Mantrailing
Known as ‘mantrailing’, the art of searching for people with dogs is a great fun for owners and is a low impact sport suitable for all breeds and ages of dogs. The sport stems from the world of search and rescue and is based on detecting scent trails that are specific to each person.
Mantrailing offers numerous benefits:
Mental and Physical Stimulation: It exercises your dog’s brain and body, keeping them sharp and active.
Confidence Building: Each successful trail boosts your dog’s confidence and strengthens their problem-solving skills.
Sense of Purpose: searching for people gives your dog a rewarding job-to-do, satisfying their natural instincts.
Bonding: It deepens your connection with your dog as you work together towards a common goal.
Fun and Rewarding: Above all, mantrailing is fun! Your dog enjoys the search and the positive reinforcement they receive making it a fulfilling sport for you both!
Mantrailing isn’t only good for our four-legged friends - it’s great for us humans too! It is suitable for all fitness levels and as there is no running involved. You also meet other like-minded dog lovers too and better understand your dog’s behaviours and enhance your communication skills between you and your dog. Spending time in a positive fulfilling environment is good for the mind, body and soul.
Mantrailing is a fantastic low impact sport that gives your dog the mental workout they desire. Many of our dogs originate from working breeds. For example, the terrier was extensively bred to follow the red fox as well as the Eurasian badger into their burrows and dens, poodles were originally bred to retrieve waterfowl, to our giants of the dog world, the Great Dane, who were originally used for boar hunting. Domesticating dogs over time made these jobs redundant.
A dog with a job is a happy dog; the good news is we can give them a purpose with mantrailing.
Humans naturally shed skin cells [or skin rafts] leaving behind a ‘scent trail’ and this is what the dogs are trained to follow. We use a piece of clothing, such as a sock, or personal belongings from an individual to train the dogs to follow where the person has walked. Trained scent-specific trailing dogs can search over a variety of terrains: towns and cities, fields, and woodland, in all weather conditions. They generally trail in lowland areas as mountain rescues rely on air-scenting dogs to search highlands and unpopulated areas.
Our steps for success programme ensures professional instruction from day one.
Introduction Day
This course is certified and limited to no more than 12 dogs, ensuring training is tailored so the dog handler and dog become a cohesive team and learn new skills in a positive, no pressure training environment. We have young puppies and older dogs that participate; puppies can start mantrailing as young as 16 weeks old!
Reactive dogs are welcome as only one dog works at any given time. We just ask people not to book a workshop if your dog is reactive towards people or has carried out any form of bite work.
Starting at 10 am the dogs are introduced to short hide-and-seek trails with a high active reward, preferably their favourite toy. A picnic lunch is provided on the day and the day concludes at 4 pm. Partners are welcome at no extra cost and anyone from the age of 14 years old can participate as a handler. Venues are private and future dates will be posted on our Facebook and Instagram page but book early to ensure your space.
Level 1 - Rural
All the dogs love training in the beautiful Fourth Mountain, Co. Wexford. At this level each team is coached to help improve their handling skills in the woods and other areas and the direction of the trails is in one direction. The importance of rewarding the dogs properly when the ‘runner’ or hidden person is emphasized as the dogs are working for their reward. Different challenges are gradually introduced over the training workshops at this level. When each team is ready, they are assessed on a 600 meter trail with two 90 degree turns and two different surfaces. Each workshop is limited to eight teams and starts at 10 am until 4 pm.
Level 2 - Urban
At this stage the importance of road observation, interpretation of the dog’s body language and handling skills are honed. In addition, the direction of the trails vary, and various distractions are introduced too. Level 2 urban assessment comprises of an 800 metre aged trail, trailing on three different surfaces with two 90 degree turns taking in staggered crossroads, T-junction and a bridge. Each workshop is limited to eight teams and starts at 10 am until 4 pm.
Level 3 - Springboard for advanced trailing
These sessions include both urban and rural venues and build on the lessons learnt in the previous workshops. Additional complications and difficulties testing both the dog’s problem solving skills in identifying the age of scents, and the handler’s skills in assessing the terrain and wind direction are added. Communication between handler and dog becomes more crucial at this level to evaluate the trail and complications and accurately read the dog’s body signals. Teams are limited to six dogs at this stage to facilitate instruction and guidance starting at 10 am until 3 pm.
Advanced Training
Further progression in handling skills is developed during these workshops as well as teamwork. Contamination of the surfaces is increased and venues are chosen to develop this skill further. Teams are limited to six and trail length is extended to build on the ability to follow a scent trail.
Towards the end of advanced trailing teams with an interest in pursuing professional scent-specific trailing are selected to further their development.
Selected teams then graduate from K9 Detect and Find Ireland and move across to the Wexford K9 Search and Rescue (WK9SAR) grades programme as a trainee search and rescue dog team. For the successful teams they will have the opportunity to undergo operational training to become a professional scent-specific trailing team.
To book your space on these workshops please contact us and join a wonderful sport…