Page 114 - K9 News - Issue 14 - December 2020

dogs taking part and each owner gets to be the and trails where the dog has a maximum of 30
Misper for 3 of the dogs. This teaches them to minutes to find the Misper (plus some other
follow the scent they have been offered from the specific requirements) – before we are assessed
sealed bag, rather than just ‘find’ the first person by a qualified Assessor and are upgraded to
who gave them a reward. Each training session Level 2. I think Sula and I are a long way off that
consists of at least six ‘finds’ for each dog. just now!

Each training session is held in a public place so The beauty of this activity is that you can
that dogs can expect natural distractions, such train as often (or not) as suits your lifestyle,
as other dog walkers, cyclists, maintenance although a training session once a month is
vehicles (and in Sula’s case, a family with three recommended as a minimum. There is not much
toddlers all eating ice-cream – that could have physical activity involved (compared to a good
been messy!) dog walk) but each dog appears to be mentally
tired and content afterwards.
We are all issued with Record/Log books which
are completed by the owner (details such as If you are interested in this activity, have a look
location, weather/wind condition, terrain surface at the Mantrailing UK website to see if there is a
and a small diagram of one of the trails followed trainer near you. If not, and you can get enough
– no artistic skills are required – as long as you people interested, they are always happy to
can hold a pen and draw a straight or squiggly come to your area and set up an Introduction
line, that works well enough!). The trainer also course.
signs off each training session in the book and
also comments on the dog’s performance and Del Richards and Sula.
may suggest areas to work on.

Over time the trails are
made more complicated
and longer periods
between the Misper laying
the trail and the dog being
asked to find him/her. As
they progress, the dog
doesn’t even get to see
the Misper at all at the
start, but is given the scent
article only. Some dogs
are quick to pick up that
an ‘indication’ of having
found the Misper is useful
(a ‘Sit’ or bark perhaps,
although barking is not
really encouraged).

Sula and I are still at
Level 1 – and we have
to complete at least 20
training sessions with
some ‘single blind’ trails,
aged trails, 400m trails

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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / DECEMBER 2020