What is Mantrailing Schweiz certification?
The Swiss mantrailing exam regulations, with an entry test followed by 8 progressive classes (MPK-1 to MPK-8), from 250 m up to 2,000 m.
International certification
Mantrailing Schweiz: 8 progressive classes, open internationally
Mantrailing Schweiz (Horgen, Switzerland) runs exams across 8 progressive classes (MPK-1 to MPK-8), modelled on the German "Prüfungsgemeinschaft Mantrailer Deutschland e.V." system. The regulations are explicit about accessibility: "Die Teilnahme an einer Prüfung ist grundsätzlich für jeden offen, der die Prüfungsordnung anerkennt" - participation is open to anyone who accepts the regulations, with no citizenship or club-membership requirement.
Who can enter
- The handler must be at least 18 years old; the dog should be at least 18 months old on the exam date.
- Entry requires: the dog's vaccination record (with name and identification number) and the Mantrailing Schweiz exam booklet.
- The exam fee is set by Mantrailing Schweiz and must be paid within 10 days of the slot being confirmed, otherwise the slot is reassigned.
- A failed exam may be retaken at any time, subject to available slots.
Structure: an entry test, then 8 classes in strict order
Before the first class, a team must pass an entry test (Einsteigerprüfung): 150 m, a trail 0-2 hours old, easy natural terrain, no direction changes, a known departure point, 15 minutes working time.
After that, the 8 classes are taken strictly in order - entry to a class requires having passed the one directly below it.
| Class | Length | Trail age | Working time | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MPK-1 | 250 m | 0-3 hours | 30 minutes | The hidden person is not visible from a distance; natural/forest/gravel ground; at least 1 turn of 90°; known departure. |
| MPK-2 | 450 m | 0-3 hours | 30 minutes | A road crossing; at least 2 turns of 90°; departure on natural ground or asphalt. |
| MPK-3 | up to 900 m | 1-3 hours | 45 minutes | Introduces scent differentiation (1/1); a change to natural/forest ground; at least 4 open angles; crosses water. |
| MPK-4 | up to 900 m | 1-3 hours | 45 minutes | Differentiation yes/yes; the hidden person in an open area; asphalt/concrete + 10% natural ground; underpasses/overpasses; a backtrail. |
| MPK-5 | up to 900 m | 1-4 hours | 60 minutes | The person may be inside a building; departure from a car; lifts, underground garages. |
| MPK-6 | up to 1,200 m | 2-4 hours | 90 minutes | The person inside a building, with differentiation; an entirely urban trail. |
| MPK-7 | up to 1,200 m | 2-4 hours | 90 minutes | Includes a negative trail and a negative departure (see below). |
| MPK-8 | up to 2,000 m | 2-4 hours | 120 minutes | Everything open - no further terrain or departure restrictions. |
Source: Mantrailing Schweiz - Prüfungsordnung, chapters 3 and 14. The number of direction changes and the type of terrain increase progressively from one class to the next.
Negative trails (without the target person)
- Negative trail: maximum 250 m; the person is driven back in a closed car, without approaching the laid trail; the handler must recognise that the trail ends WITHOUT the target person being found.
- Negative departure: the handler is given the scent article of a person who has not been at the departure point in the last 4 weeks - the dog must not find any trail at all from the start.
How it is judged
Each trail is judged by one or two examiners, who aim for consensus; if none is reached, the decision goes in the candidate's favour. Each trail is scored separately as "passed" or "not passed".
A notable methodological point: exact fidelity to the laid trail ("Spurtreue") is explicitly not a scoring criterion - given the complex distribution of scent particles and dogs' different search strategies, what counts is correctly finding the person, not following the route to the metre.
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
Can a team from outside Switzerland take part?
Yes - the regulations state explicitly that participation is open to anyone who accepts the exam rules, with no citizenship or membership requirement.
Do the classes have to be taken in order?
Yes - entry to a class requires having passed the one directly below it; levels cannot be skipped.
What is a "negative trail"?
A trail where the sought person is NOT at the end (or was never at the departure point) - the dog and handler must recognise and correctly report the absence of a trail to follow, not just find people.
Want to know where to start?
See all the certifications explained step by step, with the official regulations.