Trailing, Area Search Fundamentals (Live), and HRD Fundamentals
May 13-15, 2022
Cortland, OH

This seminar will offer three different training tracks to meet your specific needs. The Trailing Track will be for dogs of all levels, but will be ideal for dogs at the intermediate to advanced level. For both Area Search and Human Remains Detection, the training will focus on building and refining a solid foundation in the fundamental skills, including a trained final response and reward system. We will be utilizing the Trumbull County Fairgrounds in Cortland, OH. This venue offers a variety of training opportunities including buildings, open areas, a diversity of surfaces and terrains, and a wide array of distractions. This seminar is designed to provide an array of opportunities to enhance and increase proficiencies in foundational skills for trailing, HRD, and live area search.
This seminar will include three training tracks to ensure that you are getting a training experience that most directly fits your needs. If you are unsure what track would best suit you and your K9 partner, please email us at events@sdona.org and we will gladly provide you with some guidance.
Topics Covered:
Enhancement of Functional HRD Detection Skills Topics (8 teams):
● Handler skills/influence on K9 behaviors
● Perfecting a solid Trained Final Response
● Novel large source odor
● Foundational exercises/drills to increase proficiency as a team
● General problem solving
Enhancement of Functional Area Search Skills (Live Find) (6 teams)
● Handler skills/influence on K9 behaviors
● Perfecting a solid Trained Final Response
● Appropriate reward systems
● Foundational exercises/drills to increase proficiency as a team
● General problem solving
Trailing (8 teams):
● Efficient and effective starts/direction of travel
● Variable surfaces/change of surface
● Scent discrimination
● Cross tracks and contamination
● Line handling and communication with the K9
Each team must register for one of the three training tracks noted above. If you have a dog that is cross trained (live and HRD) you will need to select one track to be the focus of your training weekend.
Trainers:
Bill Dotson- Enhancement of Functional HRD Detection Skills
Jackie McCarty (IN-TF) and Lynn Packard (MI USAR), - Area Search Fundamentals
Denise Alvord - Trailing
Details:
When: May 13-15, 2022
Where: Trumbull County Fairgrounds, 899 Everett Hull Rd, Cortland, Ohio 44410
(Event Hours: Seminar daily schedule will vary but generally run from 9:00am-5:00pm each day. It will conclude at noon on Sunday.)
Cost: $375 per handler with ONE dog.
$150 Audit (no dog).
**Due to the focus of this seminar, we are limiting this to one dog per handler so you can focus on getting the most out of the exercises and scenarios over the entire weekend.
This seminar will include three training tracks to ensure that you are getting a training experience that most directly fits your needs. If you are unsure what track would best suit you and your K9 partner, please email us at events@sdona.org and we will gladly provide you with some guidance.
Topics Covered:
Enhancement of Functional HRD Detection Skills Topics (8 teams):
● Handler skills/influence on K9 behaviors
● Perfecting a solid Trained Final Response
● Novel large source odor
● Foundational exercises/drills to increase proficiency as a team
● General problem solving
Enhancement of Functional Area Search Skills (Live Find) (6 teams)
● Handler skills/influence on K9 behaviors
● Perfecting a solid Trained Final Response
● Appropriate reward systems
● Foundational exercises/drills to increase proficiency as a team
● General problem solving
Trailing (8 teams):
● Efficient and effective starts/direction of travel
● Variable surfaces/change of surface
● Scent discrimination
● Cross tracks and contamination
● Line handling and communication with the K9
Each team must register for one of the three training tracks noted above. If you have a dog that is cross trained (live and HRD) you will need to select one track to be the focus of your training weekend.
Trainers:
Bill Dotson- Enhancement of Functional HRD Detection Skills
Jackie McCarty (IN-TF) and Lynn Packard (MI USAR), - Area Search Fundamentals
Denise Alvord - Trailing
Details:
When: May 13-15, 2022
Where: Trumbull County Fairgrounds, 899 Everett Hull Rd, Cortland, Ohio 44410
(Event Hours: Seminar daily schedule will vary but generally run from 9:00am-5:00pm each day. It will conclude at noon on Sunday.)
Cost: $375 per handler with ONE dog.
$150 Audit (no dog).
**Due to the focus of this seminar, we are limiting this to one dog per handler so you can focus on getting the most out of the exercises and scenarios over the entire weekend.