Scentwork and Trailing

This is a 6 week foundation course for dogs that haven’t done any Scentwork.before. 

One this course you will learn:

How to correctly handle the scent without contamination 

How to teach your dogs the indication

How to teach your dogs to actively recognise the scent and choose it

How to pair the scent with the indication 

How to start small searches, leading to linear searches, wall searches, luggage searches, and car searches.

How to get a freeze on indication 

We use reward based training to make positive associations.  

This course is suitable for dogs and handlers of any age. Although people often think of working breeds such as Spaniels being sniffer dogs it can be enjoyed by all types and breeds. 

All the learning and searches are carried out on a long lead  (a double ended lead is perfect) so no need to worry about recall. 

Dogs learn about the environment by using their noses and this is a fantastic way to tap into that natural skill and tire your dogs out. 

Once you have completed the foundation course you will then have the opportunity to continue to the next level as there is far more to learn.  

You will receive a small scent kit so you can practice at home. 

This 6 week course uses a combination of 3 disciplines. 

We use scentwork to get the dogs used to searching for specific scents.

We use trailing  to search for a human and lastly we teach the dogs to retrieve hidden scented items and bring them back to your hand.

You will learn how to pace your dog as searching can be compared to  a human training for a marathon and will tire your dog. 

How not to contaminate your search items.

How to start your dog off on a search. (different to a scent work start if you have already done this with your dog, so the dog  learns the difference between passive and active searching )

To start with simple linear searches (in a straight line) for a human leading to longer more complex searches. 

Simple searches for scented items building to multiple hides. 

We NEVER tell the dogs off if they don't find. We use play, chase or food whatever it is that motivates YOUR dog to make this fun and rewarding to them. If we do not they will not want to do it. 

Every dog will learn at a different pace as do children when they are developing new skills. . For some breeds such as Spaniels it's something they do as a natural behaviour. Have you ever watched a Spaniel searching the ground for a ball they'veed, it's an instinctive way of searching. 

You will need a harness and longline for your dog. Once this goes on it will be like you putting on a uniform, your dog will start to recognise once they are put on that they have a job to do.. This is also perfect if you don't have a reliable recall. 

Please note we do not run with the dogs when they are searching, as you would not keep up after more than a few minutes,  the handler  always follows behind the dog at walking pace whilst holding the longline. 

This is a 6 week foundation course for dogs who haven't done any Mantrailing before. 

On the first lesson  I will go over how your dogs nose works, how incredible it is and how we start to pair using their nose to searching for a specific scent. 

 Using reward based training, we will start by teaching  the dogs how to search , gradually building it up  by layering the trails. By doing this we create confidence in both the dog and the handler. Once you have mastered linear( straight line )  searches we start to add in turns. 

Once we have linear searches with turns being done with accuracy and confidence,  we build in  longer and more complex searches, using different terrain and eventually I will go into a deep hides this makes it harder for your dog to find me so they will use their nose more to search me out . I also teach crowd searches, utilising crowds (with their permission)  and walking searches. Walking searches could involve someone who has dementia or a head injury and is just wandering.  For these we teach an indication. All of the searching is done at walking pace.although the dogs will often speed up as they get near to finding me, which is a natural thing to do. 

If possible I do like to go to more than one area so the dogs can practice in different scenarios once they have learned the basics.  This also allows us to work on different terrain. 

I limit these classes to just 4 spaces. to allow for plenty of searches. 

Each class will last for One hour