The start - 100% important for handlers

Before starting any search, take a moment to check how the air is moving. Ask yourself: where is it coming from, where is it going, and what’s it doing in this space? This applies to mantrailing and scent work—indoors, outdoors, with containers, vehicles, or clutter. Odour moves through the environment, shaping your first handling choice. Check airflow at your height, but remember your dog works closer to the ground—under vehicles, along walls, around thresholds, or in corners. The air on your face may not match what your dog smells. Quick checks include feeling air on your face or hands, watching clues like grass, leaves, flags, fabric, loose hair, or flyaway strands, and noticing doors, fans, vents, shade, sun, walls, vehicle gaps, container lines, or structures that redirect air. Even “talc” works—rub it between your fingers and see how it drifts. Let what you read guide your handling: if air moves toward you, give your dog space to catch scent earlier; if it moves away, go deeper before deciding scent isn’t present; if it wraps around something, change your angle instead of repeating the same path. If the search stalls or your dog’s behaviour changes, reassess—airflow can shift. In training, pause at the start, predict where scent might travel, check air at your level and near the ground, choose your approach, then run the search and compare your prediction to your dog’s work. A quick air check before starting can shape how you move, wait, or adjust.