Mantrailing (trailing).
Every session, a rescue mission.
Following a trail is something your dog already knows how to do: it is instinct. Build a good team and the two of you will find the missing person.
Scent sports not your thing?
They are his.
Your dog goes off like a shot on a deer track. Nose glued to the ground every walk, ears switching off the second something moves. This is not a training failure: it is a talent looking for its playground.
That instinct to trail is part of him. Mantrailing is where he is finally allowed to use it: a mission, a frame, and a dog who is fulfilled and happy (= he will dream beautifully).
And for you? A new place every session, deep in nature or right in town. You walk, your dog is on a mission, and you come away with new walking spots into the bargain.
Meeting this need is one of the 12 pieces of your Epic Dog Lifestyle puzzle.
Discover the 12 pieces of the puzzle →What is mantrailing?
Mantrailing, from “man” and “trail”: dogs searching for people. Every human leaves thousands of scent molecules behind them, as unique as a fingerprint. Your dog takes in one person's scent and works his way back along their track, hours after they passed, in nature and in town. He is very clearly the superhero here. You are at the end of the line, learning to read him. His nose tells you the story of the trail.
Your dog is already a trailer: it is exactly what he does when he goes hunting. Here we simply point him at what we want him to find. The rest of the world disappears, because he is on a mission. You have just given him the best gift there is: the one thing he was born to be brilliant at.
Where does it come from?
From the very real work of search and rescue dogs.
For centuries, dogs, the famous Bloodhounds among them, have found missing people: lost hikers, lost children, disoriented older people.
Mantrailing hands your dog that same mission, with the same methods, and a “missing person” who is only pretending to hide and is waiting for him with his favourite reward.
These are methods I use in the field myself: I am part of Rettungshundestaffel Neuenburg e.V., the region's volunteer search and rescue dog unit. What you learn with me matches the foundations of our own training.
Who is it for?
You don't need to be an athlete. The one requirement: being able to walk at a decent pace on a hiking path while holding a line under tension. Depending on the dog, that means tension or outright pulling. He leads, you follow. No experience needed.
Which dogs is it for?
Every breed and every size: absolutely every dog's nose is more than up to the job. We adapt to the dog, to you, and to the weather.
From puppies at 6 months to seniors, as long as walking causes no pain. For dogs with a physical disability or difficulty moving (without pain), nosework is absolutely the ideal scent sport.
No need for a perfectly trained dog: come exactly as you are, whether he is high energy, sensitive, nervous, or a full-time sofa dog. Reactive dogs are welcome: each dog runs his trail separately, in turn. Out on the trail, it is only the two of you.
What your dog gets out of it
A trail is a puzzle your dog gets to solve: he tracks, he decides at junctions, he tells the person he is looking for apart from passers-by. He can even ignore other dogs while he is working. Give him a mission and you can count on him, and you will be surprised how much. Every trail naturally meets his physical and mental needs, keeps his brain sharp into old age, and helps him channel things like excess energy or anxiety.
And what you get out of it?
The two of you will reach a level of closeness you don't yet suspect, because you will finally understand how a dog works and how he thinks.
I can promise you will know how to read your dog the moment he has a scent in his nose. You will be able to act far sooner when he wants to take off after game, which is no small thing.
A dog who channels his instincts is a calmer dog at home, and a more balanced one across the board. Meanwhile you get a walk, new places to explore, and an outdoor activity with your hero of the day.
How do the sessions work?
We work in a small group, four dogs maximum. Each team runs its own trail, in turn, in a harness and on a long line. We start somewhere easy for the dog, woods or countryside, then build the difficulty step by step, up to trails in town. Every session has a mission and a specific goal to move the two of you on. You are going to love it.
What's on offer
5-session card
Following a trail is something your dog already knows how to do: it is instinct. What we build here is your team, so you learn to read him and he is pointed at that one scent. This booking covers the full card, and we plan the following sessions together.
Book, pay, go
You pick your first session through the online booking, then pay for the card by card via Stripe. And that's it: we plan the following sessions together.
And no pressure: your card is valid for 3 years.
A question before you book? Message me on WhatsApp
Meeting point sent after booking · Max 4 dogs · 90 min
Frequently asked questions
Does my dog need to be trained and obedient already?+
No, you are already ready. We start from wherever you are today. Puppy from 6 months, slightly unhinged adolescent, reactive dog, sensitive, over the top or short on confidence: it makes no difference. The goal stays the same: locking onto the mission.
My dog has never trailed, can he start?+
Yes. Following a trail is something your dog already knows how to do: we just teach him to do it with you.
Why a multi-session card rather than a trial session?+
Because a one-off class makes no sense: the first sessions lay the foundations for your dog and for you, and the results come with the progression. Every session adapts to your team, so you never waste your time. And your card is valid for 3 years.
What kit do I need?+
A harness he is really comfortable in, and a 15 m long line if you have one. Otherwise I provide the line.
How is this different from Nosework (sport detection)?+
In mantrailing your dog follows the scent of one specific person, different every mission, and unwinds their route all the way to them. In sport detection he searches for one learned scent, always the same one, and indicates it. Two different jobs, two different pleasures: plenty of teams do both. Discover sport detection →