Chinthya Broeders

My name is Chinthya Broeders, and I live in Amersfoort,the Netherlands. Together with my dogs, Guus and Sophie, a Beabull mix of Beagle and Old English Bulldog, I have been passionately involved in scent detection and mantrailing for the past five years.

I spent 18 years serving in the Dutch military. During my time in the military, I had the opportunity to further develop my passion for scent work with dogs. I earned my Kynological Diploma and continued my education through various scent work modules. When Ester van Summeren offered the Sport Trailer Trainer course, I immediately saw how well it connected with my military background and experience. I eventually made the decision to honorably leave the military and turn my passion into my profession.

Both Guus and Sophie are, as you might expect from their breeds, quite strong-willed. That is exactly what I love about training with them. Sometimes it takes a lot of hard work to get them where we want to be, but that challenge is what makes it so interesting for me. They demand a lot from me as a trainer and continually challenge me to look closely, adjust my approach, and keep learning. What works for one dog does not necessarily work for the other. Training with them is not always easy, but it is incredibly rewarding and has taught me a great deal as a trainer.

What fascinates me most about mantrailing is that a dog can detect and follow a scent trail that is completely invisible to us. You have to learn to trust your dog and allow yourself to surrender to what is happening. As a handler, that sometimes means learning to let go During a trail, I enter a kind of bubble. The world around you seems to stand still. You become completely  focused on your dog, the trail, and the communication between the two of you. That is what makes mantrailing so special to me.

GAK9 Mantrailing appeals to me because it is so pure. It is about the dog, the handler, and the trust and connection between them. It is not only the dog that has to learn; the handler has to learn how to observe, listen, and trust as well.

My training style is clear, practical, and positive. I like to work with purpose and focus on what is actually happening in front of me. My military background has taught me to observe carefully, remain calm, take responsibility, and analyze situations. I bring those skills into my training. At the same time, I believe training should be enjoyable, and there is always room for a little humor along the way.

What I enjoy most about my work is helping people experience what happens when a dog and handler truly begin to work as a team. The moment when you learn to trust what your dog is telling you and successfully navigate a trail together is special every single time.

I want to use my experience and passion to introduce others to the world of GAK9 Mantrailing and, most importantly, help them experience how special it is to work with your dog through trust, teamwork, and mutual respect.

Trainer name: Chinthya Broeders
Area of training: Amersfoort, The Netherlands
www.nextrail-mantrailen.nl
[email protected]