Fully Involved K9 Academy

08/03/2025

Pictured below is an active cooling station provided at a disaster training site on a day that peaked at 98°F. The summer heat requires that handlers closely monitor their working partners to prevent overheating.

Veterinary Tactical Group (VTG), an organization which teaches handlers across the country to provide life-saving emergency medical care to their K9s, specializes in working dog heat injury. Check out their free, evidence-based webinar, Rethinking Heat Injury, for more information on how to protect your pup from the heat!

https://youtu.be/P3WvBN11QcU?si=pODMzSPX__3ilcLh

07/16/2025

I'm just going to put this right here..........
We have certainly selectively bred dogs for specific characteristics, but they are all, everyone on them, still individuals.

The moment we assume that breed or breed combinations equal individual temperament, we stop seeing the dog in front of us. And that's where both training and placement decisions go wrong.

We need to learn to SEE THE DOG.

Read more at: https://suzanneclothier.com/the-individual-vs-the-breed/

06/05/2025

I’ve been looking forward to this seminar for months, and it’s almost here! If you're ready to kick off your summer water training season, this is the place to start. A few spots may still be available. We’ll dive into the complexities of water cadaver work, troubleshoot those tricky behaviors, and focus on what really matters: understanding water search from the dog’s perspective.

Join us in Pennsylvania to optimize your dog’s water search performance—and make sure they love every second of it.

‼ 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝟮 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 ‼
‼ 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗧 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 ‼

𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸: https://bit.ly/4lFdfnF

Seminar has been approved for Continuing Education Units (CEU's) for the Karen Pryor Academy

WORKING K9, KPA CEUs awarded: 30
AUDITOR, KPA CEUs awarded: 21

🌊🐾 𝗛𝗥𝗗 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿 🐾🌊

Get ready to elevate your search game — our three-day Water Search Seminar will focus on building strong foundations in water scent work. Designed for both new and experienced teams, this seminar offers a **supportive, hands-on learning environment** with **progressive training exercises** on land, shoreline, and open water.

Participants will enhance key skills like:
- Troubleshooting trained final responses
- Developing solid boat-handling techniques
- Reading water conditions
- Clearing blank areas with confidence

Customized instruction for both dog and handler ensures every team advances at their own pace. **Evening lectures and discussions** will explore essential theory, canine fitness for water work, and strategic data tracking to fine-tune training plans.

Perfect for teams ready to **level up their search game** and deepen their understanding of this complex and critical discipline.

04/23/2024

Was a pleasure to meet Trisha and have her attend our program.

Well, how fun was that? Last weekend I was at the “Im-PECK-able Training Seminar” put on by Craig Schultz and Sally Dickinson for the K9 Behavior Consortium in Manassas, VA. I went primarily to learn more about sniffer dogs for my next mystery novel (wheeeee!), but reveled in spending time with ...

03/03/2024

Their loss......Your gain! This class filled fast but life happens and a couple of spots opened up!

There are many similar courses out there and they are all phenomenal, but if you have limited time and want to get down to one of the most crucial parts of what we do in detection work, this is for you!

We dig right into how to get that Trained Final Response dependable, like you want it, independent and definable.

Hope to see you there, I know Craig Shultz K9 Behavior Consortium and I are so excited about this program, it is truly a passion and a life's work.

Located in Manassas, Va April 12-14, 2024, observer spots - $300 and full participants - $600. See below for more information, scan the registration link or click link in comments.

02/11/2024

Looking forward to this awesome event with K9 Behavior Consortium

UPDATE: the full participant spots for the Im-PECK-able Discrimination Workshop are full but there are a few observer spots still available. April will be here before you know it. Looking forward to seeing you there.
Register here: https://bit.ly/Impeckable2024

02/08/2024

Search and Rescue might be managed and set up differently around the world, but when it comes down to the mechanics of a dog detecting a specific odor, its a universal, international language.
I really enjoyed helping the teams in NSW Australia refine their handler and canine skills during the past week.

02/02/2024

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!!!
Im-PECK-able Discrimination registration is now open for April 12-14, 2024. There will be 12 full slots (handler and canine) and 10 observer slots available. Cost will be $600 for full participants and $300 for observers. You can use the link provided here or the QR code in the attached flyer.

Come join Sally Dickinson and Craig Schultz for 3 days of learning theory and practical applications to take your understanding of discrimination to the next level. Once you register, you will be notified if your space is reserved via email. If you get a space you will receive logistical information for event attendance. Hope to see you in Virginia soon!
Register here: https://bit.ly/Impeckable2024

01/09/2024

with K9 Behavior Consortium
Exciting news for 2024!!!!!!!!

08/15/2023

Huge thanks and much gratitude to K9Sensus Foundation and all the folks who make it run for hosting and facilitating!
Just finished up a 3-day HRD seminar at their facility in Iowa, focussing on handler mechanics, precise behavior and tools needed to take it to the next level, such as refining the TFR, scent theory, relationship, and much much more.
By day 2 we had to add more 'tools', because every single team had leveled up!



Photo credits to K9Sensus staff and interns

08/07/2023

Just wrapped up another hugely successful 3-day Learn Lead communicate workshop, hosted by VDEM Search and Rescue!
The coolest part for me was how intense these handlers were on developing awesome behavior with their working dogs!

07/06/2023

It’s been a fun week working with a couple different fire agencies and the folks of WCDA. Thanks for the hospitality!!!