MARJAN SLAATS

My journey with dogs started when I got my first german shepherd. She was an intelligent, highly driven dog who needed to work. Looking for an activity that suited us both, we discovered mantrailing. It was a perfect fit. During trailing I learned to truly observe my dog, read her body language, and rely on her natural instincts. It completely changed the way I looked at my dog.

This led to a deep fascination for dog behaviour, communication, and the relationship between dog and handler. What started with my own dogs gradually grew into a profession and a passion for helping people better understand the dogs they live and work with.

I am the founder of Hondencentrum Brabant in the Netherlands, where I work as a dog behaviour professional, instructor, and mantrailing trainer. In my daily work, I support handlers with a wide range of behavioural and training challenges, always with a strong focus on welfare, communication, and practical application.

I started mantrailing in 2018, and from the very beginning I was fascinated by the way dogs use scent, make decisions, and communicate through their work. What started as curiosity quickly developed into a real passion. Since then, I have continued to invest in my own development through practical experience, education, and seminars with respected trainers across Europe.

Mantrailing has had a profound impact on the way I see dogs. It taught me to truly observe, to respect the way the dog works, and to value the process over the outcome. For me, trailing is not just about finding a person — it is about learning to read what the dog is telling you, building confidence, developing skills, and becoming a better teammate for your dog.

My training style is rooted in honest trailing, clear communication, and helping handlers become more aware, more observant, and more effective in their work with the dog. In my lessons, I focus not only on the technical side of trailing, but also on handler development, reading body language, understanding behaviour, and creating thoughtful, welfare-based training. My goal is to create thoughtful, capable handlers who learn to work with their dog, not against them.

What I enjoy most is helping teams grow — in technical trailing skills, in trust, timing, and understanding. My mission is to help dogs and handlers bring out the best in each other.

City/area of training: ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands

Website: https://hondencentrumbrabant.nl