THOMAS STECKLER

Shaping mantrailing teams that move with confidence and clarity, guided by evidence, grounded in trust, and united by the dog’s extraordinary nose.

My journey in scent work began with a fascination for how dogs read the world and how a handler can truly connect with a dog through scent. After exploring different approaches, the GAK9 philosophygave me the structure, clarity, and scientific grounding I had been searching for. Much of my foundation comes from extensive training with Hans Mergits, whose guidance shaped my understanding of the GAK9 system. With my dogs Amy and Finja, I apply these principles in training and in IRO/FCI mantrailing competitions, supported by my certification as an IPO RH MT trail runner.

To broaden my skill set, I trained with Anja Lausberg and Ester van Summeren and completed the Mantrailing Masterclass with Jenny Wehage. I also regularly attend lectures by Christoph Rosenberger, whose structured approach to scent theory and dog behavior aligns perfectly with the GAK9 method. My work is grounded in science as well as practice, reflected in my membership inARGE Odorologie, a community dedicated to research in human scent discrimination and scent‑directed teamwork. I also bring expertise in dog fitness and conditioning, allowing me to prepare dogs physically and mentally for challenging trails.

Today, I help handlers and their dogs apply these principles in their own training. My focus is on handler awareness, clear communication, progressive and purposeful trail design, and building motivated, reliable dogs. My core values remain constant:

• · The dog is the scent expert — the handler observes, supports, and learns
• · Trails should be clear, purposeful, and progressively challenging
• · Emotional balance and motivation are essential
• · Precision builds consistency, and consistency builds trust.

For me, mantrailing is more than a sport, it is a partnership built on curiosity, respect, and the remarkable abilities of our dogs.