AMES, Iowa — Canine handlers have a challenging job and training is of great importance. That’s why the Paws of Life Foundation and Iowa State University Extension for Continuing Education and Professional Development, together, are offering online training – the Working K9 Handler Academy where search and rescue dog handlers take classes.
Canine handlers include: law enforcement K9 handlers (police, military); search and rescue canine handlers; Schutzhund, Mondo or French Ring and other competitive protection sports; and finally – anyone who may be interested in canine learning theory, nutrition and has a love of dogs.
These online classes are designed to train the handler and to provide continuing education for existing trainers as well as others interested in the field of working canines. These high quality and interactive classes will enable handlers to more effectively work with their canines.
Class subjects will range from training handlers how to set up search strategy and crime scene preservation to detailed information about blood-borne pathogens.
Teresa MacPherson has a long history of search and rescue experience and specializes in canine search and search management. Disciplines include: wilderness search, wide-area search, human remains’ detection, water search and disaster response.
“The working life of a search dog is brief – six to eight years, if we’re lucky – and education expedites training and gets qualified teams into the field more quickly to save lives,” MacPherson says.
Search dog handlers have a need for quality training at reasonable prices. And, the Paws of Life Working K9 Handler Academy provides a venue for this need and also facilitates student/instructor interaction, further enhancing the educational experience.
“As a representative of the FEMA Canine program, I am happy to provide input for this important service,” MacPherson adds. “Any one of us, or one of our loved ones, may need the services of a search dog team one day.”
Canine handlers who sign up for these courses will be privy to the expertise of nationally-known canine handler instructors and an online library. They will also be given the ability to communicate and interact with these instructors online.
For more information about the K9 Handler Academy and its instructors, visit: www.k9handleracademy.com .
About Paws of Life Foundation:
The Working K9 Handler Academy is a Paws of Life program. The Paws of Life Foundation (PoL) is dedicated to the education of search and rescue dogs and their handlers. PoL works with responders at the local level to assist with dog placement and training to become a reliable and valuable resource for law enforcement and public safety agencies in the case of lost or missing persons.
For more information, visit: www.pawsoflife.org
