Dog Training Camp - A Week of Learning for Mrok and Us

A week in the woods – training camp for dogs and humans Mrok’s story, and ours too

Mrok had just turned 18 months - the age when we wanted to intensify our efforts to find a type of training that would match both his social and working needs. We don’t have a herd of animals he could round up, and our three cats are far from the ideal pack for a young, energetic male ACD 😉 .

First day, first discovery – the Brda River looks like a perfect spot for canine-human bonding breaks.

So we needed to find an activity that would challenge him both mentally and physically.

It turned out to be surprisingly hard to compare the different options. If he does scent tracking on Thursday and obedience training on Saturday, how are we supposed to tell which suits him better?

Marika explains the finer points of handling during a search - somewhere among the plastic vehicles, a tiny scent source waits for Mrok.

A quick reminder for those unfamiliar with our approach: Mrok is our everyday companion, part of our family and our adventures. He walks a lot, travels in a bike trailer, sleeps in a rooftop tent and joins us on kayaking trips. So any extra training should complement these activities - and add something more "dog-like" to the mix.

The solution came in the form of a week-long dog-and-human camp, where participants could take part in various types of canine activities focused on teamwork between handler and dog. Most importantly, the whole program was relaxed, friendly, and led by professionals in different areas of dog training.

It’s not special effects - it’s scent science. The blue smoke shows how wind, heat, and humidity shift the trail, and how dogs follow what we can’t see.

We arrived late Sunday afternoon in the heart of the Tuchola Forest. It’s a place far enough from civilization to let you fully focus on your dog’s needs. Primeval forest, gravel roads, and birdsong as the only uninvited noise.

The camp was hosted by a rural guesthouse called W harmonii lasu - with local food, friendly staff, and trees outside every window, it was the perfect spot for this kind of work. Fifteen dogs, twelve owners, and three trainers - each person sharing a room with their dog.

No cues, no commands - just quiet shaping. Mrok starts from a stand, and bit by bit, we work our way toward a calm flop onto the left side.

Why did this format turn out to be such a good idea for us? Because every dog joined three activities of the owner's choice - selected on the very first day. If someone wasn’t sure what to pick, the trainers helped with recommendations, and it was also possible to switch activities or add a new one later on. After every session, each handler could objectively assess their dog’s interest and progress - and at the end of the week, this gave us a clear picture of what suited Mrok best.

Trust, timing, and tiny movements - Monika and Mrok near the quiet finale of a complex behavior, one patient breath at a time.

We won’t cover all activities offered at the camp - we’ll focus on the ones we picked:

1. Nosework

2. Shaping

3. Mantrailing (utility scent tracking)

We thought we already knew the basics of each, but only by taking part could we truly understand how they work - for the dog, and for the human.

Under the watchful eye of trainer Marika, Monika and Mrok navigate a search scene where every step counts.

1. Nosework - Mrok’s trainer: Marika

In simple terms, nosework is about locating a hidden scent source. To do that, the dog searches through a relatively small - but often complex - search area, called a ring. Imagine a tiny object the size of a coin, scented with vanilla, hidden in a messy, toy-filled child’s room full of distracting smells. With step-by-step guidance and teamwork, the dog learns to locate the scent.

Before reaching that level, both dog and handler need to master some basics - and that’s exactly how we started.

Tracking begins. Somewhere out there, a hidden volunteer waits - and her sock just became a key piece of evidence.

Mrok had already been introduced to nosework before, and we practiced it at home. But the camp helped us approach it in a more conscious, structured way. Although it seems like a mostly stationary activity, the creativity of the trainers proved otherwise. One day, we were working indoors. A few days later, we were in the center of a little town, searching for scent sources under benches and behind trash bins. That experience showed us just how much potential lies in a good partnership - and in Mrok’s nose.

Turns out rivers don’t hide the scent - they carry it. Bartek plays the ‘wanted man’ in a scent workshop straight from the jungle... of Tuchola.

2. Shaping - Trainer: Agnieszka (Mrok’s regular trainer)

This was easily one of the most fascinating types of training I’ve seen. Had we not already tried it at home with Agnieszka, I wouldn’t have believed it was possible for Mrok to perform something he didn’t even know yet - just because I had the idea in my head. To make sure I describe it correctly, I asked Agnieszka (an experienced trainer and behaviorist) to summarize it in her own words:

This messy corner of childhood chaos? Perfect for nosework. Mrok sniffs with purpose while Marika tracks every move through the window.

“Shaping is a method that allows you to teach a dog any behavior it’s physically capable of performing - especially those it wouldn’t do naturally. It’s based on breaking the final behavior down into smaller parts and marking any spontaneous attempts using a marker (a word or a clicker sound).The dog takes full initiative - no verbal cues or gestures from the human. It’s a bit like playing hot-and-cold, except you only say ‘hot’ - the dog gets no feedback on what not to do, only on what’s getting closer.”

At home, we used shaping to teach Mrok how to walk closely by our side. At the camp, we decided to try something more ambitious: “dead dog” - lying completely still on one side.

Sounds far-fetched? Well, we caught ourselves going “wow” with every new stage of Mrok’s dramatically convincing corpse impersonation.

New place, familiar rhythm - after a few days at the camp, Mrok claimed the forest paths with confidence and a wide smile.

Agnieszka also briefly explained two other techniques used to teach dog behaviors:

• Capturing - used for behaviors the dog offers naturally (like stretching, shaking off, digging). You wait for the behavior to appear, label it with a cue, and reward it.

• Luring - using food to guide the dog into a specific position (for example, moving a treat down toward the ground to prompt a down). Over time, food is phased out, then gestures are minimized, until only a small signal or voice command remains.

3. Mantrailing - Trainer: Ewa

This was the big discovery of the week - for us, and especially for Mrok’s incredible nose.

Mantrailing is all about finding a specific person, using their scent. The dog is given an item belonging to the missing person and then follows their unique scent trail to locate them.

You’ve probably seen it in movies: someone lets a dog sniff a scarf, says “search!”, and off it goes - only to find the missing person a few scenes later. But this isn’t Hollywood magic - it’s what dogs really can do.

Monika and Mrok on the trail - trainer Ewa records every move to later compare the dog’s path with the one left by the hidden volunteer.

I’ll admit, I was proud. The first time Mrok tracked a hidden volunteer in the woods - as if following an invisible string - I could hardly believe it. But Ewa smiled and said, “That was just a basic exercise. A dog’s nose was made for this.”

She explained how scent trails can vary in age, complexity, and be affected by wind, weather, or other smells. Yet a well-trained dog, prepared step by step, can overcome all of that and still find the person.

When the playground becomes a search field - finding the target scent in this sensory chaos is no walk in the park.

That’s a lot, isn’t it? Every single day, Mrok took part in three training sessions, one for each activity we had chosen for him. We observed his progress, listened carefully to the trainers’ comments, and slowly started to understand more.

Our biggest takeaway wasn’t which activity we should focus on in the future - but something deeper: Contrary to common belief, an Australian Cattle Dog doesn’t need constant physical exhaustion to be fulfilled. In fact, pushing them too hard physically can be counterproductive. What works best is a mix: mental work + a walk through open meadows.

Day off, paddles out - Kasia takes Enzo and Gabi on a quiet kayak cruise through the green heart of the forest.

The week flew by. We were honestly surprised by how much progress can happen in such a short time — in a setting that felt more like a holiday than a formal training course.

I’m still not sure who was more tired at the end - Mrok or us. 😊

Wait - did I mention that the camp also included: – a fascinating presentation on the roots of aggressive behavior in dogs, – scent theory workshops to help us understand how dogs interpret scent trails, – hands-on creative sessions where we made our own markers and decorations for dog gear, – kayaking trips, bike rides with Mrok, and peaceful walks in the woods?

Colorful tags and ID markers? Not from a fancy pet store - these are handmade creations from our crafty camp session with trainer Marika.

And wherever there were dogs - there was always one of the trainers quietly present, making sure things went smoothly. Now I know for sure - neither we nor the dogs were the most tired.

The real heroes of this camp were Agnieszka, Marika, and Ewa.

Looking back, it wasn’t just a week of discovery for Mrok - it was a week made possible by three people who knew exactly when to guide, when to step back, and how to read both dog and human with quiet precision.

Their ability to turn every little success - both ours and our dogs’ - into something meaningful speaks volumes about their professionalism and dedication. And it’s not something you come across often.

I have a feeling you’ll be reading more about them on Paws to Peaks.

What began as training became something more - shared moments, wagging tails, and a peaceful paddle down a river that felt like it belonged to all of us.