Bay K9 Mantrailing

22/06/2025

Today saw the return of Super Scout and some amazing trailing. From the strongest most powerful dogs to our celebrity Scout.

Longer trails were on the cards today with added complexity, multi junction back tracks, surface transitions and the challenge of wide open spaces in what was an extremely blustery morning. We got to see and identify when the dogs were tricked by nature into following blown scent but we also had the joy of seeing the dogs self cast to regain the trail.

The handling was I felt amazing today and some amazing skills were demonstrated with speed and dexterity whilst still avoiding any line tangling or fouling of the dogs movement especially with the larger and fast strong dogs.

Trailers, you made me so proud today and I want to say thank you for the confidence faith you all have in Bay K9. Fun fun fun . Thanks you all .

01/06/2025

Wet wet wet - torrential rain really did dampen proceedings however the teams worked through.

We worked in split trails open spaces and identifying when the dog is distracted. We saw some amazing self casting at the start of the trail with all the dogs picking the trail up.

The wind provided a perfect experience to see how different the dogs work into the wind and down wind. The handler also got to identify when the dog is distracted and not on the trail. We saw flowing negatives, head checks and cut backs.

Learnings from and for progression were demonstrated with larger dogs paying more attention to the trail and being more considered in their thinking and decision making. The progression have enabled the handler see the negative and the eyes becoming the dogs food with the head showing signs of picking up the blown wind. This however did not encourage the dogs to follow the scent carried on the wind, subsequently making the decision to cast and refined the trail.

Considering the weather the teams performed superbly.
Well done teams and thank you for trailing with Bay K9.

28/05/2025

Progression …. Goes up and down and revisiting elements and re enforcing foundations is yes going backwards to some , but yet it’s having to go back to improve and focus on certain elements .

This evening we had 3 very very powerful strong dogs with such focus determination it often causes them to over shoot or charge about (gentler dogs this would be casting) yes it’s the same but sometimes environments dictate how much charging (casting) is acceptable for the handling of the dog.
Over recent weeks we have really focused on these dogs improving this area so as to have more precision and more accurate decision making.

Moving from semi rural to more hard surface with short bursts of hunters trails over the weeks has definitely made an impact on these teams, with one huge impact being, to able to read the dog clearer , understand the negative and also when the trail is lost and recognising when to take the dog back to the last known trailing point to re cat them rather than them charging. @

Well done handlers as in this tricky environment on the roadside, crossings and supermarkets your wits are fully stretched, but with the components we have been working on tonight you all got to witness your trailing dogs work with some beautiful precision and nose to the ground.
done teams and thank you for trailing with Bay K9.

18/05/2025

Hot hot hot again.!! Despite this we had some absolutely fantastic trails from the teams some of which were amongst their best. All the teams got the chance to open spaces as well narrow footpaths.

We got to see some of the hard work we have put in over the weeks coming into fruition, where we have focused on slowing the hard strong dogs down and the dogs who become bewildered in open spaces gaining focus on the trail. To boot the efforts in encouraging a seated indication are starting to become the automatic.

Whilst we trail often for the dogs enjoyment today I got to see smiles from all the handlers at the success of their trails as well as how their confidence as handlers develops.

Teams, as you already know, every week you all make my day and keep me enthused to support you all and I thank you so much for that, you are all aware of just how you and your dogs all impact my life as well as your own. Well done to you and your dogs.

Thank you for trailing with Bay K9
X

12/05/2025

Hot hot hot 🔥 this Sunday we brought our session to an earlier start by starting an hour early. We also changed the location to a shaded area to compensate.

This week we again worked on back tracks, multiple route junctions and a massive focus on very strong high drive dogs to slow down and think about what they are doing, rather than charging around on blown or air scent to find the trail which when handling a large high drive dog can be somewhat over whelming. Today we got to see some of the work we have focused on coming to fruition.

We got to see how in these times of hot weather that the dogs can often be slightly off of the actual trail using the most productive source eg grass and foliage to follow the scent, we often get to see them using a flowing negative to help confirm the trail is still there.

I /we had a visit from Sue who gave Nika her first real opportunity to trail since the car accident which was quite an emotional and joyous moment to see and feel. Despite the temps and the waiting in the van between trails her confidence stayed in tact for her then for some fun.

Thank you to you all for trailing with BK9M

01/05/2025

April was a great month of trailing.

Objectives this month with the different teams were to focus on handling, reading the dog, fast and strong big dogs, low drive dogs as well as recognising negatives.

The components we used was to introduce and develop these skills were and also to work on any weaknesses within the team. We used unique ascent articles such as car door handles, gate indications, pelican crossing, back tracks, junction and multi junction start, split trails all of which enable us to get a better understanding of the dogs behaviours and the handlers behaviours whilst on the trail .

Recognising and understanding the dogs body’s language is essential in Mantrailing and negative indications are a valuable understanding of when the dog is not trailing. We can set up and use trails and sessions to enable us to see when a trailing behaviour is present or not. Getting to see when the dog looses the trail or indeed stops on the trail helps us to recognise a negative or when the strain stops.

With big strong fast powerful it is often is too hectic to see the changes in trailing behaviour and with smaller dogs their trailing behaviour can often not be seen due to their size.

Hunters trails can often be used to help dogs who may charge around sometimes overshooting but can also be used to extend the trail of less motivated dogs the hunters enable us to extend the length of the trail.

We have also been looking how our own body language can affect the trail, such as the dog looking back to the handler because they have lost their trail and notice the handler moving in a direction and take that motion as a queue to take a certain direction even though the steps of the handler actually incorrect.

What we always must remember that progression is non linear and we always revisit components and basic foundations as a point of revision and to develop progress successfully .
you for trailing with BK9M, Bay k9 Mantrailing

01/05/2025

Sometimes you can’t measure progress in a straight line, this is very much the case in dog training!

Many factors will influence the progress on a daily, weekly or monthly basis but as long as you keep working, keep showing up then you are already better than most!

I’m not one for motivational quotes or that, I just do the work, the work no one sees then you will always be making progress…

Photo Credit: Unknown

11/04/2025

This week ladies and gentlemen as well as dogs we are celebrating the retirement of Glen from the dog sports world. Glen is 15 now and has been Mantrailing for about 3 years.

He is now enjoying retirement between Spain and the lochs of Scotland as seen in the pics.

His handler Sue decided to embark on a new challenge and came to Bay K9 Mantrailing for a new challenge and discipline Mantrailing. When he can to us he had just retired from competition obedience. A huge difference in skills and discipline. Obedience the dog is close to the handler yet Mantrailing encourages the dog to have a freedom to search and investigate and make his own decisions.

Here is a word from Sue his handler, owner and friend.

“Glen and I came later in life to Mantrailing....in fact the boy will be 14 this year. Originally Glen was trained as a Competition Obedience dog and anyone who knows that discipline will be aware that dogs stick to your left leg when working and are in tune with their handler...not really working independently.Friends encouraged me to have a go and I was fortunate to meet Jason whose enthusiasm for Mantrailing is totally infectious.

Initially Glen was not confident working away from me but with sympathetic instruction and encouragement he began to work away from me.....Jason and I could not talk as Glen took it as a command from me and stopped and looked back.....but now....
Glen is totally engaged in the trailing...and as an older dog it is important that he uses his brain and is active....no way does he look like an old man on his pictures he is so focused.
It works both ways as our working partnership continues....we are still a team doing things together. I feel it also puts a spring in his step when he is out on his walks...a lot more sniffing too.”

For me seeing Glen blossom from working a lead length away at a time at each session to being 10m infront of Sue. I just loved witnessing a new confidence blossom and see his skills develop with every session.

He really is an example of the power of Mantrailing and the amazing abilities of a dogs nose. He is also a demonstration of how all dogs can do it, all ages and all levels of fitness in dogs and indeed the handlers.

I am proud to be a part of Glenn’s journey in Mantrailing and I am sure all the other teams who have trailed with Glenn and Sue are too.

Please ladies and gents let’s raise our Friday tipple and toast super Glenn (and of course Sue) who has been bitten by the trailing bug to come and trail Nika at some point.

31/03/2025

31/03/2025

Yesterday we trailed in Lancaster just outside of the town centre. This was the first urban trails some of the teams. A sunny but chilly morning.

The challenges were to step the teams up to scent article starts with introductions to road crossing at junctions. For the more experienced teams their focus was split trails and backtracks.

Distractions galore from public shopping and trolleys, busy traffic, dog walkers, cyclists on a busy public cycle track. Nearly every trail had had some form of disturbance from cycles, footfall and cars. These were dealt with superbly.

All in all a really successful morning you should all be proud of, I know I am . Kudos to us all.

Thanks for trailing with Bay K9

02/03/2025

Great session this morning . More distractions than you can list. It was very busy this morning.

We had car seat start , and a car find , bench seat starts, surface transitions and complex multiple junctions, prickly bushes over come.

What we also got to see, amidst the distractions some amazing negatives where we got chance to witness and also discuss after high lighting any negative indications in the dogs body language.

In Mantrailing observing and learning the dogs body language is a critical thing to learn and make trailing for the handler a bit more manageable. Body language such as head checks, quick change of directions the (cut back), flowing negatives. These are so important as the body language tell us the dog is still trailing and not distracted. It also gives us a reference point as to where the last designate time or point the dog was trailing. For example if the dog looses the trail the body language will change possibly into one negative behaviour. Once we recognise this we can the talk the dog back to the last known point they were trailing, this could make a head checks or cut back the made at the last bush. At this point the dog would then be returned to the bush and a circular cast is made at the junction and more often than not the dog should pick the trail back up and go off in the right direction.

well done teams great performances from the handler and some fantastic decision making from the dogs.