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 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.