Trailing in Perthshire
Trailing is a dog sport in which a dog and handler team follow a scent trail to a hidden person (man trailing) or pet (pet trailing).
Read on to find out how you can learn to trail with your own dog, what it involves, and why I think trailing is such a fantastic sport.
Come Trail in Perthshire:
If you are completely new to trailing:
I offer Introduction to Trailing sessions that cover the ins and outs of trailing, line handling skills and trailing protocols, and give every dog and handler team the experience of navigating their first starter trails. These 3-hour sessions are fun, inclusive and designed for complete beginners. Each session will be for a maximum of four participants (i.e. handler and dog teams) and costs £40 to attend.
Upcoming Introduction to Trailing sessions:
Sunday, 1st June, 10am - 1pm (Crieff area)
Sunday 13th July, 10am - 1pm (Pitlochry/Dunkeld area)
Saturday, 2nd August, 1pm - 4pm (Dunning area)
(The exact locations will be confirmed in the week prior to the session).
To book a place on one of the sessions above, please contact me.
If you have attended my Introduction to Trailing Session:
Once you have completed the Introduction to Trailing Session, you can come to trail at any of my regular trailing sessions across Perthshire. These are held in different locations and cater to all abilities (we will lay individual trails that are suitable for the level of each dog and handler team). These sessions are serious fun; they are a wonderful day out with our dogs while we level up our trailing skills. We'll cover topics such as navigating junctions, difficulties, trailing along roads, pet- and man-trails, searches without a clear start point, aged trails, etc. Each session is for a maximum of four participants (handler and dog teams) and will last 2.5 - 3 hours. The cost to attend is £30.
Upcoming Regular Trailing sessions:
Sunday, 15th June, 10am - 1pm (Pitlochry/Dunkeld area)
Saturday, 28th June, 1pm - 4pm (Perth area)
Sunday 6th July, 10am - 1pm (Crieff area)
Sunday, 3rd August 10am - 1pm (Dunning area)
Saturday, 30th August, 1pm - 4pm (Pitlochry/Dunkeld area)
(The exact locations will be confirmed in the week prior to the session).
To book a place on one of the sessions above, please contact me.
If you have trailed before but have not attended my Introduction to Trailing session, please just get in touch in the first instance to discuss the most suitable session for you to attend.
What you need to trail with your dog:
Getting started with trailing is easy, but you will need to bring a few things to each trailing session:
For your dog:
- A well-fitting harness: while trailing, we attach the long line to a harness and allow the dog to navigate the trail in front of us.
- A long line: while trailing, we handle the dog on a long line. This can be between 7.5 and 10m in length. (Retractable leads are NOT suitable).
- A normal lead: when not trailing, we handle our dogs on their normal leads. This can be attached to a harness or collar.
- Treats for your dog: to reward them for their great work!
- Additional high-value treats in a small sealed container: for the runner to take with them and to reward your dog when they are found!
- Poo bags: always!
- Water for your dog: bring a bowl and a filled water bottle
For yourself:
- Suitable clothing and footwear: we'll be trailing in the great outdoors in Scotland... I don't think I need to explain the Scottish weather here, but come prepared... this could mean raincoats, sunglasses, sunscreen, or any or all of the above. Please wear suitable, flat-soled footwear (hiking shoes or trainers are ideal).
- Optional: a drink and a snack: This is entirely up to you, but there'll be time to have a little breather!
Three Reasons Why I Love Trailing:
1. Trailing is dog-centric: The sense of smell is the primary sense through which dogs experience the world; where we humans see the world, our dogs smell it. Compared to us humans, dogs also have a far superior sense of smell; where we have around 5 million scent receptors, dogs have around 300 million! Trailing, therefore, taps into many activities that are very natural for dogs, such as sniffing, following and finding things. Many dogs enjoy trailing, and when that’s the case, it’s a great way of providing enrichment that caters to the needs and abilities of our dogs.
2. Trailing is great for the bond between handler and dog: The dog and their handler work as a team on the trail; the dog leads the way by following the scent trail (often much to the amazement of the handler; it can be difficult for us humans to comprehend just how good our dogs’ noses are!), while the handler follows the dog and pays close attention to the body language. The successful finding of the hidden person or pet is often very rewarding for dogs and handlers alike.
3. Trailing is inclusive: Trailing can be a fantastic sport for many dogs (even those with behavioural quirks!). Dogs of any breed and age can trail (in principle), so it’s a very inclusive sport. While trailing, dogs are always on a long line, so it’s great for dogs with a high prey drive that aren’t usually allowed to be off the lead. Because only one dog trails at a time, it’s also great for dogs that struggle with reactivity or the general busyness of other dog sports.
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