What is BRH Mantrailing certification?
The German rescue-dog federation BRH's Mantrailing regulations, with 3 progressive tests: Mantrailer-Basistest, MT Suche (search) and MT Negativ (recognising the absence of a trail).
International certification
BRH Mantrailing: the 3 tests of the German rescue-dog federation
BRH (Bundesverband Rettungshunde e.V.) is a German rescue-dog federation, with its own nationwide exam regulation ("Bundesweite Prüfungsordnung", per DIN 13050). Mantrailing has 3 progressive tests: the Mantrailer-Basistest (foundation), MT Suche (finding a specific person) and MT Negativ (recognising that no trail is present to follow) - an essential skill for real search work, to avoid false alarms.
What BRH Mantrailing certification is
BRH exam results are mutually recognised across all affiliated rescue-dog units (Rettungshundestaffeln). After passing every test of a specialty, the final decision on the team's deployment readiness rests with its own unit.
An important organisational rule: a team cannot take the Mantrailing tests within its own unit - examination must be done independently, by an assessor outside the handler's usual training group.
Who can enter
- The handler must be at least 16 years old and a member of a BRH-affiliated unit or an IRO member organisation.
- The dog must be identifiable by an implanted microchip and be up to date on vaccinations (rabies mandatory, plus core vaccines per veterinary recommendation).
- The handler must carry dog liability insurance, renewed annually with their unit.
- For MT Suche, MT Negativ and the deployment check, a valid first-aid course, per the German DGUV standard, is required.
The 3 tests, one by one
| Test | Trail length | Trail age | Working time | What is tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mantrailer-Basistest (MTB) | 800-900 m | 1-2 hours | 35 minutes (+ ~5 minutes for breaks) | Starts at a small crossing with at least 3 possible departure directions; the trail contains at least 3 decision points, in a rural or urban setting (or both). |
| MT Suche | 1,000-1,200 m | 8-24 hours (the trail is laid the day before) | 60 minutes (+ ~5 minutes for breaks) | Finding a specific person, under conditions close to a real deployment; passing requires the person to be found AND correctly indicated by the dog - a false report by the handler automatically fails the test. |
| MT Negativ | a 50-150 m trail, or none at all | 20-60 minutes (if a trail exists) | 20 minutes | The dog must recognise either the complete absence of a trail, or exactly where a short trail ends (the decoy driven away in a closed car); the handler is not told which scenario applies. |
Source: BRH - Bundesweite Prüfungsordnung, section 2.6. The dog works in a harness or on a collar, with a search line up to 10 m long.
The scent article
Only individually packaged, uncoated gauze, compresses or cotton triangular cloths are used, carried for at least one hour on the target person's body before use. The article is sealed in a bag, then inside a closed jar, with a clear, verifiable link between trail and article.
Recertification
Per the official BRH exams overview page, MT Suche must be passed annually, and MT Negativ every two years, for the team to keep its status.
Official regulations
The figures on this page come from the document below; on trial day the text of the regulations is what counts.
Related pages
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
Why is there a separate test for "no trail present"?
In real search work, a dog must be able to say "there is no trail here" just as clearly as it signals a find - otherwise the team wastes time following false leads. MT Negativ tests exactly this ability.
How often must the certification be renewed?
Per BRH, MT Suche must be passed again every year, and MT Negativ every two years.
Can a team from outside Germany take part?
The regulations require membership in a BRH-affiliated unit or an IRO member organisation - so access is in practice limited to teams already integrated into this German/IRO network.
Want to know where to start?
See all the certifications explained step by step, with the official regulations.