Your responsibilities.

By booking a course with Follow Dogz Training you accept all responsibility for yourself and your dogs health and safety and undertake the trails at your own risk. While Follow Dogz Training will endeavour to provide fully accessible trails, each location is described fully and Follow Dogs Training/ Mantrailing UK cannot be held liable for any injury to yourself or your dog if the environment is not suitable for either of you. If you or your dog have a limitation, physical or mental, it is your responsibility to contact us prior to booking to ensure that the environment is suitable. Any discussions as to suitability of location with details of a personal nature will be confidential between yourselves and Follow Dogz Training. We do not hold any records detailing health issues but may make a brief note, for example, owner struggles with stairs, dog struggles with people, in order to help you get the most from your session. We expect you to conduct yourself with empathy and consideration for the other owners/dogs present at all times and we operate a do not approach policy, please do not approach other cars/dogs unless the owner asks you to. It is your responsibility to inform us and your Misper of any peculiarities your dog has when approached by other people, for example if your dog doesn't like eye contact or is frightened of men, the safety of your Misper is your responsibility if you know your dog may react. Please also notify us if your dog does a sit indication or if you wish to train this. Any belligerent, judgemental or unsafe behaviour, use of aversive equipment or failure to follow instructions will mean your session ends without refund. Follow Dogz Training will not permit aversive tools or techniques to be employed, we advocate for force free training. During nighttime sessions held in residential areas we ask that you keep barking and loud conversation to a minimum to avoid disturbance to residents and loss of locations.

Any dog showing signs of potential communicable illness, not limited to coughing, sneezing, diarrhoea or vomiting, cannot participate in a session until 7 days have passed after the end of the symptoms unless a definitive cause is known in which case a 72 hour exclusion applies. For example, if the dog eats something and then vomits or has diarrhoea this will not exclude the dog for 7 days however as we want the dogs to enjoy the day we ask you give them 72 hours to recover before trailing.

You accept participation on a course does not qualify you to be a Search and rescue team, nor does it qualify you to teach Mantrailing to others, only qualified instructors with Mantrailing UK are permitted to offer courses, seminars, workshops, introductions and progressions. 

Refund policy.

Follow Dogz Training reserves the right to retain any money paid if less than 48 notice is given at our discretion for normal training days, no shows without notice will not be refunded nor will any future bookings if you are asked to leave a session for any of the the reasons detailed above. For 3rd party bookings due to the extra costs involved should we be unable to fill the space you will be sent one voucher for a normal session as a refund. Bitches in season will automatically be issued a voucher even if cancelled on the day as we are unable to allow them to participate and appreciate that sometimes seasons can happen unexpectedly, we would ask that if possible you attend without your dog to Misper and enable the session to run so that others don't miss a days training. Should you notice any coughing or sudden gastric issues in your dog on the day then you must inform me immediately, any issues noticed within 7 days of the event should also be notified so we can make the other participants aware.

Cancellations by Follow Dogz Training. We require a minimum number of people to run the events, should we need to cancel for this or any other reason then all participants will receive a voucher code to rebook or will be transferred to an alternative date. If you cancel your place before the event is cancelled then you will not be entitled to a voucher code if your nonattendance is the reason for cancelling the event.

Data protection.

You agree that by the completion of this form you consent to the collection and use of your personal information by Follow Dogz Training.  We will only use your personal information, for example but not limited to, your name, address, phone number and email as well as basic notes of any physical or mental limitations, to administer your account and provide guidance as to suitability of locations. We will not share any of your personal information with other organisations or individuals without your express permission. Bookwhen does not store any credit or debit card details used for booking sessions, the information may be prefilled but this is information stored on your device, Follow Dogz Training does not have access to this information.

On the day

Please arrive in time for your dog to toilet before being put back in the car, before getting your dog out check it is safe to do so by asking me, when you have your dog out please maintain distance from other dogs and handlers, we will make you aware if a reactive dog is present. If you wish to bring someone to hide for your dog (due to nervousness or people reactivity or for your own support) then this is fine, during the session you will be asked to hide for other participants and they for you, if you would rather not do this then please make sure we are made aware in advance of the session so we can arrange extra Mispers.

 

Dogs must be on lead at all times while trailing and must be able to settle in the car at all other times. You are responsible for ensuring that the dog is comfortable, neither too hot nor too cold and has access to water at all times. Follow Dogz Training will endeavour to avoid periods of intense heat, ice or stormy weather and will cancel the session if there is a risk to owners or dogs however we expect attendees to bring suitable clothing and footwear and a way to dry your dog/keep them warm or cold. British weather can be unpredictable but we will not allow participation if you are  completely unprepared (for example but not limited to, not having  any car covers or a way to keep the car cool on hot days, no towels, spare coats or dry bedding on wet days).

Please note footwear must be suitable for the terrain, trainers boots or wellies are advised for most places, trailing in flip flops or slip on shoes will not be allowed, sandals are allowed in summer provided they fasten securely and have a good tread but please bear in mind in grassy/wooded areas you may need to walk through undergrowth. 

We will provide High Vis vests for when you are in public spaces, this is a legal requirement, all vests are washed after each use however if you plan to do a lot of trailing we can provide personalised vests for you to purchase, please ask for details. We accept that you may not wish to borrow a vest from us due to Covid however it will be your responsibility to bring one if this is the case. 

Follow Dogz Training use photographs and videos on social media, this website and other advertising, no personal information other than the dogs name will be used. During booking there is a tick box to say you give permission before you are able to continue with the booking.  if you do not wish for your dogs pictures to be used in this way then it is incumbent on yourself to ensure we are made aware well before the session. 
We trail in a variety of locations including shops and retail locations and use a variety of novel items such as car seats, door handles etc to take scent from, we are aware that some clients may be concerned about Covid or be vulnerable/carers. If you have concerns about a location or particular scent article then please make us aware at the time of booking, we can get people to act as Mispers in your stead if given notice if you do not wish to enter shops and you can bring your own novel scent items. 

Your dog must have a collar with tag as this a legal requirement and a normal lead. Part of the Mantrailing ritual involves putting on a harness however we appreciate some dogs are walked in harnesses, in this case please contact me to discuss alternatives. If you decide to progress through the assessments, putting the harness on at the beginning of a trail is required.

For the trail you will need a long line which is 7-10m long, ideally a biothane or rubber grip one as ropes or lunge lines can be bulky and difficult to manage if you have a strong dog. For your first session i have leads available to borrow and can order them in a variety of colours. I advise wearing a pair of thin gloves to enhance grip if your dog is likely to pull as lead burns can sting. For extra strong dogs or if you do not have a lot of grip or physical strength we will double line your dog until the game is learnt and your dog can be slowed by more complicated trails.  
You will need 6 pots for food rewards or 1 large and two small ones to refill between trails or a toy your dog loves but doesn't play with often if your dog wont work for food. Food is ideal as the act of licking stimulates pleasure endorphins in the dog and creates a sense of calm and happiness. This is one of the reasons Mantrailing works so well for people reactive dogs, they are able to lick tasty food offered in a non threatening way by a stranger and approach at their own pace and so receive a good dose of happy hormones which they associate with meeting the strange person. The tubs should be big enough that your dog can get their nose in easily but small enough for the Misper to hold in one hand away from them if your dog is nervous. The best foods are cat food, meat pastes, wet cheese eg primula or a wet dog food. If you choose to use fish please use one in spring water not oil and drain excess fluid, your Misper may not appreciate being covered in fish oil by an excited dogs tongue! If you do bring oily fish then please be considerate and provide your Misper with wet wipes.

You must have fresh clean water for your dog for after their trail, they work hard sniffing and will be thirsty. If trailing during the summer make sure you have enough for the whole session and also plenty of drinks for yourself.

Your dog must be able to be left in the car, on warm days the dog should be able to be restrained so the windows and boot can be left open. If your dog is too destructive to be left in the car and you have no means of crating them please make sure we know as this may mean you may not be able to Misper. I am fully qualified to assist you in car training and can arrange training session prior to the event but will not have time to do so on the day.

You will also need a scent article in a ziplock bag or glass jar. This will be a clean sock, face mask or other cloth item that is able to be worn against the skin to absorb your scent and used by the dog to find you. Ladies, tucking your scent article into your bra will impregnate the scent the best, Gents please tuck into your waistband, we ask you use a clean item so that the article is as free from other contaminants as possible eg other pet or environment smells to help the dog to learn scent discrimination especially if other people from your household are partaking on the session.

It goes without saying that you MUST pick up after your dog, we would also appreciate being notified of any poo left by other walkers, as a lot of sessions are held in private areas any dog poo left on site will be blamed on our session and we could lose access to the venue. You must take your own dogs poo home.