Mantrailing
The ultimate outdoor scentwork sport!
Dogs have natural and innate skills to track scent. Mantrailing harnesses these skills, teaching your dog how to follow human odour and find a specific person using their incredible sense of smell.
Mantrailing is the perfect scent sport for anyone who loves to get out and about with their dog, giving them an intense mental workout, whilst being low-impact on their body and getting you both working as a team.
It’s suitable for puppies to senior dogs, with no lower or upper age limit to take part. Working the dogs one at a time means all dogs are welcome.
Training all year round in a wide variety of locations across Wiltshire will get you quickly addicted to this fascinating sport and the fun and challenges it brings. You’ll learn how to read a trail, your dogs’ body language and build problem solving skills for both ends of the lead.
Taught by Lucy Ward, qualified instructor since 2020, and Scent Imprint for Dogs Tracking (SIFD) and Trailing Level 2 instructor. Using a range of mantrailing and tracking methods from across sport and operational fields, Lucy tailors the training at all levels to best suit the individual dog and their progression.
Hosting for workshops and training days
Lucy is available for hosting for mantrailing and SIFD tracking trailing wherever you are and loves to travel! She can offer workshops and full days training for dog trainers or private groups. Please get in touch to enquire.
How it works
If you’re new to the sport, you’ll need to complete an introduction workshop first. Please be aware that dogs are worked one at a time, with the non working dogs resting and supervised in their owners car.
Once you’ve completed an introduction workshop you can then attend training sessions, which (unless stated otherwise) are open to all levels of experience. You can train as often or as little as you like at any location, on any day, with the flexibility of not having to commit to a course of sessions.
Anyone who trails with another instructor, or has completed an introduction workshop elsewhere is always very welcome to come along to any session.
For those who like to test their skills, whilst there aren’t competitions in mantrailing, you can work towards assessments and achievement awards along the way. These can be arranged when you and your dog are ready and only if you want to participate, they’re in no way compulsory.
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For anyone wanting to be kept in the loop about regular training sessions, please contact Lucy to be put on a separate mailing list at info@lucywarddogtraining.co.uk or 07896645547.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How old does my dog need to be to start mantrailing?
My dog can't be left alone in the car, will this be a problem?
I have multiple dogs that I'd like to start mantrailing with. Do I need to do an introduction workshop with each of them.
There is no need to an introduction workshop with each dog you’d like to start mantrailing with. The workshop is as much about your learning as it is your dog’s. Once you’ve completed the introduction workshop with one dog, you can then book your other dog onto a training session and we can easily accommodate.
My dog never wears a harness, do they really need to have one/wear one just to give mantrailing a go?
We have a large size range of spare harnesses that you can borrow for the introduction workshop if you wish. Then, if you decide you’d like to carry on with the sport you can purchase your own harness.
I can't run, will this be a problem in mantrailing?
We walk behind our dogs when they’re searching. It’s safer; we’d never be able to keep up if we had to run behind them (no matter how fit you are) and as running induces panting in our dogs, they’d be unable to sniff as well and therefore make the search for their missing person much harder.
My dog has no recall, will this be a problem?
We may start a very very young puppy off by having them off lead or trailing the long line behind them, but this is quickly progressed into you holding the long line.
My dog is nervous of people/other dogs, can we still do mantrailing?
However, mantrailing isn’t a magic wand that can suddenly create a social dog, it takes time and patience like any training and it may be that you need to muzzle train your dog for them to safely do the sport. Or, we can work on tracking first (no person to find) to build their understanding and your confidence as a team.
If you’re concerned or have further questions, please get in touch with Lucy before booking. The safety of the other participants is hugely important as they’re the ones hiding for your dog.
Can I come to your training sessions if I've done an introduction workshop, or trailed with another instructor?
My dog has no training, can they do mantrailing?
I do other sports with my dog (agility, tracking, working trials, scent detection, obedience etc) are we ok to start mantrailing?
Yes! Doing multiple sports or types of training with your dog is no problem at all.
Tracking is a huge help when it comes to mantrailing, scent detection adds a lot to a dog’s skill set and helps build their independence when searching, agility can aid body confidence, and obedience can help with building motivation for rewards.
My dog is deaf/blind/has a disability, can they do mantrailing?
We’ve had dogs trail with us that are deaf, blind or missing a limb and are amazing mantrailing dogs. It’s a great sport due to it being low impact, perfect for dogs that have had to retire from more active sports, such as agility, due to age related problems or mobility issues.
Mantrailing
The ultimate outdoor scentwork sport!
Scent Detection
From natural instinct to skilled, focused teamwork.
1-2-1 Puppy Training
1-2-1 puppy training supports you and your new pup through those precious first few weeks and beyond and helping with all aspects of training.
1-2-1 Dog Training
1-2-1 training is perfect for anyone wanting personalised help to work through any aspect of training with a dedicated plan.
Ready to book?
If you are interested in our services but are not quite sure if we are the right fit for you and your dog or need something a little more unique, please do get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you and try to fulfil your needs.
