New Canine Sporting Activity Sessions Available

Charlton Park Estate welcomes Anna Zabinska and Follow Dogs to the growing catalogue of canine sports and activities available on the Estate.

Follow Dogs will be offering classes as part of a varied programme of classes around the UK providing training for Mantrailing or trailing as it is often referred to.

Anna explains Mantrailing for those that have not yet experienced the sport ‘If you want to understand trailing you should know that every person leaves behind an individual scent trail, just like a fingerprint. When we teach dog trailing, we teach them to follow that individual scent trail and ignore all other scents left by people in surrounding environment.’

That form of search work is already practiced by Police and Search and Rescue organisations all over the world. Fortunately, every dog is capable of following scent thanks to its natural hunting capabilities and my role as a trainer is just to develop that skill. This form of activity can be fantastic for any dog regardless of the age and breed as exercises are always tailored to the dog’s level. In our classes we welcomed puppies as young as 8-weeks-old, very active, high driven dogs but also seniors. Trailing is being considered a low impact activity since there is no running or jumping involved but one which provides an amazing brain stimulation due to continuous problem solving when following scent. It usually takes one session for dogs to understand the process as the training is based on their instinctual responses. The role of the handler on the other hand is to learn reading dog’s body language and to understand when the dog is in scent and when it might be losing it due to environmental conditions.

Trailing is a very natural activity for dogs, and it can fulfil most dogs’ behavioural modification programs, become a new sport for you and your dog or in some cases takes you on a journey to become an operational Search and Rescue team.

To find out more, or to book a class please contact Anna directly using by visiting her Facebook page by clicking here or email directly using followdogs@hotmail.com

Are you ready for this cultural explosion?!!

We are so excited to share the WOMAD 2022 line-up with you all! Exciting is a very small adjective for describing this announcement. Find out more about the incredible artists in store at this year’s festival on the WOMAD website, and watch and share the announcement video here.

Take a listen to the 2022 playlist to get in the party spirit and tune in to Radio WOMAD, streaming LIVE via Mixcloud from 12 – 3pm this afternoon only, in celebration of their announcement. To find out more about WOMAD, past festivals and our venue click here.

If you haven’t got your tickets already, what are you waiting for? Snap them up before they’re gone! Click here to go to the WOMAD ticket shop.

‘Cycling With Dogs! Is Bikejoring As Barking Mad As It Looks?’  

In recent weeks GCN (Global Cycling Network) an organisation championing cycling and all things bikes has uploaded onto their You Tube Channel a fantastic documentary called ‘Cycling With Dogs! Is Bikejoring As Barking Mad As It Looks?’ that focuses on dog sports.

This mini documentary was filmed here at the Estate with event organisers N.A.T.B. Dogs Sports. We have been hosting N.A.T.B dog sport events at Charlton Park Estate for over 4 years now and N.A.T.B. Dogs Sports have developed ‘one of the most technical courses in the UK’.  

We are pleased to support this growing sport and N.A.T.B. Dogs Sports community who hold their private events here. Their current club membership includes a variety of champions past and present, in many various dog sports disciplines and are a very friendly club with a wealth of experience and knowledge provided from within their membership base.

They have members who have been participating for many years in so whether you are just starting out or already have many years of experience and you are looking for information then use details below to get in touch. The team at N.A.T.B. Dogs Sports can help you with your questions about wheeled events and talk you through the ins and outs of canicross bikejor scooter and much more. 

Take a few minutes to have a look at this documentary – the dogs are just amazing to watch in this family friendly inclusive sport. Click here to watch the documentary

To find out more about the Estate and what we have to offer visit our homepage by clicking here.

About GCN Mini Documentary  

Cycling With Dogs! Is Bikejoring As Barking Mad As It Looks? Dogs and sleds go hand in hand, but what do you do if there’s no snow? Bikejoring is the answer, with dogs pulling bikes instead! When we found out about this sport, we had to send Hank to give it a go – is it really as barking mad as it sounds?!

About N.A.T.B. Dogs Sports  

A non-profit organisation and amateur sports club that was formed by individuals who felt there was a growing need for positive promotion of dog-related sports in a non-biased, friendly, and constructive manner. We are all volunteers and whilst club membership is currently full all our  members are involved someway in the running of the club and our events.

Everyone enjoys cake and time with their dogs very much and spends their spare time passing on that love for both. While the club is currently at capacity for membership the events we run are open to all mushers and mono competitors. You do not have to be a club member to attend one of our events. Please message them using; natbdogsports@gmail.com or find them on Facebook @NATBDogSports Or visit the website if you just want to have a look by clicking here Photography Credits: ©BeMoreDogPhotography