Close K9 was formed when Lee started canine tracking after qualifying as an operational GP dog handler in 2018 after being trained by a retired police dog handler. Previous to this Lee rescued working dog breeds from pet homes and worked in corporate training after leaving military service as a PTI.

The name Close came from being close to your working canine partner 24/7 and building a bond based on trust, companionship and joy. When Lee saw the potential of how operational tracking and trailing could be used for all dogs especially pets Lee fell in love with the sport. He quickly realised the benefits for reactive and unfocused dogs of all breeds.

Lee is a director of a company supplying professional level 2 and 3 operational NTIPDU and NASDU GP  dog handlers to the local authorities and private estates which includes tracking/trailing with dogs.

Lee and his wife Helen have one operational tracking Dutch Herder and one sport Mantrailing Dutch Herder and work together at Close K9 Mantrailing. Lee is the head instructor and Helen is the head trail-layer.

After over 15 years in the canine sector Lee became a Mantrailing instructor and formed a small group of dedicated trailers. He also conducts corporate training and team building simulation events.

Helen is an operational canine handler and works with Lee at Close K9 as the head trail-layer and administrator. Helen comes from a family that rescued dogs at their family home in Russia and grew up being surrounded by dogs of all breeds. Helen fell in love with mantrailing after seeing how it dramatically improved the focus of dogs and handlers teams being trained.

Lee and Helen now own a private operational training facility near the Welsh borders and conduct introductions, progression sessions and workshops in Wyre Forest District, Milton Keynes and Northampton.

Mantrailing CV

Lee Hasdell

* Head Trainer at Close K9.
* Mantrailing Global Certified & Accredited Instructor.
* Tactical TrackR Head Instructor.
* NTIPDU GP Level 2 Dog Handler.
* NASDU GP Level 2 Dog Handler.
* Canine First Aid.
* First Aider Level 3.
* DBS Checked.
* Fully Insured with PBI.
* Evolution K9 Decoy.
* Over 15 years as an operational GP K9 Tracking Handler.
* 10 years in corporate training.
* Former Royal Engineer EOD.

Helen Hasdell

* Close K9 Head Trail Layer.
* NTIPDU lv 2 GP Dog Handler.
* Operational K9 Dog Handler & Tracker.
* DBS Checked.
* Human First Aider.
* Canine First Aider.
* Tactical TrackR Trail Layer & Decoy Certified.