05/20/2026
FREE
Online sport SAR mantrailing course
Join Melissa Stagnaro, training director for ARSA the all-breed American Working Dog Federation Sport Search and Rescue U.S. organization, for a six-month course to prepare you, your dog, and your team of helpers for the FCI/IRO Sport SAR Mantrailing tests.
Beginning June 2 and every other Tuesday (skipping one date, see below), from 8P - 10P Eastern U.S. time, there will be an interactive Zoom call covering:
Scent specific foundation
Scent specific training
Building mantrailing skills for dog, handler, and trail layer
Why your training isn't as effective as it could be
Starts
Scent challenges
Trail difficulty factors
Boots on the ground planning
Final indication and continued training
Pass this invitation on to your mantrailing friends and your trail layers, flankers, and trail plotters.
No experience needed to join. For those new to mantailing, there will be time during each class for questions. Mantrailing requires a support team of humans but this course will give you exercises to work on your own to make the most of the group time as well as tips on how to find or make a trailing training group.
How to join
To be invited to the first lecture or to receive the link to the first lecture's recording you must email me no later than June 1, 2026.
To be invited to the second and all subsequent lectures you must opt in during the live class or by commenting on the recording.
To sign up and for any questions email - [email protected]
Session dates
June 2
June 16
June 30
July 14
*Skip 28th*
Aug 11
Aug 25
Sept 8
Sept 22
Oct 6
Oct 20
Nov 3
Nov 17
Pictured are Melissa, her GSP, trail layer, and support team at the successful conclusion of the GAK9 urban level 4 double blind test; passing this test is extremely uncommon and they passed this test on the first attempt.