Welcome to Helping Hounds Dog Training Academy
Unleashing your dogs potential through scent work and games based training principles!
Mantrailing
Mantrailing is a specialised type of scent work in which a dog is trained to follow the unique scent trail of a specific person, often over varying terrains and in different environments.
The activity involves the dog sniffing an item carrying the target person's scent, then tracking and locating that individual, with the handler guiding and supporting the search. Mantrailing is accessible to people of all backgrounds and dogs of any breed or age, making it an inclusive and engaging pursuit.
For both handler and dog, mantrailing fosters teamwork, communication, and trust, while offering physical exercise and mental stimulation. The process not only enhances the dog's confidence and sense of purpose but also provides the handler with a rewarding way to bond with their companion and develop valuable problem-solving skills together.
Trail Hunt International
Trail Hunt International is a new discipline within the scent work world, offering a modern and inclusive approach to canine scent sport.
What sets Trail Hunt International apart is its innovative blend of traditional scent work disciplines, such as mantrailing and tracking, with creative challenges that encourage both dogs and handlers to develop versatile skills. It is open to dogs of all breeds and ages, as well as handlers from every background and experience level, making it accessible and welcoming to a broad community.
Participants benefit from expertly designed activities that foster teamwork, build confidence, and provide valuable mental and physical stimulation, ensuring enjoyable and rewarding experiences for both dog and handler. Trail Hunt International helps to strengthen the bond between humans and their canine companions, while supporting personal growth and wellbeing through shared achievement.
Tracking
Canine tracking is a discipline where dogs are trained to follow the specific scent trail left by a person or animal on the ground, using crushed vegetation and disturbed soil as olfactory cues. Unlike mantrailing, which focuses on the individual’s unique scent and can be undertaken across a variety of environments, tracking is more structured, typically following a path where the tracklayer has walked and often includes identifying articles left along the route.
The benefits of tracking include enhancing a dog’s concentration, endurance, and natural scenting abilities, while providing an enjoyable and rewarding challenge for both dog and handler. Tracking is open to dogs of all breeds and ages, as well as handlers of any experience level, making it an accessible activity that encourages teamwork and strengthens the bond between participants.
Scent Detection
Scent detection training for dogs involves teaching them to identify and indicate the presence of specific odours. This form of training encourages dogs to harness their innate olfactory abilities, making the process both enjoyable and mentally challenging for them. Not only does scent detection training provide a constructive way to channel your dog's energy, but it also helps improve their focus, problem-solving skills, and overall confidence.
By participating in scent detection activities together, you and your dog can deepen your relationship, foster trust, and celebrate shared achievements, all while supporting your dog's emotional wellbeing and reducing unwanted behaviours at home.
4 week course taking you and your dog through the foundation exercises for Trail Hunt International
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4 week course taking you and your dog through the foundation exercises for Trail Hunt International
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Join us to learn the foundations of Mantrailing in this two and half hour workshop
Club sessions allow you to practice your skills and develop the learning for you and your dog.
Join us for an unparalleled 2 hour journey into the science and art of scent work!
Courses, Classes & Workshops
Meet your trainer
Welcome to Helping Hounds Dog Training Academy!
Hello...my name is Lisa and I am the dog trainer / scentwork instructor behind Helping Hounds. I became a dog trainer in 2021 after my rescued ex-street dog from Greece, took me on a journey of discovery into the world of complex dogs with big feelings! He is the reason I followed a path to develop my knowledge and understanding of all things "dog", which means I am now able to help others who find themselves in the same position I was a few years ago! Since early 2024 I have immersed myself into the world of scent work and discovered the amazing benefits of tapping into the dogs primary sense for navigating the world.
I have 4 dogs of my own, all of which are overseas rescues and I believe this provides me with a great insight into the often challenging world of adopting rescue dogs, particularly from outside of the UK. I also work with Street Hearts BG, a dog rescue in Bulgaria, on a voluntary basis providing training advice & guidance to adopters. Helping Hounds offers a range of services and utilises a positive reinforcement approach to training. I believe it is important to understand what is driving your dog to behave the way they are, so that we can develop a plan that effectively changes that behaviour as opposed to suppressing it. There is no "one size fits all" training approach and I will always work with you to understand your dog, their circumstances, their history and help formulate a bespoke approach to meet your dogs specific needs.
I now specialise in scent work modalities which includes, mantrailing, tracking and scent detection. I am also currently the only qualified instructor in Lancashire offering Trail Hunt International, Scent Support and Scent Walks programs & workshops. To ensure I maintain my skills to enable me to be the most up to date and knowledgeable instructor for you, I am also a member of the Scent Work Instructors Charter. This means I have to maintain my knowledge through continued professional development training every year and am re-assessed via a case study submission on an annual basis.
Experienced, qualified and fully insured, I look forward to being able to help you with any challenges you and your fur family member is facing or welcoming you along to one of my workshops or classes.
I would highy recommend Helping Hounds. Lisa is very professional and knowledgable.
Lisa was exceptionally helpful and came to our house and gave a brilliant 1-1 session to help me with my border collie. We covered a range of different training techniques to help with pulling and even had some games to take away
I would definitely recommend.
James Fairhurst, Longton, Lancashire
I've just completed the initial Trail Hunt International foundations course with my rescue labrador. She's nervous and can be reactive, but Lisa worked with her strengths and amended her training to suit. 3 weeks later and she is more confident, more focused and we loved every minute of the course. We will definitely be continuing with Lisa and highly recommend her as a trainer and highly recommend this course.
Jane Clayton, Leyland, Lancashire
Met with Lisa yesterday to try and gain some understanding of our spaniel and how to address a few issues especially with barking at people and noises. I felt totally at ease with her lovely attentive manner. Her explanations of why my dog is behaving the way she does made total sense. Lisa drew up a plan which was emailed to me so I could refer to it all the time. A very professional service, I know we have work to do but that is down to us investing the time to address these issues . After 4 previous trainers I finally feel like I have found someone in Lisa who is doing this work for her genuine want to help and not in it just for the money .. can’t thank her enough as I’m seeing small changes already in both my dogs!
I would highly recommended!
Adele Thompson, Longton, Lancashire
Testimonials
What a fantastic introductory course. It has built confidence with my reactive dog and the bond between is. Lisa is a fabulous trainer, patient, positive and motivational with great depth of dog training knowledge to enable you and your dog to get the very best out of each session. Can’t believe how much can be achieved in a short time. Really enjoyed it and highly recommend
Loraine Simpson, Longton, Lancashire