The Working Dog Depot Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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Rich and I had a chat with two board members with ATK9. Paul Ludwig and JC Leblanc are both well known names in the working dog community. They provided pertinent information about the upcoming ATK9 conference in October. The number of world renowned instructors and format make this conference unique. Of course, there were many take aways as well as it relates to training. If you haven't registered for the conference don't wait. Thank you for taking the time to come back to our podcast time and again. Rich and I are humbled by the number of listeners and we love the feedback. 

The American Tactical K9 Association, provides training, educational programming, and assistance to the military and law enforcement communities in police/ military K9 procedures, operations, and tactics.

The educational programs and training offered are specifically designed to enhance the performance and professional status of law enforcement and military personnel by providing a credible and proven training resource as well as a forum for the development of tactics and information exchange between the professional law enforcement and military community.

The American Tactical K9 Association solicits donations and contributions donated by businesses and individuals to offset the cost of training and educational programs which are scheduled on a regular basis. 

https://atk9.org/2024-conference

We are pleased to have Vested Interest in K9's as a sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org.

Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.

Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.com

HLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2026 conference will be April 14 - 16 2026. Register today at www.htlk9.com.

Welcome our newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: jobrien@nck9.us

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It's especially rewarding for us to get an opportunity to interview a hard working man with integrity. That was certainly the feeling we had as we concluded the interview. Hope you all enjoy the conversation as much as we did. 

Josh is a retired police officer after serving at Garland PD and Denton PD
in Texas since 2003. During that time Josh held positions as a field
training officer, firearms instructor, active shooter instructor, academy
instructor, K-9 handler, and K-9 instructor. Josh’s K-9 partners won
numerous awards, both in police canine competitions, and on the street
making high risk felony apprehensions and seizing thousands of pounds
of narcotics and millions of dollars in drug money. During Josh’s career, he
received numerous awards and commendations including over 50
meritorious conduct awards, officer of the year, and the life saving award.
Josh’s first police dog won the United States Police Canine Association
Region 20 (USPCA) “Top Dog” overall in the first two years he competed,
before becoming a USPCA judge. Josh has trained and certified hundreds
of police K-9 teams and is still active in the police K-9 community.
In the civilian world, Josh competes with his personal dog that he trained
from a puppy in Protection Sports Association (PSA) and is a certified trial
decoy. Josh has trained his current dog to the level of PSA2 and has won
numerous awards at trial with her including high obedience and high
protection. As a decoy, Josh has been selected as a national select decoy
four times, and has traveled all over the U.S. and internationally to decoy,
train dogs, and certify decoys. Josh has decoyed over 150 competitive
trials in five different countries. Josh is currently the secretary of decoys
for PSA and maintains decoy evaluations and certifications of over 100
decoys worldwide.
Josh is the founder and owner of Kirby K9 which started as a custom
leash and collar company for police and working dogs, and has expanded
to include selective training for obedience and protection dogs. Kirby K9
specializes in working dog equipment and is the largest dealer for
Demanet bite suits. Josh works very closely with Demanet to develop and
test new products and bite suits, and Demanet has adopted the designs
and construction of bite sleeves developed by Josh.
Josh is passionate about training dogs, particula

We are pleased to have Vested Interest in K9's as a sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org.

Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.

Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.com

HLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2026 conference will be April 14 - 16 2026. Register today at www.htlk9.com.

Welcome our newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: jobrien@nck9.us

Send us a text

What a great conversation with Jerry Bradshaw. We got Jerry to stroll down memory lane at the beginning of the episode. He then dove deep into an explanation about "capping".  For those of you who know Jerry or listen to his podcast "Controlled Aggression" he is a wealth of knowledge. Many folks will want to listen to this episode more than once. He has a lot of great ideas.

Jerry Bradshaw is Training Director & President of Tarheel Canine Training, Inc. in Sanford, North Carolina. Jerry has been training dogs for competitive protection sports since 1991 and has competed in National Championship trials in both schutzhund and PSA. Jerry won the PSA 2 National Championships in 2017 with Chuligan Pod Cvilinem (Raptor) PSA 2 High OB & High Protection, and Drago PSA 2 was vice Champion that same year. Jerry claimed the PSA 3 National Championships in 2003 with his dog Ricardo v.d. Natuurzicht PSA 3, and again in 2019 & 2020 with Chuligan Pod Cvilinem (Raptor) PSA 3. Jerry is a 3-time PSA 3 club member, with his dogs Rocky
PSA 3, Ricardo PSA 3 and Raptor PSA 3.
​
Tarheel Canine Training Inc. is an internationally renowned training facility for police service dogs, and has placed trained police dogs at federal, state and local law enforcement agencies nationally and internationally since 1993. Jerry is often a featured speaker at national police K9 conferences, and travels extensively giving seminars to police departments, and sport trainers across the United States.
Jerry has taught seminars for the US Military, US Special Operations, Australian Military, Australian Federal Police, Brazilian Military, India’s Tier 1 Special Operations K9 Unit, Canada’s Tier 1 Special Operations K9 Unit, Taiwan NFA, and China’s Police K9 Association. Jerry’s book, Controlled Aggression, is the standard text for understanding the fundamentals of canine aggression training for police service, personal protection, and competitive dog sports. Jerry is also the host of the popular K9 training podcast “The Controlled Aggression Podcast.”

We are pleased to have Vested Interest in K9's as a sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org.

Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.

Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.com

HLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2026 conference will be April 14 - 16 2026. Register today at www.htlk9.com.

Welcome our newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: jobrien@nck9.us

Send us a text

We think that you will see that Mountain is a teacher at heart and a wealth of knowledge. ENJOY!

Mountain was born in Rio de Janeiro Brazil in 1985 and immigrated to the US when he was 4. His younger years were spent in Florida and eventually moved to Vermont his 8th grade year. Upon graduating, he took an athletic scholarship to compete in track and field at Lynchburg college, in Virginia. He did 2 years of premed before feeling a need to take break from his studies. 

Mountain enlisted in the marine corps in 2005 and served until almost 2016. He did 5 tours, 4 conducting combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Oman, and other various places around the HOA(horn of Africa) and the Middle East. On his 4th deployment (1st to Afghan) he was part of the TEDD program, and where he got his start with dogs. On his second deployment to Afghanistan he conducted operational planning for the AO and the utilization of special assists, one of which were the labs. 

Mountain finished his time in Quantico Va as a foreign weapons instructor, teaching DOS, DEA, FBI, SEALs, and MARSOC operators how to utilize and implement a host of foreign weapons. Upon his final promotion, he became the rifle program manager for the Marine Corps. 

Immediately after his EAS, he dove head first back into dogs. He mentored and studied under some not so great guys, and some great ones. He spent the next few years traveling around the country and attending every class and seminar he could. He eventually started working contracts as an explosives detection handler, and soon after training EDD’s for the company, and eventually working a pilot program for the DoD for US Special Operations. It was an advanced Mountain K9 course. 

In the constant pursuit of knowledge, and chasing his passion for dogs, today Mountain finds himself instructing for Spikes K9’s “Spikes School.”  He provides tracking courses for agencies around the country, at no cost to the departments.  He assists his good friend Armin Winkler with the conduct of handler courses and education for different Tier 1 and 2 assets from the US and abroad.  He was an assistant instructor at this year's ATK9 conference and gave lectures at HITS, ranging from behavioral science applied in training, laser directionals, and special operations tactical K9 integration. 

Currently Mountain lives in Virginia with his amazing wife Ashley, and 3 children: Elijah, Jack, and Tuesday. They’re expecting

We are pleased to have Vested Interest in K9's as a sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org.

Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.

Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.com

HLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2026 conference will be April 14 - 16 2026. Register today at www.htlk9.com.

Welcome our newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: jobrien@nck9.us

Send us a text

Both Rich and I feel that Erik is doing something special with the implementation of the bark fence. On this episode, he does a great job of describing how he uses it and what he expects the desired outcome to become. This is truly another tool to be added to your program as you seek to develop dogs that will engage with power and control.

Erik Good is currently a handler and the head K-9 Trainer at the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department. He is certified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as a K-9 Team Instructor and K-9 Team Evaluator. Erik has been a K-9 handler for 15 years and has worked 3 single purpose patrol dogs along with a single purpose EOD dog. Erik is responsible for teaching new handler schools for both his agency and surrounding jurisdictions. Erik’s duties include instructing training for over 15 dogs within his agency. He also puts on weekly multi-jurisdictional training for surrounding departments. Additionally, Erik has 9 years of experience as a SWAT K-9 handler/trainer and has worked to incorporate and develop new and innovative K-9 tactics previously non-existent to SWAT operations within the agency. Erik has been successful in implementing a format of training that emphasizes proper gripping behaviors coupled with dynamic releases. His methods prove that there’s no need to diminish drives and gripping behavior in order to obtain a superior level of control in the dog. Erik is passionate about hard surface tracking due to the extreme urban environmental conditions in South Florida.

We are pleased to have Vested Interest in K9's as a sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org.

Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.

Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.com

HLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2026 conference will be April 14 - 16 2026. Register today at www.htlk9.com.

Welcome our newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: jobrien@nck9.us

Send us a text

We sat down with an old  mutual friend and talked about a myriad of K9 related subjects. We discussed k9 tryouts, the vetting process, hairy deployments, the cyclical nature of things, as well as Eddie's K9 attic deployment system. You will be able to hear how passionate Eddie is about the device he developed and how it can save lives. First In K9 may ring a bell from k9 conferences such as Hits and Hold the Line K9 conference. Eddie currently works with all the K9 teams going through Vohne Licke's handler courses. 

Eddie Wescott is a veteran police officer, with over 34 years of service, including 18 years as a K9 handler and trainer. He retired from the Louisville Metro Police Department where he served as a K9 handler and SWAT officer.  He currently serves as a patrol officer with the Jeffersontown Police Department. Eddie is also the inventor of the patented K9 Attic Deployment System and owner of First In K9. Eddie can be reached at Eddie@first-in-K9.com

https://www.first-in-k9.com/

We are pleased to have Vested Interest in K9's as a sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org.

Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.

Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.com

HLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2026 conference will be April 14 - 16 2026. Register today at www.htlk9.com.

Welcome our newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: jobrien@nck9.us

Send us a text

Doug graciously allowed us to interview him and he came forward with some great information. Information that comes from experience working in the field for many years. This episode is chocked full of gold nuggets that handlers can put to use. We hope that you enjoy this one as much as we did. 

Doug Roller was a Sergeant and Chief Trainer for the Los Angeles Police Departments
(LAPD) K-9 Platoon, Metropolitan Division for 17 years, until he retired in March of 2013. He is a nationally recognized expert in K-9 tactics, perimeter containments and search techniques, with over 6,500 K-9 deployments. Doug had been a member of the LAPD since 1982. In his over 30 years of service Doug had been assigned to the K-9 Platoon Division for almost 25 years. He was a handler and Assistant Trainer for over 7 years, capturing over 400 suspects with his assigned canine during that time. Doug oversaw all aspects of K9 training, maintenance and K9 selection for the LAPD K9 Platoon. Their Platoon maintained one of, if not the highest find ratio in the nation. Sergeant Roller is a court qualified K9 expert and has testified in numerous K9 litigation cases.

In 2010 - Doug started his company “Tactical K9 LLC." He is the owner and CEO and has several outstanding instructors working for his company. TK9 has also contracted with numerous agencies for basic and advanced training in all areas of police service dog programs. TK9 has conducted countless seminars throughout North and South America as well as Asia, instructing on Perimeter Containments, Search Team Tactics and proper E- collar use (Off-Leash Control). Doug is also a California POST Certified AICC Instructor. He has conducted over 175 of his much-demanded E-Collar Workshops since the company was established. Tactical K9 has contracted and instructed all branches of the military as well as some of the Special Forces Units. Doug can be contacted through his email
(offleashtrainer@aol.com).

We are pleased to have Vested Interest in K9's as a sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org.

Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.

Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.com

HLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2026 conference will be April 14 - 16 2026. Register today at www.htlk9.com.

Welcome our newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: jobrien@nck9.us

Send us a text

This was a joint episode with the guys from the Dogs of War Podcast. The DOW podcast just celebrated its third year. Steven "Sway" Hueston was instrumental in helping us get our podcast off the ground. 

In this episode we talk about moral, social media, podcast growth, and creative venues for expanding your dog training  business. Additionally, Steven Antommarchi shared some new regarding a study he has been involved in over the past three years. In a nut shell, the study involved the training of dogs to discriminate between hemp and marijuana. Below is Steven's biography:
Over the last 15 years, Steven Antommarchi has held the law enforcement titles of Patrol Officer, Canine Handler, Canine Supervisor, Canine Trainer, and Interim Chief of Police.

His first encounter with a K-9 team was in New York City on September 11, 2001. He witnessed a search and rescue K-9 team fighting through horrible conditions, while overcoming serious injury for the sake of saving lives. That encounter made such a profound impression on him that he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.

15 years later, on July 7, 2016, in Dallas, Texas, K-9 Officer Antommarchi found himself in the middle of the deadliest attack on law enforcement since 9/11. Tasked with the responsibility of clearing the downtown area for improvised explosive devices, the reason he got into working K-9s came full circle.

Being mentored by Tony Guzman and Robert “Bob” Suarez, Antommarchi is the Founder of Next Level K9 Texas, an Instructor for the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University, and K-9 case study trainer for the Global Forensic Justice Center at Florida International University.

Most recently, he became one of the lead trainers and co-designer of the training methodology for a scientific study on “Hemp vs Marijuana.” This study is to evaluate the ability for narcotic detector dogs to discriminate between the odor of marijuana and hemp. The study is being headed by Dr. Kelvin Frank of Florida International University and is in the process of being submitted for publication.

 Antommarchi is the K-9 trainer and consultant for dozens of law enforcement agencies across the United States and Africa. Conducting workshops and seminars focusing on K-9 aggression instincts, K9 scientific research, and operational readiness. He is also the Law Enforcement Secretary for the American Working Dog Association (AWDA) for the disc

We are pleased to have Vested Interest in K9's as a sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org.

Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.

Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.com

HLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2026 conference will be April 14 - 16 2026. Register today at www.htlk9.com.

Welcome our newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: jobrien@nck9.us

Send us a text

Help us welcome one of the most fun people we know to the Working Dog Depot, Matt Wilson.  Matt was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He first got into dog training at the age of 16 at PetSmart. It didn't take long for him to realize there was more to training than what was being offered at a big box store. Matt left PetSmart and started his own training business, Ethos K9. Shortly after starting this business his journey led him to  working at Ray Allen Manufacturing. He is the social media manager, one of 3 product inventors, and designers. He also manages government contracts and more. Working at Ray Allen Manufacturing has opened doors for him which have included a couple movie jobs with k9's. He sold his training company in 2020 and joined SAR in Colorado.  Hobbies include, drawing, movies, dogs, talking shit, cigars, making cool shit, sewing and music.  Sit back and enjoy!!

We are pleased to have Vested Interest in K9's as a sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org.

Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.

Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.com

HLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2026 conference will be April 14 - 16 2026. Register today at www.htlk9.com.

Welcome our newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: jobrien@nck9.us

Send us a text

Say Less - Train your dog to be calm and stable. This allows your dog to think through what you’re asking him to do. Being frantic leads to bad decision making and instability.

Brian Hempelmann
Brian Hempelmann became a police officer in 1994 with the Westminster Police Department in Colorado. He then became a K9 handler in 1997. Brian has since worked 5 dual purpose K9’s. 4 were dual purpose narcotics dogs and his current is a dual purpose explosive dog. Brian is also assigned to the SWAT team where he assists in perimeters and entry during various high risk operations. Brian is currently the Supervisor and Trainer for his department.
 
From 2009-2010, Brian worked with government research and development of K9 applications where he created and maintained programs of instruction for K9 applications. He trained K9’s in control, human scent discrimination tracking, searches, and narcotic and explosive odor training and implementation. 

Brian was a part of the Technical Support Working Group (TSWG) and considered a subject matter expert. Brian evaluates and documents K9 related DOD projects for specified end users. He evaluates explosive programs related to the dogs ability to generalize odors. He also created an HME program for military and law enforcement. Brian has trained numerous K9’s and certified them through CPCA and NPCA.

Billy Sawyer
Billy has 15 years of Law Enforcement experience that started with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Jacksonville Florida. Billy was assigned to a Tactical Narcotics Unit that focused on undercover operations along with service of Search Warrants, Arrest Warrants, and Vehicle Assaults. He was also a firearms instructor for the department. 

In 2013, Billy became an officer with the Longmont Police Department and joined the SWAT team in 2014. He deploys with and is attached to the SWAT team as the p rimary K9 handler. He has deployed on countless missions with the team. Billy was a Taser and Firearms Instructor. Billy promoted to the rank of Sergeant and currently leads a patrol shift. He is also the K9 Unit trainer and previously attended Police K9 Trainer School at Tarheel Canine. Billy has tested 100’s of police dogs. He is currently a judge for the Colorado Police Canine Association (CPCA). 

Billy believes in continuing education and he has attended the HITS Conference (5 times times), the Hold the Line K9 Conference (2 times, the

We are pleased to have Vested Interest in K9's as a sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org.

Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.

Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.com

HLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2026 conference will be April 14 - 16 2026. Register today at www.htlk9.com.

Welcome our newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: jobrien@nck9.us