Miroslava Zacharová

Miroslava Zacharová

Trainer / Slovakia

 

From an early age, my life has been deeply connected with dogs – their intuition, energy, and ability to cooperate have fascinated me since my teenage years. As an adult, I gradually explored various canine disciplines that helped me understand different approaches to working with dogs – from agility and hunting to canicross and bikejoring. Each of these activities taught me the importance of understanding, trust, and clear communication between the handler and the dog.

 

Along the way, I also dedicated significant time to working with behavioral challenges, as I personally faced the task of training and socializing my four dogs, each with a unique temperament and sensitivity. This experience taught me patience, consistency, and the ability to perceive the individual needs of every dog – a foundation that later proved invaluable in my work as a mantrailing trainer.

 

I discovered mantrailing in 2019, and it quickly became my true passion. The art of reading scent behavior, interpreting a dog’s communication, and coordinating teamwork between the handler, the dog, and the operational background fascinated me so deeply that I soon began to focus on mantrailing not only as a handler but also as a trainer. In my training, I emphasize a systematic and analytical approach – building the dog’s confidence, accuracy in scent interpretation, and clarity in team communication.

Since 2024, I have been the co-founder and executive director of the Central European Mantrailing Association K9 (CEMA K9). Within the organization, I focus on the training of mantrailing teams for SAR, the development of new trainers, and the growth of international cooperation. Under my leadership, CEMA K9 emphasizes a methodical and evidence-based approach to training, combining insights and experience from real SAR missions.

I continuously seek professional development, training under and closely cooperating with Maria Vladimirova. I organize seminars with experienced GAK9 instructors, such as Uroš Gregorčič, and participate in workshops with Christoph Rosenberger. In addition, I host training camps and cooperative exercises that connect mantrailing teams from various organizations and countries across Europe. I believe that open collaboration, knowledge sharing, and respect for diverse approaches are the foundation of progress in the mantrailing community. 

My goal is to promote high-quality and ethical training for mantrailing teams, strengthen their ability to perform effectively in real SAR cases and contribute to the continued recognition of mantrailing in Europe as a professional and respected discipline within SAR K9 work.

 

Contact:

Tel.: +421 914 277 705
E-mail: [email protected]