Welcome to the exciting world of Mantrailing and finding people with a dog!

Welcome to the exciting world of Mantrailing and finding people with a dog! 

Mantrailing is a K9 Search and Rescue specialty that is quickly becoming popular as a sport and recreation for all dogs to enjoy. 

Mantrailing dogs use the nose to scent discriminate one person from all other people to locate the one particular person.

A truly amazing fact about Mantrailing is how quickly most dogs’ take to this type of training and how quickly the dogs find people. Dogs love to use their nose to find people. The fun part of Mantrailing is that we follow the dog and allow the dog to lead the way! 

To Read how to Start Mantrailing, Step by Step..(click to the book's amazon page in all countries) 

You and your dog will be finding a person from the first day of training and beyond. 

The book is available worldwide and features dogs from Scotland and the USA . The link should change to your country, if not, email me to get a copy sent to you,,, contact@familydisasterdogs.com

Each training session uses a time tested and proven step by step method for solid reliable success on the trail. 

You will learn to read the dog and the dog will learn to tell you what they find. Both of you will have a great introduction to the exciting world of Mantrailing dogs.

Order Ebooks directly from me at my online book store, the author of Family Disaster Dogs book and Start Mantrailing book

Have fun with your dogs today!

A part of the book profits go to Response Rescue International to support their volunteer mission to find missing persons..

For much less than the cost of  one in-person class get the book and train to advance level ! 

 The dog’s nose knows!

All dogs have a natural ability to hunt with certain breeds developed and bred for specific types of hunting. 

Bird dogs are bred to hunt birds, herding dogs hunt missing herd members, fox hounds hunt fox, etc. 

Bloodhounds are the most well-known and oldest breed of dog bred to hunt people and the breed is classified as a trailing dog due the way they hunt.

Follow your dog's nose and look us up on Facebook at facebook.com/familydisasterdogs 

there's a group and a page

Twitter us at  @URDogCanRescueU

New Book Release Sept 11, 2021 Start Mantrailing Train a Dog to Find People

 

New Book Release Sept 11, 2021 

Release Date set to honor of the dog teams who worked 9/11 attack in NYC 

Ebooks are available now by visiting my new store here   for books shipped directly from me.

A Buy Now button coming soon from Amazon or get the paperback at the new store link above.

Start Mantrailing 

Train a Dog to Find People 

Step by Step for Fun, Sport and Work

by Amber Higgins

Cover dog: K9 Amber owned and handled by 

RRI North Scotland Operational handler Jackie Davidson

Feel free to email me via the contact page for a paperback copy hot off the printing press!

Ebook copies are available upon request before the print date release

Learn all about Mantrailing in simple terms

Train any breed of dog with step by step instructions

Follow your dog on an exciting journey to find missing persons and hidden people

Stay Strong and Carry On!

In Dog's we Trust

Click here to get a 10 day free Listen to the Family Disaster Dogs book on Audible 

The Story Behind the Family Disaster Dogs idea, books, blog and lessons

Interview With Author Amber Higgins on NFREADS.COM

Please introduce yourself and your books!

Hello,

I’m Amber Higgins, the author of three books that tell dog owners how to use the family dog to find missing loved ones and help during disasters. I’ve also self-published a short story called, “A Squirrel Planted an Acorn”.

I always was a writer and dog lover. My work was first published offline in the 1990’s in magazines and newspapers, including a weekly herbal health column that ran two years. I set writing aside for about fifteen years to volunteer with my bloodhounds and German shepherds I raised, trained and placed nationwide for search and rescue work. I’ve worked with pets since 1976 as a professional master groomer, dog trainer and pet business owner until recently semi-retiring to spend more time writing.

What is the story behind your book(s)?

When the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, we were awakened at 3 am by tsunami sirens and evacuation phone calls on the Oregon coast where I was living writing other books. As I was watching the event unfold on television because we lived on a hill and were safe, I looked at my bloodhound Daisy who sat next to me and the idea for the Family Disaster Dog books dawned on me.

All of a sudden I thought of the many ways our dogs can help us! Family dogs can learn how to help their owners like search dogs do! Our own dogs can find us! They do this everyday when they want to play or go outside, our dogs are always wishing to follow us so why not ask them to find people they love who may be lost or trapped after an earthquake or tsunami ? Dogs can carry evacuation bags for young children, seniors and disabled family members who cannot carry the weight themselves!

That night, I began writing the “Family Disaster Dogs” book and lessons tailored to fit any dog’s household and family. Every dog can do something ! One simple skill may save a life. I knew that writing a book and publishing takes time so I started a blog to reach dog owners as I wrote the book. Right away, people online loved the idea!

Today, there are over two hundred Family Disaster Dogs articles online and the site has daily visitors from all over the world. The original Family Disaster Dogs book was published in 2015 by a publisher who went out of business 2016. I added 50 more pages of lessons and self-published the second edition in 2017 along with a small but helpful book called Evacuate with Your Dog’s Help-Survival Bag List.

My children’s book with illustrations by UK dog cartoonist, Scotty King, was recently released by Waldorf Publishing (2019).

What were the best, worst and most surprising things you encountered during the entire process of completing your book(s)?

I was surprised that dogs and owners as far away as Scotland and Australia were learning from what I posted on the blog! This encouraged me to keep the lesson ideas flowing, they were learning valuable skills with their dogs and what to do in emergencies to help themselves and communities. The best thing was that people wanted to know more. The worst experience was my first publisher going out of business a year after publishing the book.

What are your plans for future books?

I have two more children’s books in this genre planned and three other children books in draft I wrote years ago, along with a novel almost completed.

Tell us some quirky facts about yourself

I once lived on a mountain top 4 miles to the nearest electric pole and wrote by the flame of an oil lantern. I wrote my young daughter children books for Christmas on an old royal typewriter under the glow of the oil lamp. One day I will self-publish those books I have carried around in draft for thirty years.

Amazon author page is  https://www.amazon.com/Amber-Higgins/

Twitter is @URdogCanRescueU

Facebook author page is  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberHiggins/

Facebook Family Disaster Dogs page is  https://www.facebook.com/familydisasterdogs/

Website https://www.familydisasterdogs.com

Books

Evacuate with Your Dog's Help

My Puppy Can Find Me Publisher Page

https://www.waldorfpublishing.com/collections/2019/products/my-puppy-can-find-me

Family Dog can Find Missing Loved Ones-watch video to learn how easy

Here is a video of my family dog, "Washee" learning to look for a family member. 

The wind is blowing very hard making the scent trail blow around also.

Training note: Sand surfaces hold scent differently than dirt or grass surfaces. By watching and reading the dog on each different surface, the handler learns with the dog what to expect on those surfaces. Every surface type should be worked in training to gradually and eventually learn how scent behaves in each type of surface and environment.

Keep in Mind

Our family dogs can find lost or missing friends and family they know. Our dogs do this every day when they want attention, food or to go outside, they find us. So why not ask them to find mom, or whoever is missing from the pack?

I can show you how,...just ask or read my books or visit the Family Disaster Dogs site.

You can look us up on Facebook and Twitter, too!

Facebook Family Disaster Dogs

Twitter URDogCanRescueU

Washee

I Did It! I Found Her!

Follow us on Facebook too!

Happy Thanksgiving from Family Disaster Dogs 2019

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone
from
Family Disaster Dogs

Happy Turkey Day dogs! 

Starting a Bloodhound and any Dog on Scent-Trailing

Starting a Bloodhound on a Scent-Trailing Overview

Search and Rescue Dogs are trained to search for people three different ways; air scenting, tracking or trailing.

There is a big difference in the way the dogs work the scent which is why Bloodhounds are called "Mantrailers" and other breeds are not.

Read more about Scent Articles- How a Dog Follows Its Nose

In this article, we are going to begin with basic trailing, the easiest way  to learn with your family dog.

Trailing is what Bloodhounds do because they follow the scent as the scent moves around and with the person. Other breeds "track" not "trail" a person by following the footstep scent or direct path of the person.

When a dog is using a "Scent Article" to search for a missing person or item then the handler must give the scent to the dog or let the dog have a smell of it. There is more about scent articles on the scent article page.

Here are photos showing the steps of giving scent to a five month old Bloodhound puppy named Sambo.

First I put him in his tracking harness and leash, notice how good he sits there...(click for lessons page)

Then I ask him to take a smell of the inside of the bag that is holding the scent article.

I hold the bag with the article under his nose and saying "Smell" He investigates, of course.

I then say " go Find" and off we go! Only 5 months old and look at him go!
 I follow him.

Notice the long leash is thrown out behind the handler so the handler( me) does not get caught in the leash. This is very  Important ! Otherwise you and your dog can be injured.

The handler only holds the leash lightly and held high so the dog can be allowed to work without any pulling or directions or tension from the handler.

As the dog moves forward the handler lets the leash slip through the right hand and uses the left hand to move the leash forward or throw the leash behind and pull the leash in... if the dog comes backwards.

When the handler goes to the dog, the handler will throw the leash behind her with the left hand which pulls the leash through her right hand to avoid getting tangled in the long tracking lead.

Once a handler gets the idea then the dog is reeled in or out almost like fishing.

It helps to hook the long leash onto a child or person and have them pretend to be a dog while you learn to work the leash. This type of leash work can be tricky at first with a dog so it is best for you to get the hang of how to handle the leash before your dog learns how.

Click  Page BUTTONS  at the Bottom of Page or 
ON THE RIGHT for the more free Lessons
Mobile device users look for the menu button

Click here to go my Amazon author page and get free preview of the 

"Family Disaster Dogs" 
(print copy available via contact page above)
and 
"How-to Evacuate with Pets " 
books

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Coming soon

"My Puppy Can Find Me "
children picture book

by Amber Higgins
Based on the Family Disaster Dogs book and lessons

with 
UK  Cartoonist
Helen "Scotty" King

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twitter the author at @URDogCanRescueU

Facebook.com/authorAmberHiggins

Does Your Dog Need More Training?

Dogs are extremely obedient animals, even when they have a mind and personality of their own. Humans first domesticated them partly because of this fact, and it worked a treat coupled with how much we enjoy their company. And yet, there are a lot of dogs out there that misbehave from time to time, or a few times every single day, and usually it’s not their fault.

But a lot of people don’t realise this, and expect our beloved canine companions to learn how to sit patiently on their own. And whilst a very well trained and loving dog can help you find a lost member of your family, it doesn’t apply to every canine out there.

Picture

Maybe Fido Barks a Lot

If your dog barks a lot it could be for a variety of reasons, so the first step is to make you know what causes you to bark. Maybe it’s the postman, maybe it’s people walking past the house outside, maybe it’s even you! Either way, it’s time to convince Fido out of his habit, and make sure he’s a lot calmer when it comes to meeting new people and having his home ‘invaded’, even if you live there!

When Fido gets going, try to distract him, or teach him a counter behavior to make sure he gets into another habit. Of course you don’t want your dog to stop barking completely, it’s both a warning sign and a way they communicate, but it doesn’t have to be excessive either. So next time he’s outside and goes off, choose to ignore him to show you don’t appreciate his way of getting your attention.

Spot Seems to Have Selective Hearing

If your dog ignores you, it’s probably because you’ve accidentally reinforced this behavior before now. So you need to learn to undo this, and start to communicate with Spot on her level. And by that, you’re going to have to become a lot more visual with your movements and commands, and don’t talk as much as you used to.

Reward Spot when she does listen to you, and try to keep your verbal commands to a minimum if she doesn’t.

You Think Fluffy Has More Potential...

Fluffy is a good dog, and you know for a fact their talents could be put to better use elsewhere. So it’s time to enter a training program; this could be for a dog show or something more heavy duty, like that of being seeing eye dog or a hearing animal. If you go through a program like certapet to get an official certificate out the other side, your dog is going to be a first class service animal, and you’re never going to be more proud. There’s always a strict criteria, and don’t get put out if Fluffy fails it, it’s for their own good!

When you train a dog, you need to be consistent in what you show, and firm but fair with your commands. A dog always learns from us!

Follow That Dog! Find a Lost Child with Your Own Dog!

Have you ever wondered if your dog could find your child ?

Does your dog follow your child or other family member around the house and yard?
Sure they do, dogs like to keep an eye on those they love!

Sometimes a dog may favor one person in the family for one reason or another. This favoritism does not mean the dog is not fond of you or not keeping track of the other people in the family..this only means they like to be near that favorite person for reasons only the dog may know.

Many dogs follow us from room to room or wait outside a closed door for our return. Most dogs do. Other dogs lay in a favorite spot with one eye open watching us as they relax, others snore and we have no idea if they are paying attention or not. Smiles.

JR one of my bloodhound pups that went on to Find Missing Persons in OK

All the dog will do one thing in common and that is they miss us when we leave them home alone.

They may wait in silence being brave and not show concern for some time. They may whimper and pace wishing us home sooner. Either way they wonder where you or I went when we leave the room, house or yard.

This talent that dogs have for watching over us is natural for our dogs to do. It's part of our dog's instinct to know where members of the dog pack are, and it's part of herding and hunting.

This dedication to us that dogs show can be used to the advantage if your child is ever lost. If a loved one has wandered away from the house or yard...Please take a close look at the family dog and see if the dog is sitting, laying or pacing at a certain spot for the person to return.

We always forget to take a look at the dog who lives with the person who is missing.

The dog might have a valuable clue.

If they are looking in one direction or attempting to go in one direction and the person has left the sight of the dog than most likely the dog is showing you what direction the person went.

If a child or elderly adult wanders from the yard without the family dog..please take the dog out on a leash to the last spot the person was at in the yard and ask the dog "where is the person,by name" and encourage the dog to go to the person, open the yard gate and follow that dog!

Give the dog a smell of the person's scent, let the dog smell a sock the person has wore or other clothing then give the dog space to find and follow the scent they just smelled.

Give the dog room and a very loose leash and follow the dog!

A dog can smell a known human scent miles away on the wind, try to stay down wind so the dog can get a scent of the person they know and follow that dog!





Train any family dog to find a family member with my kids book "My Puppy Can Find Me" by Amber Higgins (USA) and dog cartoonist Helen "Scotty" King (UK) (This book was first self-published but was accepted by a  publisher for release in 2019 print, audio and eBook editions. Sign up for email updates and follow us to be included in the celebration!

Learn how your dog can find anybody at Family Disaster Dogs  online or get my other dog books below.

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