There’s still time to join the AKC Detection Dog Task Force for our next webinar on Jan. 12, 2022 at 7:30 PM (ET).

*Plus, we are pleased to announce special additional guest panelist Manda Vanhorne, Chief Trainer at K2 Solutions. Manda is an Ex Canine Trainer and Handler with the British Army, who completed three deployments to the Middle East handling Patrol, Detection and Tracker Dogs. She moved to the US in 2008 to work at Lackland Air Force Base as an Instructor on the Specialized Search Dog Course and is currently the Chief Trainer at K2 solutions, responsible for the Canine Training Team and approximately 200 Canines in training.

This panel discussion will focus on transitional training during the 6-9 month age period, as the emphasis moves from being a puppy raiser to being dog trainer. Discussion will focus on the development of possession, search, and reward object engagement. During this period, environmental stability should be sufficiently well established that it receives less focus, while ongoing emphasis continues on olfactory acuity and reward object engagement. Increasing focus is placed on search during this period. Search uses the dog's innate curiosity and desire for reward to build effective search behavior. 

The AKC Detection Dog Task Force is pleased to continue our conversation with industry experts:

• Bart Rogers, Chief Canine Instructor, Auburn University Canine Performance Sciences
• Tim Baird, Director of Operations Alabama, MK9 Solutions 
• Manda Vanhorne, Chief Trainer at K2 Solution
• Stacey West, Program Manager, AKC’s Patriotic Puppy Program

Participants will become familiar with the following concepts:

• Development of Possession - This stage starts with short, simple exercises in the early months. As the dog develops, this progresses to exercises of longer duration and increasing difficulty. The goal of this stage is not necessarily to teach the dog a particular target odor, but rather to have the dog practice behaviors that will help it learn faster when it is time, later in life, to learn a target odor.
• Search - Uses the dog's innate curiosity and desire for reward to build effective search behavior. Exercises that started off extremely short and basic when the puppy was young become longer and more complex as the dog matures and consistently demonstrates success.
• Reward Object Engagement - This activity develops the dog's desire to obtain, play with, and retain a variety of reward objects, such as tennis balls, tug toys, Kongs, etc. This builds up the dog's possession skills, which play a critical role in determining the dog's suitability for detection roles.

The online event will take place Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at 7:30pm ET. 

The session will last less than an hour. 

Registration is required. At registration, participants will have the chance to submit up to three questions for discussion during the session. 

Please click here to register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2841459522636599564 

For information on the AKC Detection Dog Task Force:  https://www.akc.org/edc and the Patriotic Puppy Program: https://akc.org/ppp .