Taster Session: Trailing/Tracking

Service Description

This is a taster session for anyone curious about trailing and whether their dog will enjoy it. No experience needed. If your dog loves it, you can book onto any of my regular sessions afterwards and we'll work on progression from there. 📍 Location: Rushden, NN10 - precise location will be shared after booking. 🐾 What is trailing? Trailing is where dogs follow a trail of human scent - a chance for your dog to use their nose and brain the way they were built to. It combines mantrailing (finding a person) and tracking (finding items). Read more in the Activities section of the website. 🐾 What to expect from this session Over 3 hours, you and your dog will try trailing for yourselves. We'll focus on mantrailing, where your dog follows a trail to find a person. If your dog is nervous of people, we'll do tracking instead, and if you'd simply prefer to try tracking, that's absolutely fine too. Each dog will do a couple of trails, and you'll see how exercises can be adapted to suit your dog and what your role is as a handler. It'll give you a good idea of what trailing involves, whether your dog enjoys it, and what your next steps could look like. 🐾 How the sessions work Dogs are worked one at a time; when not working, they rest safely in their vehicle (never left unattended) and usually settle easily. You're welcome to bring someone to sit with your dog if that'd help, or get in touch beforehand with any concerns. You'll be asked to help lay trails or hide for other dogs too. 🐾 Benefits of trailing · Builds confidence through independent problem-solving and decision-making · Taps into your dog's natural drive to hunt and use their nose · Confidence gains carry beyond the trail - dogs given a job to do often navigate difficult situations more confidently too · Gives your dog a job to do - and you a shared purpose 🐾 Suitable for nervous or reactive dogs? Yes. It's a group session but dogs are worked one at a time. 🐾 Equipment needed · A harness your dog can pull in without affecting movement (preferably Y-shaped). I don't recommend buying a new harness before your first session, as I can give guidance on a suitable fit for trailing. · A long line between 8-10 metres (I have spares to borrow) · Lots of high value treats (I recommend JR Pate) · Two small plastic containers/pots · A toy, if your dog likes toys · Something to use as a scent article - could be a glove, hat, scarf etc. It may get dog slobber on it!