CLASS DESCRIPTIONS - 2025​

 

​​1) Mike Liley

TRACKING CLASS

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PowerPoint terminology methodology psychology bite work on tracks? To Do or Not to Do How to implement bites on tracks Tracking training traditional methods vs. article-based vs. odor-based Hard surface tracking Grass and woods tracking Scent discriminatory tracking with distraction Article indications of evidence search Reality based scenarios in tracking and article indication Deployments Perimeters E-collar education

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​2) Todd Wilber - Precision Explosives

Class: Explosives Explained 

 

This will include peroxide based threats and compositions.  We will cover past, present and future threats, the means of building the explosives and the safe handling of the materials for training.

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3) James Sabol

Class 1 - Canine Building Search - Start to Finish

 

How to train the canine to locate a suspect in a building with various complications. How to develop the perfect aggressive alert and actions of the decoy inside the building. Teaching a canine to be adaptable to advanced tactics and how to fully integrate to a SWAT team for maximum proficiency of a canines capabilities. Understanding the training methods to deal with multiple doors for pin point accuracy, barricaded suspects, windows and top down searching. Teaching not only the actions of the dog but that actions of the decoy.

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Class 2 - Training for Operational Apprehension  NEW CLASS

 

The class focuses on developing training scenarios that mimic real world engagements. Center targeting bites, muzzle work, tactical take off’s, gear disassociation, and target acquisition.

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4)  Thomas Shuppe w/ Tatiana Pereira 

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Class: LASER TARGETING

 This course will outline the optimal protocol for maintaining high speed and reliable response in A-to-B laser targeting.

This protocol enables handlers to send their dogs up to 200 meters away - during the day or at night - to apprehend a specific person, search a specific area/vehicle, or search a suspicious object.

It enables the dog to reach its indicated target as fast as possible, while ignoring potential distractions along the way.

This method of laser targeting is a tool for increasing mission security, whether deploying single or dual purpose K9s.

Various deployment scenarios will be discussed, as well as how one may tailor the techniques for their operational needs.

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5) Drew Dubnyk

Class 1 - Uniform Neutrality  NEW CLASS

 

An accidental bite on a fellow officer or team member is one of the quickest ways to tarnish a k9 team’s reputation. It is our job, as K9 handlers, to provide a reliable tool to assist in many different volatile situations. That job is not only to locate suspects but to reduce risk to our fellow officers. If the presence of a K9 distracts fellow officers due to fear of an accidental bite, the advantage we gain by having that tool present is almost equally lost by the distraction it creates. This class will focus on some of the main reasons bad bites occur. In turn, it will provide street-proven methods and training exercises to reduce the chance of this happening.

 

Class 2 - The Gap: Equipment to Live Engagement

From green dogs on bite equipment to their first live engagements on the street, this class will speak to a variety of training methods used to bridge this gap. The primary focus will be on muzzle training, while talking about a variety of methods and tools to create a street worthy K9. It is our duty as trainers to create operationally reliable canines. We must do our best to bridge this gap prior to new dogs hitting the street, because lives could depend on a dog’s first engagement.

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7)  Darren Holmes and Angel Landrau 

Class - The Rise and Fall of the False Response - NEW CLASS

 

This class provides a unique perspective on how foundational and routine training practices can adversely affect the accuracy and reliability of your detector dog. We will discuss the “Rise” of the false response and how its manifested from the contextual learning and generalization processes obtained through foundational and routine training. We will then discuss how to initiate the “Fall” of the false response behavior utilizing problem-solving and remediation techniques. You will walk away with a “punch list” of information, best practices, and concepts to use that will produce an accurate and reliable detector dog in an operational environment.

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8) Matt Lunsford  

Class 1 - ​All things Odor - NEW CLASS

 

Class covers the importance of conflict odors, distractions and methods with odor work and the detection/ tracking dog as well as safety concerns. 

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9) Bill Gaskins

Class Title - Handler Situational Awareness; Training With the End in Mind.

 

Synopsis; From the moment your car stops and you get your dog ready for the search you should be taking information. So many factors impact positive search outcomes. The most critical among these is handlers management of a search area. Sure the dog finds the odor, but as a team we find the hides. How we train impacts operational outcomes. In this lesson we'll discuss how from the way we start training/imprinting to how to employ teams in search areas everything is connected. Then we'll discuss the importance of hide placements in training. Every time we place hides we're teaching the dog and handler where hides could be placed and where target odor may be. Next we'll discuss search area strategies in different environments from Open Areas/Roadways, to Building Exteriors/Interiors, and Vehicle Detection. Finally we'll discuss Before, During and After Action Review.  

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10) Joseph Bologna 

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Class -  Forward aggression - NEW CLASS

This class will be beneficial for handlers who want the full potential out of their dogs with the proper use of prey drive and aggression.  I have taken what I’ve learned from the best trainers in this industry and have trained multiple dogs with this system. What we believe is prey drive with a bouncy dog, crazy decoy, and uncontrollable barking will get you a dog that is not stable. In reality a dog needs to be quiet and clear headed to make sure they have full engagement. This class will show how to get the K9 under control during prey and show the signs of forward aggression. This aggression is deep within the dog but we have been taught the wrong way to get it out.  The class will explain this progression with the use of different equipment, multiple decoys, and engaging in muzzle fighting. A dog that that can control their aggression and operate forward will save lives in the end. 

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11) Paul Curtis & Steven Antommarchi

Class -  Understanding what motivates your dog to work

This presentation will include instruction and a live demonstration of canine psychological traits and instincts as applied to detection work. It will provided the attendee a working knowledge and visual recognition of those traits, instincts and a proper working relationship between the handler and the dog.

CORT System

Reward IN Odor

• STRONGEST ASSOCIATION

- PROOF OFF DISTRACTORS

• TRAIN ANYWHERE

• MULTIPLE REWARD TYPES

• REMOTE REWARD

STAY IN THE INSTINCT - The unique patented design of the Canine Odor Recognition Training (CORT) System allows you to keep your dog in prey instinct all the way through the reward phase, creating a higher performing detection dog.

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​12) Eric Stanbro ​

Class  - Removing The Conflict From Your Training

 Eric will discuss all the things you and your training program have been doing over the years that leads to conflict between handler and K9. Eric will show you how to clean up the conflict in your obedience, bite work, verbal out, recall, and how you’re living with your dog. 

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13) Cameron Ford

Class : Results Driven Detection

Achieve success with your detection dog team in the "Results Driven Detection" seminar by Ford K9. This seminar is designed to produce tangible results, regardless of your training methods or detection disciplines. The course emphasizes making minor but impactful adjustments that lead to the most significant improvements in performance.

Through in-depth instruction and practical exercises, participants will gain skills in setting up effective training sessions, reading and understanding their dog’s behavior, and applying creative solutions—all while maintaining a structured progression plan and making training and real search look more alike than different. 

.A unique aspect of this seminar is using body cameras for handlers, which allows participants to review their actions in real time and through video analysis. This hands-on approach, combined with record-keeping, enables a thorough understanding of the learning process and progress tracking.

Join us to empower yourself and your dog, refine your techniques, and see the results-driven difference.

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14) Jim Obrien 

Class Title - The World of Muzzle

 

Jim O’Brien will open your mind to the many uses of the muzzle. The muzzle is a great tool for bridging the gap between bite work with equipment and real life street bites. Jim will go over several steps to conditioning your canine to the muzzle using a reward-based system, Muzzle scenarios will be explained including obedience, ball play, tracking, civil agitation, building searches, area searches and more. Jim will also explain the importance of selection of our canine partner to ensure we are choosing the best possible partner.

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15) Michele Maughan & Jenna Gadberry

Class : Advice from the Nerd Herd - Training, aid selection, storage, and handling

Participants in this class will review the basics of odor, fundamentals of training aid management, and how to incorporate best  practices into your K9 detection training and operations.

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16)  Danny Villarino - Proven K9 Solutions

 

Class : Integrated Canine Entry (ICE)™

Our Integrated Canine Entry (ICE)™ course is designed to provide handlers the knowledge and understanding on how to best utilize a K9 to safely enter and clear structures while maintaining close quarters principles and tactics.  With patrol officers being trained in close quarters tactics, it is essential for handlers to train within a similar system to ensure effective communication and to optimize officer safety.  Integrated Canine Entry (ICE)™ raises the standard on how K9’s should be utilized on patrol and bridges the gap between a routine building search and a SWAT team approach.  Integrated Canine Entry (ICE)™ allows us to maximize readily available patrol resources while operating at the highest degree of efficiency.  This course will include the steps necessary to properly condition your canine, multiple scenarios to understand threat prioritization, and a live demonstration of these principles in practice

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17) Michael Mchenry

Class 1 - Certification does not prepare you for the Reality of the street:  NEW CLASS

A comparison and discussion of the need for and to be certified, but training needs to focus on the reality of canine deployments and usages. Certification is a must but it does not prepare a canine team for the reality of the streets. We will give training ideas, tips on how to balance the two a be ready for reality 

 

Class 2. Canine Supervisor Class

 Managing a canine unit, picking a canine for the unit, picking a handler for the department, policy, case law, report writing, records keeping, the must / need to have accountability and supervision of the canine unit 

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18) Todd Mona

Class :  Full send  NEW CLASS

 

 An all encompassing class on how to build a successful patrol K9 and direct your training for real world applications.  We take a look the East Hartford Police Departments K9 Academy along with our Capital region K9 Training Group and show multiple solutions to different problems.  We trouble shoot many issues in training both handler and K9 while working our way to a progressive training path geared for successful street deployments.   Years of  training, attending conferences and working with trainers from all over the world gets put into this one class; from tracking, to building search, Swat integration, gun fire neutrality, drone acclimation, to laser and finally detection, this will help you get to where you want to be with your dog.

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19)  Danny Parker

Class: Obedience to Odor

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This class will take handlers deeper into why detection dogs do what they do. Ken will delve into what “drives” are and how they are utilized. The term obedient to odor refers to the dog understanding that odor drives the reward, not the handler. This fast pace class will cover everything from odor imprintation, to reward, to search patterns and the why’s behind each of these components of detection dog training.  Not only is this class highly entertaining, but most of all, it is highly informative.

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20) Jay Nix 

Class Title: “Read Your Dog”: Clarity in Communication with Your Police Dog - NEW CLASS

Description:

In the world of police K9, the phrase “read your dog” is often repeated but rarely explained. While we focus on the flashy, high-profile aspects of the profession, the simple yet critical skills needed during deployments are often overlooked. This session is designed to bridge that gap, equipping handlers with the tools to truly understand and communicate with their dogs effectively to be more successful overall.

Through a practical, common sense approach, we’ll explore canine behavior, learning patterns, and the key differences in how dogs and humans process information. We’ll discuss strategies to break down and resolve K9 related challenges, whether in the heat of real world deployments or during training sessions.

This class will help you build a clearer, more effective partnership with your K9, empowering you to maximize operational success. Whether you’re navigating training obstacles or striving for peak performance in the field, you’ll leave with actionable insights to improve communication, solve problems, and strengthen the bond with your dog.

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21) Brady Smith 

Class description:

K9 Operational Medicine - What to Know When Disaster Strikes - NEW CLASS

 

DAY  1 - Lecture Session and  Day 2 -  Practical Session

Handlers will learn how to assess, stabilize, and ready canines for transport following field injury. Handlers will also learn basic body handling and bandaging techniques, as well as emergency preparedness.  Instruction will focus on meeting handlers at their skill level, and teaching skills that they will actually be able to use in the field.

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22) Ricky Farley

Class : Answers to aged old questions in Canine Detection Work - NEW CLASS

 

1. Primary vs. Secondary Reward

- Which is better for training and why?

2. Handling Techniques

- On leash handling vs. canine searching freely- or a combination of both.

- What works best and why?

3. The Science of Odor

- Understanding what odor does when it leaves the source material based on scientific principles.

4. Legal Considerations

- If marijuana is legal in your state, should you imprint your dog on marijuana odor? Yes, or no?

5. Real vs. Pseudo- Narcotic Odor

- Which is better for imprinting canine and why?

6. Maintaining Indications

- Best Practices for ensuring consistent and reliable indication behaviors.

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23) Howard Young 

Class : Steps to Effective Engagement   NEW CLASS

 

A frequently asked question is, how can I ensure that my dog will engage a suspect when the time arises? Conventional wisdom suggests that preparing your dog for real world engagements involves a myriad of activities in order to remove any confusion for the dog. If we have done our due diligence and selected the right dog for the job we must prepare the dog for battle. There are no shortcuts and it’s never just one thing that gets the job done. In this class Howard will share a recipe to prepare your dog for real world engagement. Note….the class explores a variety of techniques. In this industry many things are ever evolving, but many times techniques are cyclical and have a way of coming back around again. Whether the technique is “new” or simply a “rebranded technique” it’s imperative that it’s done to fidelity. 

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24) Marty Mahon

Class Title : K9 Management & Supervision:

This course involves the administrative and supervision side of effectively running a K9 Unit. The course will cover Handler and K9 Selection and purchasing K9s from Vendors. He cover will also discuss K9 Unit Policies and Procedures, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and Record Keeping. Whether you are a direct supervisor, a trainer, or an administrator, effective K9 supervision is necessary for a productive K9 Unit.

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25) 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗞𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗸

Class Title - Canine Legal Update - Patrol Dogs

 

 This block of instruction will focus on criminal and civil litigation related to police service patrol apprehension dogs.  Specific attention will be placed on use of force and current trends throughout the United States Court of Appeals.

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Class Title - Canine Legal Updates - Narcotic Dogs

This block of instruction will focus on the most up to date and current case law, related to narcotic detection dogs

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26) Michael Nezbeth 

Class Title :  Puppy to Police Dog

 

Raising a reliable police dog starts long before formal training begins. This presentation explores the journey from selecting and developing a high-potential puppy to shaping them into a confident, capable working K9. We’ll break down critical developmental stages, including early imprinting, foundational obedience, environmental exposure, and structured play, all of which lay the groundwork for success.

Additionally, we’ll dive into the transition from puppy to "green dog"—a prospect ready for advanced training. Understanding how to build engagement, drive, and resilience in a young dog ensures they enter formal training with the right mindset for success. Whether you're raising a pup from 8 weeks or starting with an adolescent green dog, this presentation provides essential insights for developing elite working K9s.

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27) Scott Clark - High Drive K-9 

Class Title : BUILDING STREET BEASTS 

 

High Drive K-9 has created this current and effective course, dealing directly with reality-based training. This course covers advanced Decoy Skills & K-9 Bite Building Development techniques and strategies, covering canine bite and engagement development, leg bites, hidden sleeve, muzzles, proper pressure application, problem solving strategies and much more. Furthermore, reliable and proven drills and scenarios will be discussed, specifically focusing on controlled aggression and modification, directly strengthening and enhancing your K9 team, developing a confident and capable K9 team during actual deployments. This lecture will educate and expose K9 Teams, through reality-based training, how to understand, apply and develop your canine’s confidence and effectiveness during actual deployments. In addition, this lecture offers an explosive, practical and disciplined approach, dealing solely with Decoy Practicals, Stress Inoculation and Problem-Solving strategies as it applies to Decoy Skills, Canine Aggression & Real-Life Stresses.

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