The Drumeții Montane Association announces the official launch of the national project "Mantrailing – Misiunea Prietenilor Canini" (Mantrailing – The Canine Friends' Mission), an initiative dedicated to lovers of dogs and sport, with the aim of forming specialised search and rescue intervention teams. The project runs from May to September 2025, at various locations in Bucharest and Ilfov County, and includes free training sessions every month.
Mantrailing.ro is a project dedicated to lovers of dogs and sport in Romania, created out of passion by a group of amateurs wishing to build an active and enthusiastic community.
What is mantrailing?
Mantrailing is a search method based on a person's unique scent, in which the dog, working as a team with its handler, follows a scent trail in order to locate a missing person. It is a sport accessible to all dogs, regardless of breed or level of training, and it brings important benefits both for the animal's development and for the bond between human and dog.
Free training sessions for the public
Every month, from May to August 2025, two free training sessions are organised, open to volunteers and to interested members of the public. Participation is possible on the basis of prior registration, and the training sessions include both a theoretical part and practical exercises in the field – from simple simulations in urban settings to complex trails in forests or mixed areas.
Intensive workshop and examinations in September
On 4–7 September 2025, the Drumeții Montane Association is organising the project's first intensive workshop in Bucharest. The event is dedicated both to practitioners and to those who want to find out more about mantrailing. Instructors from Hungary, members of the Debreceni Mantrailing és Kutyás Egyesület association, with extensive experience in the field, will take part. The workshop will include theoretical and practical sessions, and on the last day examinations will be held for levels K9-MT1, K9-MT2, K9-MT3 and K9-MT4.
Aim of the project
The project aims to create a national network of human–dog teams prepared for real interventions in cases of missing persons, accidents or natural disasters.
In a world increasingly exposed to natural hazards and man-made disasters, the ability to react quickly and effectively can make the difference between life and death. In this context, rescue dogs are an invaluable ally for intervention teams, and Romania urgently needs to expand and consolidate these specialised canine resources.
Unlike traditional search methods, a mantrailing dog can follow a trail that is several hours or even days old, over long distances and in a variety of environments – cities, forests, mountains or rural areas. This significantly reduces the effort of search teams and increases the chances of saving a life before it is too late.
Dogs trained for mantrailing do not replace the police, the fire service or other structures; they complement them. They provide direction and precise clues, eliminating large search areas and saving time and resources. Moreover, cooperation between humans and dogs increases the effectiveness of interventions and reduces the level of stress during operations.
An open and educational initiative
We wish to encourage both public institutions and private individuals, where associations or initiatives dedicated to training search and rescue dogs exist in their county, to support them and actively promote them. Romania needs as many well-trained teams as possible, capable of intervening quickly and effectively in critical situations.
Within the Mantrailing – Misiunea Prietenilor Canini project, the activities from May to August are open not only to volunteers but also to the general public, who are invited to take part, to watch demonstrations and to discover the real potential of dogs in rescue operations. This project actively contributes to educating the community and promoting civic responsibility.
For more information, please visit the project page www.mantrailing.ro
We thank our partners: DesignLemn.ro, Galltrophy.ro, Cuculis and Associates Law Office, RadioRomania.ro, Rfi.fr/ro, Pets&Cats, ZiarulActualitatea.ro, RomaniaPozitiva.ro, AmosNews.ro, ITexclusiv.ro, ZiarulNews.ro, ArgesPlus.ro, ArgesulOnline.ro, Criterii.ro, GddHD.ro, HelloDoggie.ro, Incomod-Media.ro, Infoest.ro, RefleqtMedia.ro, NewSteam.ro, Pandurul.ro, R3Media.ro, PRwave.ro, Revista-Femeia.ro, Sporttim.ro, Succes-Grup.ro, TotulDespreAnimale.ro, ZiarulDinMuscel.ro, Ziaruldevrancea.ro, ZiarulTricolorul.ro, Satmareanul.net, RadioBrasov.ro
