Man Trailing & Pet Trailing with Howl School for Dogs

Join Kerry from Howl School for Dogs (qualified and APDT accredited dog trainer) for man trailing and pet trailing across a range of locations. This fun and enriching activity will teach you and your dog how to harness the power of your dog's nose to follow a trail and find the lost person or dog.

Groups are limited to 4 dogs only and while they are waiting for their turn they will wait inside your car (supervised), temperature allowing. The session will last 2 hours and we always begin by meeting and parking as a group in a public carpark, deliberately choosing quieter times. Your dog will engage in 3 trails. If they are a beginner these trails will be short as we build up their skills. When not trailling your dog will need to wait in your car whilst supervised, either by you or another member of our group.

Most dogs thrive in this activity, even nervous or reactive dogs as at no point do any dogs interact with each other - however if your dog is a bite risk please get in touch so we can a plan that helps them and everyone to succeed. Groups are limited to 4 dogs only and while they are waiting for their turn they will wait inside your car (supervised), temperature allowing. If your dog struggles being in a car this may not be the activity for you.

As well as finding a lost person and a lost dog you and your dog may also be asked to hide for another trailing team, unless you would rather not.

An 8-10m longline (not a retractible one, unless you are a wheelchair user)

Another lead (your usual walking one)

Your dog wearing a harness (Y-shaped is preferable)

A bandana

A lot of very high value rewards (cheese, chicken, fish, sausage etc) & a treat pouch

A basket muzzle (if your dog is a bite risk or XL bully)

A car

Comfortable shoes

A chew or something your dog can engage with while they are waiting in the car

Water for you and your dog

To watch the video below before coming along.

If you can bring an additional person with you that would be great, but not essential!

Howl School for Dogs is committed to ethical dog handling and therefore I do not permit the use of headcollars, slip leads, choke chains, martingale collars, no-pull equipment, shock collars or prong collars in these sessions. A Y-shaped harness is preferable.

Lead corrections or punishment are not to be used.

At no point are dogs permitted to be offlead in this session and nor should anyone approach anyone else's dog (without permission). Dogs are not to interract, unless a dog is trailling another one - and even then they will be at a distance of at least 10meters away.

Host or Publisher Howl School for Dogs