainly help address some common behavioural issues. Things like fear, hyperactivity, phobias, anxiety, reactivity, and aggression can often also benefit from Mantrailing training too. What makes Mantrailing so special is that it lets your dog make the right choices on their own, which is incredibly rewarding for them. Over time, this helps change unwanted behaviours and replaces them with new, more desirable ones. It redirects the dog’s focus, providing satisfaction and even acting as a form of therapy. As a result, both you and your dog will gain more confidence and have less stress in your day-to-day lives. Without proper training, these behaviours can lead to frustration, isolation, and missed opportunities to enjoy simple things like walks or taking part in fun activities. That’s where Mantrailing shines—it’s the perfect sport for turning pessimism into optimism! One of the best parts of Mantrailing is that it's one of the few sports where the dog is truly in control, and the handler gets to step back and watch. The dog works the trail on their own, and the handler learns to read their body language. This builds a strong bond between you and your dog and helps improve your overall training, both in and out of the sport. When you take part in Mantrailing, you and your dog become a team—one that celebrates each success together. The excitement of finding a missing person is something both of you can share, and it boosts your dog’s confidence and self-esteem in no time. As the dog gets less stressed, learns new skills, and has fun, they’ll naturally want to engage with you more and learn even faster. Mantrailing is a great mental workout for your dog. Since a dog’s sense of smell is so powerful, it gives their brain a real challenge. It’s a fantastic way to tire out your dog without needing to rely on physical exercise, which is especially helpful for high-energy dogs, puppies, senior dogs, or dogs who can’t do as much physical activity for any reason. It’s also not a competitive sport or something that over-excites your dog. Mantrailing is all about problem-solving, which naturally builds your dog’s confidence. As a result, your dog will be more open to responding to other training, like behavioural modification, because they’ll be eager to learn and engage with you. This helps change how they react in different situations, whether it’s with other people, dogs, or animals. By making Mantrailing a fun, rewarding game, you’re shifting your dog’s priorities. For example, behaviours like chasing after a runner or barking at another dog can be tough to change through traditional training, but with Mantrailing, your dog learns that following the trail is far more rewarding than chasing a bike. Once your dog understands the concept of Mantrailing (usually within the first session), they’re hooked. They become fully focused on their task, often ignoring distractions, whether that’s other dogs, people, or objects. We’ve seen reactive dogs completely tune out other dogs on their trail, and nervous dogs gain the confidence to pass objects or scenarios they would have once avoided. Mantrailing isn’t just about training; it’s about building a deeper bond with your dog while helping them become a more confident, happy, and well-behaved companion. Olfaction, or the sense of smell, is the dog's most powerful and most important sense. Their sensory world is so different from ours—they explore everything through constant sniffing and scent detection. While humans have about 15 million olfactory cells, dogs can have up to 300 million! It’s amazing to think that dogs can even detect a teaspoon of sugar in an Olympic-sized pool! Canine olfaction is a rapidly growing area of scientific research, with new discoveries and applications popping up all the time. A dog’s brain is built around the information it receives from scent, which is closely tied to emotions. When a dog experiences excitement or stimulation, their brain releases endorphins—chemicals that promote calmness and happiness, and help reduce stress and anxiety. When a dog's endorphin levels are low, they may feel stressed, which can lead to unwanted or obsessive behaviors as they try to cope. For example, a dog might chew on their paw, spin around, or chase shadows all day just to try and boost their endorphins to feel better. The more you can engage your dog's brain with new challenges and behaviors, the more relaxed and content they’ll be. Mental and physical stimulation are key to helping your dog manage stress and maintain balance, especially if their endorphin levels are on the low side. So, what are you waiting for? Contact your nearest Mantrailing Global Instructor to get started! References https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280446218_Canine_Olfaction_Scent_Sign_and_Situation http://www.balancebehaviour.org/

Each year, Mantrailing Global is thrilled to be a part of Crufts, where we get to share our love for Mantrailing at the world’s largest dog show! But have you ever wondered what Crufts is and how it got its name? Here’s a little history for you: Crufts is an internationally renowned canine event held annually in the UK. While it's best known for its championship dog show, Crufts also features a vast trade show filled with dog-related goods and services, as well as competitions in dog agility, obedience, flyball, and heelwork to music. The event, hosted by the Kennel Club, spans four days—Thursday to Sunday—in early March at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. As the largest dog show in the world, it holds the title from Guinness World Records. The competition at Crufts is fierce, with the coveted Best in Show award attracting top dogs and their owners from around the world. Crufts is named after its founder, Charles Cruft, who worked as the general manager for a dog biscuit manufacturer. His travels to dog shows worldwide helped him recognize the need for higher standards in dog events. In 1886, he hosted his first dog show, the "First Great Terrier Show," which had 57 classes and 600 entries. The first event officially named "Crufts"—the "Cruft's Greatest Dog Show"—took place in 1891 at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington. It was the first time all dog breeds were invited to compete, with nearly 2,500 entries. By the end of the 19th century, the show had grown to over 3,000 entries, attracting royal patronage from various European countries and Russia. After a hiatus during World War I, the event resumed in 1928, introducing the Best in Show class, which was awarded to a Greyhound named Primley Sceptre. The show continued to grow in popularity, even after Charles’ death in 1938, and was sold to The Kennel Club in 1942 to ensure its future. Crufts faced interruptions during the Second World War but resumed in 1948, growing in prominence each year. In 1950, the BBC began televising the event. Over the decades, new competitions like obedience (1955), agility (1980), and flyball (1990) were introduced. By 1991, Crufts was officially recognized as the world’s largest dog show, with nearly 23,000 dogs participating in conformation classes that year. Today, Crufts sees around 28,000 dogs and 160,000 human visitors each year, with an exciting array of events, competitions, and displays to enjoy. (Credit: Wikipedia)

Mantrailing is seriously addictive—anyone who's attended can tell you that both dogs and their owners love it! It’s such a fun and rewarding sport, and we’re seeing more people get hooked every year. That's why we're constantly expanding our network of instructors across the globe, so more dogs and owners can join in the fun. With the explosion of popularity in this sport, you don't want to miss out! Mantrailing Global has a network of accredited Instructors who you can join in the fun with. Here's why you should choose a Mantrailing Global Instructor to train with: Mantrailing Global is the biggest Mantrailing body for the sport. We screen all our instructor applicants to ensure we on ly accept the most professional, ethical and experienced people to become instructors through us. We’re the UK’s first and only accredited Mantrailing International Training Centre , and we make sure all our instructors meet our high standards. Our instructor course is accredited by the CPD, signifying that it meets rigorous standards of quality and relevance in professional development  to maintain high standards of training. All of our accredited instructors have undertaken an intensive in-person course, as well as a combination of on -going on line learning through our Guild and annual in-person training. This means our clients are always provided with the most up-to-date and effective training. Our team of Instructors are spread across the UK and Internationally, making the sport of Mantrailing accessible to dog & owner teams across the globe. Every dog is individual, therefore, our training methods and techniques are tailored to provide a pet-dog centred approach so that any dog can learn and enjoy the game. We’re a tight-knit community of instructors who support each other and constantly improve our knowledge to give you the best possible training experience. We’re all about helping you succeed! We know that dedication pays off, so we actively encourage you to work towards our training levels and celebrate your progress. By training with a Mantrailing Global instructor, you can work towards our unique level assessments and skill up badges! When choosing one of our instructors, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need! We want you to feel fully confident in your decision. Our instructors are always happy to share their experience and knowledge, answer any questions, and help put your mind at ease. Be sure to discuss any important details, such as disability needs or reactivity issues, so they can tailor the training to best suit your dog’s needs. While we encourage you to have fun involving family and friends in your training, it’s essential to work with an accredited instructor to get the best results. It’s like learning to drive with a family member versus a professional—you know who will get you to your destination most effectively! To find your nearest accredited Mantrailing Global Instructor, visit our website at www.mantrailingglobal.com  or email us at info@mantrailingglobal.com .

For many dog owners, getting started in Mantrailing is all about having fun with their dog. But for others, it’s a chance to offer their dog an enjoyable activity, regardless of any physical or behavioural challenges they may face. Mantrailing is an incredibly inclusive sport, designed to be fun for all dogs, no matter their breed, age, or temperament. This includes dogs with physical or behavioural disabilities. Because it’s a low-impact activity, Mantrailing is perfect for dogs who have retired from other sports or those with conditions like missing limbs or spinal issues. The beauty of Mantrailing is that it’s done at the dog’s own pace—there are no points for speed. It’s all about allowing the dog to use their nose to find their missing person, in whatever way feels most comfortable for them. But don’t just take our word for it—check out the comments below from our trailers about how Mantrailing has helped their dogs overcome physical and behavioural challenges: S Hayton – When Wuby came to me she was scared of everything and everybody. Even after some one to one training sessions she remained reactive to dogs, but she clearly needed a “hobby”. From day one she’d ignore people and dogs around her as she tracked down her misper. We’ve searched high and low, far and wide for mispers and I’ve learned a lot more about her. She really is a little superstar who knows her job (far better than I do) and loves it! J Johnston – Kip not only has Short Ulna Syndrome in both forelegs but now we’ve found out he has severe Hip Dysplasia in both hips, bit of a genetic car crash at only 3 years old. Despite all this he loves mantrailing, it tires him out mentally without having an adverse effect on his joints, it also satisfies part of his inbuilt breed skills for tracking a scent. M Rose – Podrick & I a still quite new to mantrailing! We both have our share of issues – Podrick has bilateral shoulder OCD and is only 18 months old which means high impact stuff like agility or flyball was not for us, we looking to low impact activities and mantrailing is perfect. I was born with bilateral talipes equinovarus commonly known as clubbed feet, so being out, active and within my limits but including my best friend is so special to me! S Rendall – Freyja is very dog reactive and normally any dog in sight will cause a big barking event. My proudest moment was when she was less than 8feet away from a dog whilst she was trailing and apart from a few swear words under her breath, kept working!! K Price – I started it as I thought it’ll be nice to try something active with Zeus (2.5 year old Mini Schnauzer) while my partner has joined the marines reserves and was away most weekends. We live in an area I hadn’t really got out and met new people so mantrailing got us out on weekends, better than shopping. When we started we definitely had some hurdles. He was scared of peoples sudden movements, he wouldn’t go near or take food from the misper. He is also a bit of a scaredy cat in closed in areas or entrances. We had to keep gently pushing, finding the treat that motivated him to want tot o work for the treat, finally hotdogs became the trigger. With patience and consistency we made gains slowly but he came round, even now with closed in or tight space sometimes causes us a little slip but with praise and reassurance we get there. He knows when we are going trailing by just getting ready at home. Our bond has become all about our teamwork. Starting mantrailing could be the best way to understand your dog better, allow them an outlet for natural behaviour and give them a way to have fun regardless of physical or behavioural issues. We want every dog to have fun while mantrailing, and we want every dog to be able to join in with the fun. To find your nearest instructor check out our interactive map - https://www.mantrailinguk.com/find-an-instructor

Owning a nervous dog can be really tough. It’s not just stressful for your dog, but it can also feel isolating for you as an owner. Finding opportunities to join classes or meet other dog owners might seem like a challenge. When it comes to building confidence in your dog, the goal is to create positive experiences that help them feel comfortable exploring new things. That’s where Mantrailing comes in—it’s built around exactly that! Mantrailing teaches your dog to follow a specific person’s scent. Now, dogs are naturally gifted when it comes to using their noses, so we’re not teaching them something completely new. Instead, we’re guiding their natural talent into a fun, confidence-boosting game that focuses on scent. This gives your dog the chance to work in a way that feels natural to them, while also building their confidence. Here’s a fun fact: about 1/8th of your dog’s brain is dedicated to processing scents! This makes their sense of smell the most important one. The olfactory bulb, which processes these smells, is part of the limbic system—the brain region that controls emotions, memory, and behavior. So, when your dog smells something, it not only brings up memories but also triggers emotional responses. Positive experiences with scent can help release endorphins and serotonin—those feel-good hormones that help your dog enjoy the process and feel good about the game. Scent is so powerful that dogs can even tell the direction a scent has traveled, how much time has passed, and identify who it belongs to. By associating specific scents with positive experiences, we create lasting, positive memories that help build your dog’s confidence. Another reason Mantrailing is great for nervous dogs is that there’s always a reward at the end of the trail. This could be a favorite toy or some tasty food, and the reward is tailored to each dog’s preferences. What’s also great is that your dog gets to decide how close they want to get to the person who’s hiding. We want to avoid putting your dog in a position where they feel conflicted or forced to approach someone they’re not comfortable with. In our introductory courses, we’ll start by using people your dog already knows as the trail layer. As your dog gets more comfortable with the game, we’ll gradually introduce unfamiliar trail layers. These new people don’t interact with the dog; they just serve as the scent to follow to get to the prize. It’s surprising how many dogs that were initially hesitant to approach the trail layer will warm up to them over time, especially since they’re only associating that person with a positive experience. Mantrailing is also a great sport for dogs that are nervous around other dogs. Since each dog works individually, there’s no need to worry about interactions with other dogs during training. As your dog gets more focused on the task, they often become oblivious to their surroundings, including other dogs, which can help them overcome some fears. Over time, they shift their priorities from being on alert for potential danger to focusing on the scent trail. This helps reduce their reactions to things that might normally trigger them. When it comes to the rewards, whether it’s a toy or food, we ensure that the reward is engaging and positive for your dog. If we’re using a toy, we’ll choose a trail layer who knows how to use the toy in an interactive way, making sure it’s the best possible reward for your dog. And when food is used, we focus on something like licking it out of a pot—this action has been proven to release endorphins, which boost your dog’s happiness. Mantrailing isn’t just about following a trail—it’s about giving your dog a chance to gain confidence, overcome fears, and have fun doing what they do best! Contact your local Mantrailing Global instructor to get your dog started If you want to become and instructor and help nervous dogs become more confident then find out more here - https://www.mantrailingglobal.com/instructorcourse

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 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! 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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.

A – Association Creating positive associations is essential to Mantrailing success! The goal is for your dog to link the trail layer ’s scent with rewards like food or a toy. Associating the scent article with the trail and the trail layer makes the experience fun and keeps your dog excited to do more. B – Bond Building Mantrailing strengthens the bond between you and your dog as you trust them to take the lead. By letting them drive, they grow in confidence, and your connection grows with each trail. C – Cues We use specific cues to let the dog know it's time to trail. Commands like “take scent” and our trail signal, along with putting on or taking off the harness, all cue the dog into “Mantrailing mode.” D – Dog Your dog is the star of Mantrailing! The experience should always be fun and engaging for them. Mantrailing is for any dog, regardless of breed, temperament, age, or ability. E – End of Trail At the end of each trail, the dog gets a reward, like a big party, to stay motivated. This celebration keeps their enthusiasm high so they’re always ready for the next trail. F – Foundations Starting with solid foundations is key. Beginning with short, intense trails helps build understanding without frustration. Setting a steady pace with repetition and basic skills will lead to success. G – Game Mantrailing is a game for the dog! Whether in training or real life, they just love playing. Making training fun is central to Mantrailing UK’s approach. H – Harness A well-fitted harness is crucial for comfort and movement. We recommend a Y-front design that doesn’t restrict the shoulders, like those designed by Niggeloh. I – Intensity Trails Intensity trails kickstart your dog’s love for mantrailing with quick, rewarding experiences. These short, fast trails keep their excitement high and make longer trails rewarding. J – Junctions Junctions add challenge as the dog learns to choose the correct path. They’re a natural progression to develop your dog’s trailing skill. K - Knowledge It’s all about handlers mastering the knowledge learnt at sessions and implementing it within future trails! L – Long Lines The long line keeps your dog safe and connected to you, preventing them from running off or encountering hazards. It’s also a communication tool to feel changes in their trailing intensity. M – Misper (now known as Trail Layer) The Trail Layer is the person who lays the trail and serves as part of the reward for the dog at the end. N – Nose The dog’s nose is its powerhouse! Its sensitivity is 100,000 to 100 million times stronger than ours, allowing dogs to sense time and direction through scent. O – Observation Learning to read your dog’s body language—like head lifts, tail carriage, and gait changes—helps you understand when they’re on or off the trail. P – Party At the end of the trail, it’s party time! This reward, which can involve food, toys, or running, reinforces their success and keeps them excited for the next trail. Q – Quality vs. Quantity It’s all about quality over quantity! Successful, short trails build strong foundations. Avoid rushing or overworking your dog so that each trail builds confidence. R – Reward Every dog has a unique reward, whether it’s a treat, a ball, or playtime. Finding what excites your dog is key, even if it’s different from your preference. S – Scent Article The scent article is the dog’s clue to who they’re looking for. It can be anything with the trail layer’s scent—clothing, an object they touched, or even their vehicle. T – Trailing Trailing is following the scent path left by the trail layer, which is a mix of skin cells, pheromones, and other scent cues. Weather and environment also influence how this scent behaves. U – Understanding Mantrailing builds mutual understanding between you and your dog. You’ll learn to see what excites them, know when they’re truly focused, and understand what kind of reward brings them joy. V – Value Creating value for the trail is key to long-term enthusiasm. Intensity trails at both the start and end build excitement, and the Kocher method reinforces the value of each trail. W – Walk, Don’t Run Always walk rather than run when trailing. It’s safer and prevents your dog from getting too far ahead. X – X Marks Your Progress Tracking your progress with goals and checkmarks helps you see improvement and pinpoint areas to work on. Mantrailing UK’s levels and progress booklet make this easy. Y – You As the handler, you’re part of the team! Learn to handle the line smoothly, support your dog when needed, and enjoy the experience as much as they do. Z – ZZZZZ After a Mantrailing session, most dogs are ready for a well-deserved rest. Mantrailing is mentally and physically stimulating, so it’s common for dogs to sleep soundly afterward. Find your nearest Mantrailing Global Instructor to get started!