Mantrailing Workshop
Storm jumps out of the back of the van, all long snout, muscles and teeth, gets his harness on to signal he’s in work mode and then his head is in the air, as he calmly takes a scent inventory.
Animal care student Ellie Gillan, Simon’s assistant, sits briefly on a bench and then hides. Storm is led to where she was sitting and Simon says “check” and then “find”.
Storm casts – sniffs the air, in no particular order – to pick up her scent then drags Simon to Ellie’s hiding spot, getting a treat.
Search and rescue dogs undergo the same training. And now it’s our turn. I retrieve my slightly less fierce looking labradoodle Pepper from the car, let her greet everyone – she’s the friendliest thing – then get to work.
Pepper and I circle Ellie three times saying “check”, hoping Pepper is taking in Ellie’s scent – she looks confused but happy.
After showing Pepper her treat – the most motivating object was her tennis ball – Ellie runs several metres away.
Next, with Pepper straining at the leash, we let her sniff a cloth with Ellie’s scent on, say “check” and “find” and loosen the leash. Pepper immediately makes a dash for Ellie and her ball. Good dog.
I was in no doubt that Pepper would run to wherever her treat was, but in later stages of the workshop Pepper was happy to follow Ellie’s scent just for the fun of it.
After seeing how much fun she had and, having witnessed over the years her innate ability to find abandoned balls, I’m keen to work on honing her skills.
My other dog Phantom also had a go but we struggled to find what best motivated her. She is very much a mummy’s girl and initially just wanted to stay with me.
No matter what tasty treat Ellie ran off with, she stood bemused, slowly wafting her tail around.
We have often said it’s lucky Phantom has a pretty face, but Simon assured me she would get the hang of it.
“Dogs are amazing – you just have to find what excites them and then work with that,” he says.