About Mantrailing Lancashire

Learning from the "Experts": Our Personal  Crew

 I'm Alex, and I have been working with dogs for over 20 years, so you can be confident that you and your trailing partner and in safe hands!

I currently share my life with a crew of four dogs, predominantly Terriers and Terrier mixes. I (mostly!) love the drive, tenacity and enthusaim that Terriers have, they love life, and they LOVE learning!

They also drive me to become a better Instructor. Anyone who knows Terriers, knows that what works for training one one day, most propbably won't work for the next. They are highly prey driven, all training is on their terms, they have the biggest attitudes and personalities and, keep you thinking outside the box -  because you never know what they'll do next! They also require a trainer who is patient, creative, and highly adaptable—qualities I pride myself on being. 

You can meet my personal crew here.

Scentwork and Mantrailing for Reactive Dogs - My Journey

My path to becoming a Mantrailing Instrucor started from a very personal place: my own experience of owning a reactive dog.

When you own a dog that doesnt particulalry like other dogs, it can be really isolating. You can't take them to a standard class, meaning you miss out on the socialising (both human and dog!), and you definitely can't just nip to the park for a quick walk. Instead, you spend your time wandering round industrial estates, avoiding other people, booking secure fields, and trying to find online courses to do. Add to all this the sheer amount of conflicting advice online, and trying to navigate daily life is then a total minefield.

So, I decided to take training into my own hands. I began volunteering with a local trainer to build up my practical handling skills, which quickly led me into the world of scent based sports. I qualified as a Scentwork Instructor in 2018, but it was when I discovered Mantrailing that everything changed.

Here was a fast paced, low impact sport, that didn't need any special equipment, that my reactive dog could fully join in with. All dogs working on an individual basis meant that I could train my dog in a safe, pressure free environment, building both of our confidence, whilst giving her a great mental workout.

I loved the sport so much that I trained to become a Mantrailing UK Instructor in 2019, then progressed onto becoming an assessor in 2020.

My Training Philosophy

All of my classes, workshops and events are strictly force-free and reward-based, using food, toys and play. I look at it this way: If I expect to paid paid for my work, then the dogs should be paid for their hard work too! Giving them a high value reward at the end of a succesful trail, keeps the training fun, positive and motivating.

To ensure you recieve the highest quality coaching, I regularly travel across the country to attend seminars and workshops, join online summits, complete new qualifications, and take rigorous assessments. I am committed to continuous professional development (CPD), including advanced trailing seminars, Search and Rescue Summits,  so that everything I teach is founded on thmost current behavioural science.

Life in the Dog Sport World

I like to keep both my personal and professional training varied and interesting, not just for the dogs sake, but for mine too! Angside running Mantrailing Lancashire, I also run weekly Scentwork classes and workshops with my partner business Nell and Co and am incredibly active in the dog sport world. I compete in the International K9 Toss and Fetch League, Royal Kennel Club Obedience and also Breed Showing.

I am also a member of NHDTC, and have been heavily involved in Competitive Obedience for years,  even representing the Northern Team at the Inter Regional Obedience competition at Crfts 2022, and am also a qualified Royal Kennel Club Obedience Judge, giving me a great background in precision, trust and being able to break down complex exercises, so that I and you can get the best work from the dogs.

Professional Qualifications

IMDT Learning, Motivation and Reinforcement - Level 3 - 2017

UK Sniffer Dogs Bronze Instructor - October 2018

Mantrailing UK Instructor - July 2019

Scentwork UK Instructor - August 2020

Mantrailing UK Assessor - November 2020

Canine Principles - Settling Through Scentwork For Highly Aroused Dogs - July 2022

Canine Principles - Noses For Nature - February 2023

Kennel Club Obedience Judge - October 2023

School Of Canine Science - Scent For Six - January 2024

Advanced Canine First Aid - September 2020 & September 2024

Fenzi Dog Sport Academy - Nosework Handling and Improvements - March 2025

Further qualifications in Canine Hoopers, Scentwork and Canine Coaching Foundations also held.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Highlights

International Bloodhound Training Institute Mantrailing Seminar - November 2021

Canine Principles - Predation Substitute Training - February 2023

Canine Principles - Clicking For Resilience - February 2023

Regular Obedience workshops (Jo Hill, Jessica Lewis) from 2019 to Present

Canine Principles - Emotional Intelligence and Mindfulness - November 2023

Canine Principles - Clients and Sport Dog Training - November 2025

Canine Principles - Canine Ethology and Enrichment - November 2025

Centre for Forensic Training and Education - K9 SAR Summit - November 2025

Extensive CPD is also completed annually.

We invite you to follow Mantrailing Lancashire on Facebook and Instagram to stay up-to-date on our latest training sessions, offers, and workshops!