HOLD THE LINE K9 CONFERENCE HOLD THE LINE K9 CONFERENCE HOLD THE LINE K9 CONFERENCE
CLASS DESCRIPTION & INSTRUCTORS
2026 COURSE LINE UP
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Eric Stanbro
E-collar Without Conflict For Working Dogs
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.
BIO:
Eric has been handling and training police K9’s and K9 teams for 20 years. He is the owner of VanEss K9, located in Canton, Ohio which provides training for dogs and handlers. Eric travels the country teaching various seminars and conferences. He specializes in fixing problems and repairing relationships between handler and k9. Eric’s e collar seminar has reached over 1200 digs to date. His Proven methods are so effective that he wrote a best selling book titled E Collar, Without Conflict, For Pets and Working Dogs. You can also hear him talk about all things dogs as the cohost of the popular podcast Working Dog Radio
Mike Kmiecik
Patrol Case Law (Day 1)
This block will focus on criminal and civil litigation related to police service patrol apprehension dogs. Specific attention will be placed on the use of force and current trends throughout the United States Courts of appeal.
Narcotics Case Law (Day 2)
This Block will focus on current Case law for Police Narcotics K9's.
BIO:
Mike is a current 26-year law enforcement veteran and 17-year veteran police service and working dog handler in the Chicago Metropolitan area. He has handled multiple dogs specialized in patrol, narcotic-contraband detection and human remains detection. Mike is currently a K-9 Team Sergeant for a multi-jurisdictional mobile field force, serving the Chicagoland area. He has more than 8,000-hours of training in law enforcement and police service dog operations.
Mike is the lead instructor for Sheepdog Guardian Consulting and maintains the most comprehensive canine legal website, “Canine Legal Updates and Opinions” and contributed to multiple magazines, and podcasts. He has taught and written about police service and working dog operations, industry standards and legal updates for over 10-years and studied under Terry Fleck, Ed.D.. Mike is a committee member with the Illinois Tactical Officer’s Association K9 Committee (Subgroup: Patrol K9) and former member with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board Working Group Canine Compliance.
Zach Pfannenstiel
NEW CLASS
Engagement Unleashed: Fixing Hesitation and Drive Issues in Patrol Dogs
This class is a high-impact, solutions-focused course designed to tackle one of the most
frustrating problems in modern K9 deployments, dogs that hesitate or lack clarity in real-
world engagements. This course dives into practical strategies to identify and correct
drive deficiencies, build engagement confidence, and reinforce decision-making under
pressure. This class will utilize body-worn camera (BWC) footage to analyze real K9
deployments, allowing attendees to break down and troubleshoot engagement issues
with a focus on improving clarity, commitment, and decision-making in the dog.
BIO:
With a distinguished career spanning over seventeen years in law enforcement, Zach Pfannenstiel brings a wealth of experience to his role. He has held various positions, including Patrol Officer, Gang Suppression Team officer, Canine Handler, and Patrol Sergeant. Notably, Zach has dedicated over a decade of his career to the Canine Unit, where he currently serves as the Training Sergeant responsible for overseeing a team of 40 working dogs. Currently, Zach Pfannenstiel works a dual-purpose patrol dog, cross-trained in explosive detection.
Todd Mona
Working Through Distraction; Staying True to Task - Exclusive Tuesday Class
Working through distractions is an essential part of K9 training. If you’re not training with and through distractions, you are at a disadvantage. This class aims to show how to prepare for and have a progressive path to a reliable K9 that will stay true to task on the street. We will demonstrate how to maintain your dogs focus and intensity despite tempting or disruptive stimuli. We also will dive into both detection and patrol dogs operational functions and explore common distractions in the real world and how to prepare and combat them in training. We will show videos of the Capital Region K9 Training Group in services highlighting some examples during detection, obedience, tracking, building search, gunfire and bite work.
Class 2 : Full Send
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.
BIO:
Sergeant Mona began his career as an officer with the East Hartford Police Department in 2002 and became a handler in 2006. Mona attended the Connecticut State Police Canine Academy with his first partner, K9 Primo. During their time together they achieved approximately one hundred fifty finds on tracks, area searches and building searches including fifty onecontact apprehensions from 2006 through 2015. K9 Primo also won top obedience, top criminal apprehension and first place overall in the Connecticut Police K9 Olympics over the years. The K9 team is also a three time Daniel Wasson Memorial Award winner which is awarded to the most productive dangerous K9 call of the year throughout the state of Connecticut. K9 Primo was also stabbed in the head and back, required multiple surgeries and returned to full duty. During this incident Mona was also shot and required emergency surgery and months of rehabilitation and unfortunately had to fire upon and put down the suspect. Mona was also involved in two other officer involved shootings and was able to get a contact apprehension with the dog.
In 2014 Mona was requested by several Connecticut Police Work Dog Association Trainers and North American Police Work Dog Association Trainers, due to having highly productive career with Primo, to take the CPWDA Maintenance Trainer test. After a written and oral test, Mona began conducting maintenance training for the East Hartford K9 Unit and several other agencies. In 2015 Mona held his first K9 patrol school called the ‘Capital Region K9 Academy’. After completing this class Mona conducted a second class in 2016 and shortly thereafter obtained his CPWDA Trainer title and began to log hours towards his NAPWDA trainer.
Mona bred and raised his second K9 partner, Casus Belli from ten weeks old and is currently still working him. Casus has also won numerous awards including top team obedience twice and top team tactical obedience at the Connecticut Police K9 Olympics, second place at the Cabela’s Police K9 competition, second place twice and first place at the Dreamride Police K9 Challenge. In 2022 Casus also won top team obedience at the United States Police Canine Association Trails. Casus also is a three time Daniel Wasson Memorial Award Casus has approximately one hundred twenty non contact apprehensions through tracks, building searches and area searches and thirty four contact apprehensions two of which were for murder. In 2018 Casus was cross trained by Mona in firearm detection and he has recovered nineteen firearms including one that was buried.
Mona selected as a member of the POSTC ‘Use of Force’ Sub Committee for the new statewide U.O.F policy after CT’s Police Accountability Act in 2021. Mona was elected Vice President of CPWDA in 2021 and he tested and obtained his North American Police Work Dog Association Trainer certificate in 2022. Mona tested and was promoted to Sergeant with EHPD in 2023. Mona is the instructor for the Capital Region K9 Training Academy and maintenance training and is responsible for approximately thirty five K9 teams. Mona also instructs at a national level at different seminars, workshops and conferences. Mona is currently preparing for his NAPWDA Master Trainer test and conducts dual purpose patrol classes yearly. Mona recently raised his new K9 partner ‘Scorso’ from eight weeks old and graduated from the 2024 Capital Region K9 Academy. Scorso was the fourth patrol dog Mona either raised himself or helped raised for surrounding agencies that are in use today.
Craig Mancuso
NEW CLASS
S.K.I.D.D.S
For those that do not understand canines or have a misconception as to just how beneficial canines can be to a SWAT team, S.K.I.D.D.S. is the answer. The goal of this three day course will be to educate and train both canine handlers and the SWAT team members on the deployment of police service dogs in a SWAT operation. At S.K.I.D.D.S. we will teach you approaches, entries, slow stealth and tactical team movements and searching techniques, safer arrest techniques along with team movement during live gunfire. The skills you will learn at S.K.I.D.D.S. will enhance your searching abilities and make your job safer and easier. Open to all sworn police officers and military police who are currently members of their departments K9 unit or SWAT team. SWAT and K9 supervisors are encouraged to attend.
BIO:
Sgt. Mancuso served in the U.S Marine Corps from 1996-2000. In 2002 he moved from New York to Nevada and began his law enforcement career with the Henderson Police Department. Sgt Mancuso was a Canine handler from 2007-2017. He voluntarily completed SWAT School in 2007 because he firmly believes that K9 Handlers should be able to operate seamlessly at the same skill level of the tactical teams that they deploy with. His K9 teams were highly successful on the street and in tactical environments. Sgt Mancuso’s K9 teams were also top performers in many national canine competitions earning multiple “Top Dog” awards. Sgt Mancuso is a Certified K9 Instructor, Judge and Adjunct Instructor with Utah and Nevada POST and a Certifying Official for California Narcotic Canine Association. He was the Unit Trainer for his department’s 10 dog unit during his 10 years in the program.
Brady Smith
K9 Operational Medicine - What to Know When Disaster Strikes
Day 1 - Lecture Session & 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.
BIO
Brady Smith is the Head Instructor and founder of Dustoff K9, an internationally recognized canine medical consulting company specializing in canine field trauma response and preparedness. He is also the owner and Training Director of Ridgeside K9 Colorado Springs. Brady currently serves on active duty in the Army as a medic and canine handler. He has been on active duty for 17 years, spending the past 8 years as a canine handler and the past 3 years as his unit’s Kennel Master.
Brady’s background has uniquely and extensively prepared him for his role in canine medical training, having 6 combined combat deployments as both a medic and canine handler. During deployment and while stateside, Brady has trained on and rendered direct medical care to working and pet canines. He also regularly serves in advisory roles for canine medical care and training. Additionally, Brady has vast experience in close quarters battle, displaced combatants, site exploitation and tactical medicine.
Danny Villarino
NEW CLASS
Odor on the Move: Developing the Ultimate Firearm Detection Dog
The best detection dogs don’t just identify odor — they hunt it down and relentlessly pursue it. Traditional firearm detection methods can’t keep pace with the evolving threats of modern attacks. Today’s challenges demand dogs capable of tracking weapons on the move, identifying armed individuals before they can act. This class delivers a deep dive into the progression of training that forges proactive firearm detection canines, from mastering scent dynamics to excelling in complex, high-traffic environments. Attendees will gain proven strategies for building independence, sharpening odor commitment, and applying effective deployment methods to sustain peak readiness. These skills translate directly into operational success, ensuring canine teams can uncover concealed threats in the most challenging environments.
BIO:
Danny Villarino is a Law Enforcement Officer with over 15 years of experience and an accomplished K9 handler since 2015. While with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, he played a key role in developing and sustaining more than fourteen K9 teams throughout Central Florida, building specialized programs that improved performance across patrol and detection disciplines.
In 2022, he founded Proven K9 Solutions, a collaborative training group dedicated to advancing handlers nationwide through programs such as Integrated Canine Entry (ICE)™, aggression control, tracking, decoy development, and complex patrol deployments.
In 2024, Danny spearheaded one of the first hospital-based Person-Borne Firearms Detection (PBFD) programs with Atrium Health, a healthcare enterprise spanning six states. His work focuses on reducing workplace violence by integrating proactive K9 sweeps into high-risk environments, establishing measurable benchmarks for success, and creating a scalable model that can expand across healthcare, schools, and private venues. Danny’s mission is to equip agencies with adaptable frameworks that address today’s evolving security challenges head-on.
Michael Nezbeth - Grassroots K9
Class 1 - 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.
NEW CLASS
Class 2 - Decoying for Dummies: It’s Not That Complicated (Liam MacCleod)
This class focuses on cutting through overcomplication to build effective, realistic decoy skills that translate directly to the street. We’ll break down what actually matters in police decoy work, eliminate unnecessary theory and habits, and emphasize clear communication, proper movement, and realistic pressure. Attendees will leave with a simpler, more repeatable approach to decoying that benefits both the dog and the handler.
BIO:
Michael Nezbeth is the Training Director and founder of Grassroots K9, an international training company that specializes in LEO canines. Michael also offers seminars and workshops to LEO and civilians aimed at giving actionable training plans based on theory to practical applications. Michael began his career in the canine industry after graduating with degrees in Psychology and Criminology. His background has given him the ability to apply a theoretical and systematic approach to practical applications in canine deployments.
Michael is a well-versed trainer in numerous disciplines within the working dog world. He has a structured approach that is effectively transferred to both handlers and canines in the areas of Narcotic Detection, Explosive Detection, Obedience, Evidence Search, Problem Solving, Tracking and Apprehension work. Michael applies his education in learning theories to all facets of dog training but specifically has a passion for grip development.
One of his duties is to oversee the Grassroots K9 Prospective Police Dog Program that is responsible for the procurement and training of dogs for work in law enforcement. This unique position gives him the ability to design repeatable scientific based programs for the development of young green dogs into effective patrol dogs. Michael has instructed at seminars locally and internationally for law enforcement, military handlers, and security contractors. He has also trained and placed canines in various agencies across North America.
Liam MacLeod - Grassroots K9
BIO:
Liam MacLeod was born and raised in Okanagan, British Columbia, and grew up in a
law-enforcement household under the influence of his father, a member of the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police. From an early age, Liam developed a strong respect for service work and a
deep appreciation for the role working dogs play in public safety.
He began his career in animal care as a Veterinary Technician Assistant, developing a strong
foundation in canine health, behavior, and handling. His interest in high-drive working dogs led
him to pursue advanced training and mentorship, ultimately apprenticing under Michael Nezbeth
at Grassroots K9. To fully commit to his development in the working-dog field, Liam relocated
across the country.
Liam works as a professional trainer and decoy, with extensive experience in grip development,
scenario-based training, and real-world application. He is a PSA competitor and applies a clear
understanding of both operant and classical conditioning to produce reliable, functional working
dogs.
Throughout his career, Liam has successfully trained and raised numerous K9s, assisted with
multiple litters, and contributed to the development of green dogs and prospects for
law-enforcement and military programs. He currently resides in St. Augustine, Florida, where he
works closely with K9 units as a trainer and decoy, supporting the selection, development, and
advancement of operational working dogs.
Mike Lilley
NEW CLASS
Class 1 - Operational Detection Dogs: High-Reliability for Skills for Modern LE Handlers
Detection dogs are naturally proficient at communicating when target odor is present—but true operational reliability requires equal clarity when odor is absent. In this course, we will examine the training principles and methodologies that build confident, independent search dogs capable of accurately indicating both the presence and confirmed absence of target odor. Attendees will learn how to strengthen search behavior, reduce false indications, and create dogs that can problem-solve through complex environments with consistency and confidence. This session is designed to elevate deployment-ready performance for handlers, trainers, and working K9 teams seeking higher reliability in the field.
Class 2 - TRACKING Exclusive Tuesday Class with Live Demo
This course focuses on developing reliable, deployable tracking dogs capable of working through real-world, highly distracting environments. Emphasis is placed on building strong foundational tracking skills while addressing common operational challenges such as environmental contamination, aging tracks, variable surfaces, handler influence, and decision-making at critical points. Attendees will learn practical methods for improving track clarity, maintaining drive and commitment, and teaching dogs to problem-solve independently while remaining accountable to odor. This class is designed for handlers and trainers seeking to strengthen tracking performance for real deployments, not controlled training scenarios, and will bridge the gap between training field success and operational reliability.
BIO
At a very early age, Mike developed a deeply ingrained love for dogs and the training that went into making them operational. His father would have 15 to 20 hunting dogs in their kennels at any given time along with multiple litters of puppies. Mike and his younger brother were tasked with taking care of the dogs everyday which taught him early on how to properly tend to the needs of the animals. As Mike grew older, his love for raising and training dogs flooded over into his own line of dogs. Throughout the years, Mike has worked with many talented trainers where he gained a wealth of knowledge which he put into training countless working dogs.
Mike became a State Law Enforcement Officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at the age of 24. During his career with FWC, he was voted Officer of the Year for his region and also the NWTF Officer of the Year. He was a member of the FWC Special Operations Group (SOG) as well as a founding member of FWC's Resource Protection Unit (RPU). After a few years, Mike went through FWC's interview and rigorous physical assessment in order to become a member of the FWC K9 program. He was ultimately selected where he was partnered with his first K9 partner, K9 Roscoe. After completing a seven-month K9 school, Mike and K9 Roscoe went back to their respective region certified in tracking, article recovery and fish and game detection through NAPWDA. Mike and K9 Roscoe were responsible for countless arrests along with assisting other agencies in the recovery of crucial pieces of evidence that would have otherwise gone undetected allowing dangerous criminals to walk the streets.
After a couple of years, Mike decided to capitalize on an opportunity to work a dual-purpose patrol dog with the Hendry County Sheriff's Office (HCSO). Mike travelled to Royal Police Dogs in Tallahassee where he tested several candidates but ultimately selected a 10-month-old Belgian Malinois named “Neko”. Mike and K9 Neko attended their patrol school with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit (PBSO.) After completing over 800 hours of training, Mike and K9 Neko certified in Patrol, Tracking and Narcotics detection through FLECA. Mike was invited back to PBSO where he assisted with instructing a large K9 school with teams from multiple agencies. After completing almost two years training, he was given his Police K9 Trainer's certification.
𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗻 (with Jenna Gadberry)
Advice from the Nerd Herd: How to Choose, Store, and Use Training Aids for Maximum K9 Performance
Detection dog teams rely on the science of odor as much as they rely on training and technique. Yet, many common problems in K9 work — inconsistent responses, false alerts, and contamination issues — often trace back to the training aids themselves rather than the dog. This presentation bridges laboratory science and practical field work to help handlers, trainers, and supervisors get the most from their dogs by getting the most from their training aids.
Participants will learn how to select the right training aids for their mission, how different materials and packaging influence odor availability, and how storage conditions affect stability and safety. Real-world examples will be used to demonstrate how small changes in handling can dramatically improve reliability, reduce cross-contamination, and strengthen the dog’s final response.
This session is designed for both new and experienced K9 teams working in narcotics, explosives, wildlife, human remains, or other detection specialties. Handlers will gain confidence in identifying problem areas, setting up their aids correctly, and troubleshooting performance issues. Hear it from the “nerd herd” — scientists who study, handle, and work with detection dogs — and walk away with tools you can use the very next training day.
BIO:
Michele Maughan, Ph.D., is a research scientist and program manager for Excet, Inc. a US Defense Department science and engineering contract firm. Michele works at the US Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Chemical Biological Center (CBC) in the Olfactory Sciences group at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. In this role, Dr. Maughan, provides subject matter expertise on canine scent detection and training aids, explosive and other emerging CBRNE threats, sensor technologies, and research, development, test and evaluation of Military Working Dog and Homeland Security canines. In addition to being a scientist, Michele is also a certified explosives detection dog (EDD) handler, currently working on developing her second EDD from puppy to operational canine for R&D projects.
Todd Wilber
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. ⠀
BIO:
Todd is a former special operations (tier 1) bomb technician and explosive materials expert. He has identified/disposed of/decommissioned several thousand bombs (IED to nuclear). He has done additional work with several USG agencies as a subject matter expert, project manager and operations. Todd is an adjunct professor at New Mexico State University where he lectures and instructs on explosive identification, detonation and disposal. Mr. Wilber if the founder and President of Precision Explosives, LLC.
Jay Nix
NEW CLASS
Lessons Learned in Hunting Dangerous Men
Synopsis: To give handlers a raw, real, applicable breakdown of what actually matters when hunting human beings with a police K9, including decision making, tactical movement, reading behavior, managing stress, controlling the dog, and preparing for violent encounters.
This isn’t a “war story” class.
It’s a leadership and survival class for today’s K9 handler, built on experience, and proven principles.
BIO
Jay is an active-duty law enforcement officer who has served with the Marion County, FL, Sheriff’s Office since 2000. He was assigned to the K9 Unit as a handler in 2002. During his time as a handler, he was assigned to the patrol division, a joint agency narcotics task force, followed by an assignment to a highway criminal interdiction unit, where he led the unit as the team’s commander and sergeant. He currently holds the position of the agency’s K9 Commander and head trainer. Jay is a certified law enforcement K9 instructor and evaluator with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as well as the Florida Law Enforcement Canine Association. Jay also serves as a board member as Vice President of the national non-profit organization K9s United, where he not only heads up the professional training team, he also helps with the organization’s daily operations.
RICK FARLEY
Answers to Old Aged Questions in Detection
This class will debunk common myths about odor detection—what odor does and doesn’t do.
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Whether you should work your dog or allow the dog to work independently.
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Understanding which type of reward system (primary vs. secondary) is best for your training objectives.
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The use of pseudo scents—whether they are beneficial or harmful for imprinting your dog.
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Understanding the difference between duty and non-duty detection work.
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Important steps to take prior to going to court.
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How to properly testify during a trial.
BIO:
Ricky Farley has owned and operated the Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officer’s Training Center since 1992. He has had the privilege of training police service canines for over 28 foreign countries as well as over 1700 police departments inside the United States.
Over his 25 year career Mr. Farley has trained canines in areas of narcotics, explosives, accelerant and cadaver detection as well as apprehension.
He has made numerous television appearances on issues pertaining to police service canines, assisted both large and small departments in writing their canine policies and procedures, given civil liability lectures along with search and seizure law updates and lectured over 2500 individuals in the area of canine bite prevention.
Mr. Farley has been involved with the University of Alabama, assisting in cadaver dog research and security involving athletic events. He has testified as an expert witness in several court cases.
Ricky is the only civilian to teach classes at the MVCI (motor vehicle criminal interdiction). In addition to MVCI he has taught classes for HIDTA (high intensity drug trafficking area) program.
JOSH ROWLANDS
NEW CLASS
K9 Communication & Progressive Overload Training
This session refines the handler–dog communication loop and shows how to apply progressive overload without putting a dog on the field. We cover marker systems, timings and body cues, operant theory, progressive based training principles. We discuss scaling training stressors methodically across intensity, duration, complexity, and distraction to build reliability without flooding or burnout. Applied discussions focus on obedience under load, detection concepts and operant training principles. The goal is to discuss and share information in an effort to build on k9 tknowledge across the LEO agencies.
BIO:
Josh Rowlands is a 19-year military veteran whose career includes 17 years in special operations and 9 combat deployments. As a former Tier 1 operator and K9 handler, he led and mentored teams in complex environments. Josh’s operational background spans mission development, cross-unit coordination, and integrating working dogs into high-risk tasks.
In the training world, Josh translates that experience into a practical, repeatable system built on two pillars: precise handler–dog communication and progressive overload applied with purpose. He teaches handlers how to tighten the communication loop, manage arousal and drive, and scale stressors across intensity, duration, complexity, and distraction without flooding or burnout.
Focus areas: communication and timing, progressive overload planning, obedience under load, detection theory, stress inoculation, operant based theory and practical applications.
Credentials at a glance:
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19 years military service; 17 years special operations
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9 overseas deployments
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Former Tier 1 operator and K9 handler
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Emphasis on clear, concise communication and operant based training concepts.
Drew Dubnyk
Class 1 - Uniform Neutrality
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.
BIO:
Drew has been a police officer in Canada for the last 17 years, 10 of which have been assigned to the K9 Unit. He is a C.L.E.A.R certified Master Trainer with the Canadian Police Canine Association. Drew has been responsible for overseeing training for his service’s Patrol K9, Detection and Tactical Integration programs for the majority of his K9 career. This includes working two of his own dual-purpose K9’s, spending 8 years integrated with his service’s Tactical Unit.
In 2023, Drew and his K9 partner competed in the Canadian National Police Dog Championships, winning “Top Dog” in the country over the 4-day event. Drew’s history with working K9’s is a bit unique in the policing world as he trained dogs prior to joining the k9 unit. This prior experience from training pets, sport dogs and police k9s, combined with years of operational experience, creates a unique perspective.
Ricky Rivera and Stephen Leitzell
Class 1 - Selecting the Modern Police Dog NEW CLASS
A successful K9 team starts with selecting the right dog. In this class, Spectrum Canine’s Ricky Rivera and Stephen Leitzell explain the modern approach to evaluating police dog candidates based on genetics, sociability, environmental stability, hunting drive, and clear-headed bite behavior. Attendees will learn how to identify dogs that possess the balance of confidence, nerve, and work ethic needed for real-world performance. Backed by extensive field experience, Spectrum Canine shares proven methods to help agencies choose dogs with predictable results, strong control, and long-term reliability on the street.
Class 2 - Developing Control for the Streets NEW CLASS
This course focuses on building reliable, street-ready police dogs through advanced E-collar communication and off-leash control. Ricky Rivera and Stephen Leitzell of Spectrum Canine demonstrate how proper E-collar use enhances tactical capability, increases officer safety, and minimizes liability—without compromising drive or performance. Attendees will learn proven methods to develop verbal outs, recalls, and directional control that transform K9s into precise, confident tools for modern police work.
BIO: Ricky Rivera and Stephen Leitzell
Ricky Rivera and Stephen Leitzell lead Spectrum Canine Police Dogs, a nationally recognized training program specializing in the development, deployment, and maintenance of modern police K9 teams. With over two decades of combined experience, they have built a results-driven program focused on producing highly effective, street-ready police dogs with exceptional control and reliability.
Their work spans across the country—training, auditing, and consulting for law enforcement and military units while providing comprehensive K9 procurement, handler schools, and advanced continuing education courses such as E-collar training, decoy development, and high-stress scenario-based instruction.
Through years of operational experience, they’ve refined methods that transform K9 units into trusted, mission-critical assets—enhancing deployment rates, performance, and handler confidence while reducing liability.
Spectrum Canine is dedicated to advancing the standards of modern police dog training, ensuring that every team they work with performs predictably, effectively, and safely in the field.
Ethridge “Jimmy” Hall & Jacob Baroff
NEW CLASS
Tactical Canine Development (TACDEV)
Basic K9 Integration:
The basic course will provide the training and equipment needed for the K9 team to fully integrate with
a tactical element. The K9 teams will learn move with a tactical element, conduct breaching from a
stacked formation, and free flow room clearing techniques. Laser and Long Line Deployment Techniques, Tactical Area Search, and Advanced K9 Integration will also be covered.
BIO:
Ethridge “Jimmy” Hall
He has 32 years of law enforcement experience, 28 of those in canine operations. Jimmy has served as a handler, trainer, and supervisor, and he was the canine training program manager for a 50-dog unit. Jimmy has supervised training for multiple canine disciplines, including patrol, narcotics detection, explosives detection, therapy assistance, arson accelerant detection, and Bloodhound teams. He is responsible for standing up a human remains detection and disaster SAR K9 program. He also spent the last seven years developing a tactical K9 program, which consists of four K9 teams integrated into the SWAT Team.Currently, Jimmy is the Director of Florida’s Forensic Institute for Research Security and Tactics at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. His responsibilities include creating partnerships with academic institutions andorganizations to study the use of working dogs in public safety.
Jacob Baroff
He is the head trainer for the K9 SWAT, Bloodhound, EOD, and Narcotics programs at a local law enforcement agency, as well as the owner and lead trainer of Dark Shadows Canine. Bringing years of expertise from both the K9 and SWAT worlds, Jacob has built a strong reputation as both a skilled operator and visionary trainer. With a career spanning service as a K9 handler, FDLE trainer, evaluator, and supervisor, Jacob has played a key role in developing and refining tactical K9 programs for the better part of 10 years. He oversees specialized units, ensuring teams are prepared for real-world, high-risk deployments. His hands-on training style, leadership, and mentorship have made him an influential figure in both law enforcement and military canine communities. Jacob has trained alongside elite military K9 units, integrating their best practices into law enforcement operations to strengthen tactical readiness. Holding numerous certifications in canine training, firearms, vehicle pursuits, and high-liability instruction, he continues to push the boundaries of tactical K9
Mike McHenry
Class 1 - Certification does not prepare you for the Reality of the street:
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
BIO:
Owner & Lead Trainer of F.M. K9 LLC
· Over 25 years in the canine field and industry, US Army Combat-Veteran - 8 years, BSA Criminal Justice
· Master Degree Psychology
· 11 years on SWAT - 3 1/2 years as SWAT Commander - worked canine with SWAT team, 22 plus years in law enforcement - retired , 10 years as a shift commander / supervisor in Law Enforcement , 18 1/2 years as a canine handler, 18 years supervisor experience of canine unit , DRE / SFST Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Expert witness in canine state, local & federal court's
· Over twenty years experience training canine for explosive detection, narcotics detection, patrol-utility work, SAR, Cadaver, for local, state, federal and military
· Instruct Decoy Basic skills for over fifteen years
· Beer Sponsor for the 2026 Hold the Line K9 Conference
Mike Swirchak & Bryan Bull
NEW CLASS
K9 Overwatch (Eyes in the sky, Teeth on the ground)
Covering how to acclimate k9 teams to drones, practical training and operational considerations. From tracking to building searches etc.
BIO : Mike Swirchak
- Owner of Ridgeside K9 eastern Carolina and Raleigh
- 10 years Police K9 in manassas Va (worked 2 dual purpose dogs
- 6 months contracting for DOS (Iraq)
- 3 years contacting OGA (Iraq, Afghanistan and other)
- 3 years head trainer at GardaWorld Federal services where I supervised police training and was the head instructor for the MARSOC contract.
Bryon Bull
With nearly 15 years in law enforcement as a K9 handler and trainer, Bryan has dedicated his career to working with dogs at the highest levels. As a PMC, He’s completed multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, serving as both a handler and lead trainer in demanding operational environments.
Bryan went on to run K9 programs for the Department of Defense and Department of State, where he served as a Multi-Purpose K9 Trainer, Program Manager, and Training Director.
Today, Bryan owns Old Line Canine Services in Maryland, where he helps dog owners transform their pets through personalized training and specialized behavior modification, especially for dogs with challenging behavioral issues.
Jenna Gadberry (with Michele Maughan)
Advice from the Nerd Herd: How to Choose, Store, and Use Training Aids for Maximum K9 Performance
Detection dog teams rely on the science of odor as much as they rely on training and technique. Yet, many common problems in K9 work — inconsistent responses, false alerts, and contamination issues — often trace back to the training aids themselves rather than the dog. This presentation bridges laboratory science and practical field work to help handlers, trainers, and supervisors get the most from their dogs by getting the most from their training aids.
Participants will learn how to select the right training aids for their mission, how different materials and packaging influence odor availability, and how storage conditions affect stability and safety. Real-world examples will be used to demonstrate how small changes in handling can dramatically improve reliability, reduce cross-contamination, and strengthen the dog’s final response.
This session is designed for both new and experienced K9 teams working in narcotics, explosives, wildlife, human remains, or other detection specialties. Handlers will gain confidence in identifying problem areas, setting up their aids correctly, and troubleshooting performance issues. Hear it from the “nerd herd” — scientists who study, handle, and work with detection dogs — and walk away with tools you can use the very next training day.
BIO:
Mrs. Jenna Gadberry is a contract Scientist at the US Army Futures Command’s Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM-CBC) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Mrs. Gadberry earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of California at Davis in 2003 and enjoyed a 12 year career at the DoD’s Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) where she was a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and program coordinator for two Technical Support Working Groups (TSWGs). Since 2016, Mrs. Gadberry has been part of the Olfactory Sciences Team, working on enhancing canine detection capabilities. She now manages a diverse portfolio of active Military Working Dog projects (everything from olfaction to wearables and decon solutions), specializing in the spiral development process of getting applied research and development solutions into end-user’s hands.
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Jim O’Brien - NC K9 LLC
Benefits Of the Bite Table LIVE DEMO
The Bite Table has been a tool that has been getting more use in the last few years. This class will explain and demonstrate the multiple uses of the Bite Table from obedience to bite work. Different table designs will be shown and demonstrated. You will have a thorough knowledge of the table and be able to apply the techniques after the class!
BIO
Jim is the owner of NC K9 LLC in Four Oaks NC. Jim has been handling and training police canines since 2005. Jim served as a police officer in New Hampshire for 18 years and handled two police canines during that time. Since moving to North Carolina in 2014, Jim has trained police canine handlers and military canine handlers from all over the United States and several foreign countries. ⠀
NC K9 LLC specializes in providing trained police canines and handlers courses to Law Enforcement. Jim also conducts decoy, tracking, detection, and problem solving seminars to enhance your canine unit.
Ted Summers
The Tracking Process from Imprinting to Finished Dog
Will cover problem solving. Focuses on negative reinforcement imprinting with an e-collar, markers, OB
integration, and HIIT tracking, proximities, building search imprinting, and case law
BIO:
Ted has been involved in Police K9 for close to 20 years serving as a managing partner and head trainer for Torchlight K9 for 17. Those 17 years have produced thousands of successful K9 teams working across North and Central America. He is also currently the Co-Host and Co-Producer of Working Dog Radio, the Training Director and Co-owner of High Risk Deployment K9, the Training Director and Co-owner of BGK9 based in Bulgaria and the Executive Director of the Oil Capital K9 Fund, a 501 dedicated to serving underfunded law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma.
James Sabol
New Class
Class 1 - Patrol Car-Focused Apprehension Training
The patrol car is one of the most overlooked tools in K9 apprehension training, despite being the starting point for most real-world deployments. This class focuses on incorporating the patrol vehicle into K9 training to reduce stress, improve clarity, and increase operational reliability. Topics include deployment from door poppers and the shoot, controlled returns to the vehicle, removing negative associations with lights and sirens, holding the car, aggression control, and handler communication during call-outs. This course provides training techniques that handlers can apply immediately in real deployments.
Class 2 - 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.
BIO:
James is a Canine Training Specialist for the Department of Homeland Security, where he specializes in SWAT and apprehension tactics. Prior to that James was the Master Trainer for Marine Corps Special Operations Command Multi-Purpose Canine Program. There he trained multi different canine teams in various disciplines from explosive detection, apprehension, close quarters battle, tracking/trailing and team integration. During his time as a canine trainer he has worked with various different special operations groups, police departments and allied countries. James was a Marine Dog Handler for 13 years, as well a private contractor for the State Department. He has operational experience as handler and trainer in various countries to include Iraq and Afghanistan. His training philosophy is to “be an asset, not a liability”.
Matt Lunsford
All Things Odor LIVE DEMO
Class covers the importance of conflict odors, distractions and methods with odor work and the detection/ tracking dog as well as safety concerns.
BIO:
Matt Lunsford is a Deputy Sheriff for the Preble County Sheriff’s Office, a prior K9 handler and the agency K9 coordinator. Mr. Lunsford has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 30 years.
Mr. Lunsford is a Ohio Police Officer Training Academy k9 evaluator, and a K9 trainer for OPOTA based K9 academy. Mr. Lunsford is a firearms instructor , a criminal interdiction instructor. Mr. Lunsford is a published author with publications in AIRBEATS on the topic of combined arms manhunting. Mr. Lunsford has also written articles for the USPCA. The combined arms manhunting course was designed to use technology in conjunction with K9 teams and tactics to safely hunt those criminals or the lost who need Le enforcement assistance. Topics covered will be deployment tactics , marine patrol use, manned aircraft and unmanned aircraft. Mr. Lunsford is a member and southwest assistant coordinator for NAPWDA , a member of the USPCA and a qualifying judge for AWD. Mr. Lunsford along with his wife also owns and operates Trifecta K9 which specializes in purpose raised working K9’s used for law enforcement.
Scott Clark
NEW CLASS
Street-Ready K9s: Real-World Training for Confident, Reliable Teams
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.
BIO:
Scott Clark, Owner and Founder of High Drive K-9, served as a Police K-9 Officer for the City of Coral Springs Police Department, Broward County, Florida from January 1999 and retired May 2021. Since 2001, he was assigned to the K-9 Unit where he served as an active K-9 Handler & K-9 Head Trainer, working multiple (3) Dual Purpose Canines and training numerous K-9 Teams over that span.
Scott is a current National K-9 Instructor as well as a State of Florida FDLE K-9 Team Instructor and FDLE K-9 Team Evaluator. In addition, Scott was the K-9 Unit Head Trainer, Multi-Jurisdictional K-9 Head Trainer, SWAT K-9 Team Leader, Trainer and SWAT K-9 Handler, Firearms Instructor, HK MP5/MP7Instructor, Sig Rifle Instructor, and has trained hundreds of K-9 Teams in South Florida and Across the Country.
Scott has a vast knowledge in Canine Behavior, Decoy Development, Bite Building, K-9 Tactics, Canine Testing and Selection, K-9/SWAT Tactics and has countless K-9 & SWAT Deployments. Scott is a current and active writer, where numerous articles of his have been published globally.
Scott has extensive experience and knowledge traveling throughout Europe, testing and selecting dogs, enabling him to provide successful dogs for law enforcement throughout the country.