As part of the national project "Mantrailing - Misiunea Prietenilor Canini" (the Canine Friends' Mission), an initiative dedicated to lovers of dogs and sport, the Drumeții Montane Association has trained six handler-dog teams, with the aim of forming specialised search and rescue intervention teams.
During this period the teams have taken part in practical field training, both in urban environments and in forests.
Between 4 and 7 September 2025, the Drumeții Montane Association is organising the project's first intensive workshop in Bucharest, with the participation of instructors from Hungary, members of the Debreceni Mantrailing és Kutyás Egyesület association, who have extensive experience in the field.
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.
Besides the teams already formed, other teams from around the country will also take part, bringing the total to 12 teams that will learn and train together.
This project aims to create a national network of handler-dog teams prepared for real interventions in cases of missing persons, accidents or natural disasters.
In a world increasingly vulnerable to natural hazards and to disasters caused by human activity, a prompt and effective response can mean the difference between life and death. In this critical context, rescue dogs play an essential role, becoming indispensable partners for intervention teams. Romania faces an acute need to expand and consolidate these specialised canine resources in order to respond effectively to increasingly frequent challenges.
Unlike traditional search methods, a mantrailing dog can follow a trail that is several hours or even days old, over long distances and in diverse 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.
This initiative is open and educational, and the Drumeții Montane Association encourages both public institutions and private individuals to get involved and support these specialised associations.
Romania truly needs as many well-trained teams as possible, capable of intervening quickly and effectively in critical situations.
It is important to mention that dogs trained for mantrailing do not replace the police, the fire service or other structures, but complement them. They provide direction and precise clues, eliminating large search areas and saving time and resources.
For more information, please visit the project page www.mantrailing.ro
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