MANTRAILING
Most of us have seen films where a fugitive is hunted by a blood hound and his handler, or heard of dogs used to search for missing people. Mantrailing dogs have a long history of use in the police and military. Traditionally seen as the territory of ‘professional’ dog handlers, this exciting, enjoyable and rewarding activity which utilises a dog’s most natural instincts – scenting and hunting – is now accessible to anyone with an interest in training and having lots of fun with their dog. The great news is that you don’t need a bloodhound, or any special breed of dog to become involved in this activity – if your dog has a nose, he’s going to love mantrailing, and you will be amazed at the incredible scenting abilities he can demonstrate when given the right opportunities.
What is Mantrailing?
In its simplest terms, man-trailing refers to the teaching of a dog to follow a specific human scent (scent discrimination). At the beginning of a trail a ‘scent article’ which has some scent from the ‘missing’ person on it is offered to the dog. After sniffing the article, the dog determines the direction in which the person left the area, and follows the trail to find the person.
How do dogs follow a scent?
No one knows exactly how or what dogs are following when they are trailing, but it is generally believed to be a combination of the skin particles which falls from a human and is deposited on the ground, or blown by the wind, and odour which comes directly from the body. Additionally, the odour from crushed vegetation and ground disturbance may be used by dogs to determine the route their target person took.
What is a scent article?
Initially the scent articles we use for training will be small items of clothing such as hats or scarves, and only handled by the person the dog is to trail. Later, as your dog’s training progresses, we will use ‘contaminated’ articles (handled by other people) and your dog can learn to take scent from many objects including car seats and even the body of another person! Additionally, your dog can learn to tell you when the scent article you give him doesn’t belong to anyone in the area, and there is no trail to follow!
The Rabbit!
All the training techniques we utilise rely on motivating your dog through reward-based techniques and without either verbal or physical corrections. Your dog’s reward at the end of a trail may be food or toy – but whatever it will be something that your dog loves. The look of bliss on a dog’s face when the reward is right is unmistakable!
Who is Mantrailing suitable for?
Man-trailing is suitable for pretty much any dog and person. Although some breeds have traditionally excelled at man-trailing in the professional world, we have seen a diverse range of breeds and cross-breeds do brilliantly at trailing, and absolutely love it. Likewise, although some people like to run with their dogs when trailing, dogs can learn to work just as well (if not better) at a slower pace – dog and handler teams learn to adjust to each other as the training progresses. Age is no barrier – we have had dogs ranging from 3 months’ old puppies to eleven and twelve-year old veterans start their training, as well as ‘disabled’ dogs such as those who are blind or only have three legs. Likewise, handlers range from young teens through to those in their sixties and seventies.
Why is Mantrailing such a great activity for your dog?
Man-trailing lets dogs make use of their superb sense of smell in a fun and exciting way. You will be amazed at what your dog is capable of, and your dog will have a great mental and physical workout. Trailing is a great confidence builder for shy dogs, and dogs that are worried about people, and helps to teach dogs work through distractions. As their training progresses dogs will work in a wide variety of environments from woodland and open countryside to industrial estates and town centres. You will learn to read your dog’s subtle body language and form a strong working partnership. Trailing can even be adapted for reactive dogs, as with only one dog worked at a time, and in quiet locations, these dogs can learn their job without worrying about the presence of other dogs, as is common in other dog sports. Invariably, people who come trailing love it – our trailing groups are happy, social and friendly, with a great sense of fun and a love of dogs and watching dogs work. Trailing will take you to many different environments – it’s a great way to see some beautiful locations – and will give you a fantastic insight into your dog’s world as ‘seen’ through their nose.
