Jay K9 Mantrailing

02/06/2026

18/05/2026

OMG…coming out of a weekender is always full of highs and lows.

The lows? We’re all sad it’s over, I’ve got a van to unpack and put away, there’s washing to sort, kit to clean and probably a fair amount of eating up leftovers…although strangely the cake never seems to need finishing 😂

But the highs seriously outweigh all of that.

This weekender was full of them.

Not just because of the awesome trailing, where the dogs absolutely excelled themselves and went above and beyond, but because of the community and the fun we all had together.

Weekenders are about so much more than just mantrailing.

They give us the opportunity to help handlers and dogs in ways outside of trailing and to build real-life skills and confidence.

Marley the Working Cocker, who normally never settles and barks for attention? Yep…with a little bit of training and support in our social group, he actually fell asleep.

Zoe the Mali, who has never camped before and takes a little time to warm to anything new and different (despite only living a few minutes away), absolutely smashed it this weekend. She camped in a safe, supportive environment, settled around the group and calmly watched strangers wandering about. Massive wins for her confidence and coping skills.

None of this happens by accident.

It’s only possible because of the incredible team of handlers who joined us — everyone there for each other, supporting, encouraging and helping one another throughout the weekend. So a huge shout out to every single one of them.

It was a busy one:
• 10 dogs attending across the weekend
• 7 dogs staying over for sleepovers
• Countless laughs, achievements and proud moments

And honestly, this is exactly why I love weekenders so much…they go far beyond the trailing.

Although…we can’t forget the prizes either 🏆

06/05/2026

Bruce came to us a little unsure of himself… but look at that strut now 🐾

One of the things we love most about mantrailing is watching confidence grow session by session.
Not just on the trail… but afterwards too 🧡

And judging by that walk back, Bruce knows he’s done an amazing job.

29/04/2026

A brilliant instructor trailing session today.

The teams were pushed hard, and it showed. Solid foundations and consistent commitment to training really came through when their problem-solving skills were tested with more unusual setups.

The focus across the day stayed the same: reading the dog’s body language and trusting the information they provide. Once that information is recognised, it’s down to the handler to make the right decisions.

That’s where the real learning happens.

A strong day all round—and one of those that reminds you why being a Mantrailing instructor is so rewarding.

28/04/2026

Monday night’s trailing was all about controlled casts—always a great way to put handlers to the test.
Can you recognise when your dog has genuinely hit the trail? And can you support them without getting in the way?

We worked this across different experience levels, with some particularly challenging start points. Dogs were picking up the trail in a way that meant they really had to work to establish the correct direction.

From there, we progressed onto older scent at junctions—pushing both dogs and handlers to properly investigate options. Multiple routes carried the trail layer’s scent, but only one led to the end point.

It took patience, observation and trust in the dog to get it right.

The dogs put in a huge amount of mental effort this evening—proper thinking work from start to finish. Safe to say there were probably a few very quiet evenings afterwards.

28/04/2026

You’ve got to love a themed training day 🐉

Last week our trailers took on a St George’s Day session… and they absolutely slayed it!

A great opportunity to introduce a bit of novelty—different articles, slightly unusual finds, and things not always appearing quite as expected. It might look like fun and games (and it is), but it all adds to the dogs’ experience and helps build resilience out on the trail.

These slightly quirky setups give dogs the chance to work things out, stay in the job and keep moving forward with their regression.

We had loads of fun—and that’s down to the brilliant group of people who turn up, get stuck in and make these sessions what they are. A huge thank you to all our awesome trailing teams - as you make these sessions what they are ❤️

22/04/2026

Monday night’s session focused on challenging the teams and assessing handler skills. We looked closely at how each team managed the exercises, how handlers read their dogs, and how they adapted under pressure.
The teams were presented with several new challenges and scenarios designed to stretch their problem-solving and handling ability.

It was great to see them working through unfamiliar setups, building confidence, and snagging their trails.

A strong session with plenty of learning, progress, and valuable experience for everyone involved.