Discover Mantrailing and tap into your dog’s natural scenting instincts. It’s the ultimate game of hide and seek—one you’ll both love!
Why not give it a go? Join a friendly community of dog lovers who enjoy nothing more than getting out and exploring with their dogs. The benefits for both you and your dog are huge. Once you try it, you’ll see why this amazing activity is so addictive—you’ll only wish you’d started sooner.
Open to dogs of all breeds, ages, and abilities. It’s also ideal for reactive, nervous, or anxious dogs. Puppies can join from 6 months, and senior dogs often thrive.
Meet Our Instructor
Introducing Deirdre Diggins, the force behind K9 Trailblazers and a fully qualified Global Mantrailing instructor.
With extensive professional training under her belt, Deirdre is committed to the highest standards of scent work coaching.
- Her training philosophy is deeply rooted in dog welfare and safety, ensuring every session is a positive experience for your four-legged partner. Deirdre is truly passionate about empowering dog-and-handler teams, helping them build lasting confidence and discover the absolute joy of mantrailing together. Whether you are beginners or advancing your skills, her expert guidance helps you unlock your dog's natural abilities in a secure, fun environment.
Join Deirdre on the trail and start your journey toward a stronger bond and an adventurous lifestyle.
Participation Rules
To participate in mantrailing sessions, dogs must be physically fit and medically sound, with any existing health conditions properly managed.
To ensure a safe and productive environment for all participants and their dogs, we ask that you adhere to the following guidelines during our trailing sessions and events.
- Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times unless explicitly instructed otherwise by a trainer.
- Please maintain a respectful distance from other dog-handler teams to avoid unnecessary stress or distractions.
- Ensure your dog is healthy and up to date with vaccinations before attending any group session.
- Handlers are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs and disposing of waste appropriately.
- Respect the local environment and public spaces where our trails take place.
We appreciate your cooperation in making K9 Trailblazers a welcoming community for all explorers.
Sign-up and Payments
Registration Process
All participants must complete our registration form prior to their first session. This ensures we have the necessary details regarding your dog's age, breed, and any specific behavioral or health considerations.
Once submitted, our team will review your application and confirm your chosen session or workshop.
Payment Methods & Terms
We accept all major credit and debit cards. Payment is required in full at the time of booking to secure your spot in the session.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that life with dogs can be unpredictable. However, to ensure we can provide the best service to all our trailblazers, we maintain the following cancellation and refund procedures. Please review these terms carefully before booking your session.
Notice Period & Fees
- Cancellations made more than 48 hours before the trail: Full refund or session credit.
- Cancellations made between 24 and 48 hours: 50% cancellation fee apply to the booking total.
- Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the session: Non-refundable and no credit provided.
Refund Procedures
All refund requests must be submitted in writing to info@k9trailblazers.uk. Approved refunds will be processed back to the original payment method within 5-7 business days. Alternatively, you may opt for a full session credit to use for future trail bookings with no expiry date.
Weather & Safety Cancellations
In the rare event that K9 Trailblazers must cancel a session due to extreme weather conditions or trainer illness, you will be notified via SMS and email. In these instances, you will receive a 100% refund or a priority rebooking for the next available slot.
Behavior at Training Sessions
Safety First
- Dogs must remain on lead unless instructed otherwise by the trainer.
- Maintain a safe distance of at least 5 metres between dogs at all times.
- Ensure your dog is wearing a secure, well-fitting harness for trailing.
- All dogs must remain in your vehicle until instructed otherwise. This applies on arrival and during the session.
Respect for Others
Please respect the focus of other teams; do not approach a working dog while they are on a trail. We foster a supportive atmosphere—encourage your fellow trailblazers!
Our Environment
- Clean up after your dog immediately and dispose of waste in designated bins.
- Avoid shouting or harsh corrections; we use positive reinforcement to build trust.
- Be mindful of local residents and wildlife in public training areas.
Equipment and Clothing
For Your Dog
For Handlers
- A well-fitting, non-restrictive harness (so no anti pull harnesses or harnesses with material in a bar across the chest).
- A long line (5m-10m) — no extendable flexi-leads please.
- Very High-value rewards (wet food, tinned fish or similar) in tubs, small enough to fit in a pocket but wide enough for your dog to eat from.
- Plenty of fresh water for breaks.
- Sturdy, waterproof footwear with good grip (boots or trail shoes).
- Weather-appropriate clothing (layers and waterproofs).
- High-visibility vest or clothing for urban trailing (supplied).
- You’ll also need a scent article – something that smells of you that you don’t mind putting on muddy ground, into puddles, and potentially being picked up and/or slobbered on by a dog! e.g scarf, buff, bandana or hankerchief.
- A sealed ziplock bag for scent articles.
Dog Welfare Policy
At K9 Trailblazers, your dog's wellness and safety are at the heart of everything we do. Guided by Deirdre Diggins, a fully qualified Global Mantrailing instructor, we provide expert training that combines professional certification with a deep commitment to animal welfare. Deirdre is passionate about helping handlers and their dogs bond through scent work, fostering mutual trust and confidence so every team can navigate their trails with skill, security, and true joy.
Health and Physical Readiness
- All dogs must be in good physical health and up to date with vaccinations before participating in trails.
- Handlers are responsible for ensuring their dogs are fit for the specific terrain and weather conditions of the scheduled session.
- We maintain a strict policy of 'resting' dogs in their vehicle between trails to prevent physical exhaustion and mental fatigue.
Equipment and Safety Standards
We require the use of high-quality, non-restrictive Y-front harnesses to ensure freedom of movement during scent work. Safety lines must be checked for integrity before every session, and we provide guidance on the correct handling of long lines to prevent entanglement or sudden jolts.
Environmental Ethics
Trails are planned with the local ecosystem in mind. We ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife and strictly follow 'Leave No Trace' principles. Every trail is vetted to ensure there are no environmental hazards that could cause harm to a dog's paws or respiratory system.
Non-Disclosure
K9 Trailblazers is committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional confidentiality. This policy outlines our mutual agreement regarding the protection of sensitive information and proprietary training methods shared during our sessions.
- Client Confidentiality: All personal information, dog behavioural records, and private communications between the trainer and the client are treated as strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to third parties without prior written consent.
- Proprietary Methods: Our mantrailing techniques, specialized tracking exercises, and proprietary curriculum are the intellectual property of K9 Trailblazers. Clients agree not to record, redistribute, or teach these methods to others for commercial purposes.
- Data Protection: We handle all data in compliance with current privacy regulations, ensuring your trail records and progress reports are stored securely.
By participating in our training programs, both trainer and client acknowledge the importance of this mutual trust to ensure a safe and effective learning environment for both humans and dogs.
Picture/Video Permission
During our training sessions, we often capture photographs or video footage to document your dog's progress and showcase the unique experiences of mantrailing. This media helps us provide visual feedback to you and celebrate the community of K9 Trailblazers.
• Captured media may be used on our official website, social media channels, and within promotional materials.
• Your consent is assumed upon booking a session unless you explicitly notify us otherwise in writing.
• We respect your privacy: if you prefer not to be featured, please let us know before the session begins.
Our goal is to share the joy of the trail while ensuring every handler and dog feels comfortable. Detailed wording regarding specific usage rights and withdrawal of consent can be adjusted here as per your final legal requirements.
No Guarantee of Success
At K9 Trailblazers, we provide professional guidance and evidence-based training methods to support your dog's development. Please understand that training outcomes are influenced by various factors including genetics, environment, and owner consistency.
- Individual progress varies between teams.
- Outcomes depend on a variety of elements.
The ultimate response of a living animal cannot be guaranteed, even with professional coaching.