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This class will be geared towards intermediate Human Remains Detection K9 teams. Dogs should be started, exposed to & imprinted on odor, understand the search game, have a reward and started on a Trained Final Response. They should be comfortable & confident training in new environments with new people and new dogs.The class will focus on introducing new scenarios (large area, buried, building, vehicles, elevated, shoreline, beginner rubble) while problem solving training issues. The dogs will be exposed to a large variety of source at different decomp stages. We will review imprinting on new odor, rewarding to build drive, introduce a variety of drills to hone skills & teach search behaviors, discuss how to teach the dogs search patterns, review odor movement, introduce distraction training, practice scenario based training for both large & very small threshold & solidify the trained final response. We will have the opportunity to search an active cold case. Each scenario will be adjusted as needed for the needs of the Handler and K9.
Dogs with aggression or reactivity towards other dogs or humans are not permitted, and may be asked to leave the seminar if any issues arise. They should be comfortable walking on lead, have basic obedience, focus & have a basic reward system, which could be play/tug, food or praise. Dogs will not be permitted to mark on source, and should wear a belly band or something similar if there is a possibility the dog will mark. Dogs MUST remain leashed at ALL times leaving the vehicle, while out of the vehicle, up to their turn to train or practice, no exceptions. The dog may work off leash when with the trainer, then be leashed again after the rotation as they return to the vehicle.
Please be prepared to pick up after your dog in designated break areas. You will need to bring water for you and your dog, food/toy rewards, equipment, and the ability to keep your dog in your vehicle between running your dog. We will try to move quickly in between sessions, please be prepared to be "on deck" when it is your turn to run. Please wear comfortable shoes and long pants that will allow you to be active, think about how you will carry your food or toy/tug reward, a hat and sunglasses are recommended since we will be outside if weather permits. Also bring sunscreen, snacks, a folding/outdoor chair for sitting when we debrief or have classroom time, and a notepad & pen. We will have a building to train in, but please be prepared with wet weather attire in case of inclement weather. January in Florida could mean cold or warm days, or both, please check the forecast before packing. No e-collars allowed.
This class will be limited to 12 working spots, 1 K9 per handler for $325. Prices increase on Dec 13th (12/13/25) by $100.
PLEASE NOTE: All fees are non-refundable.
Trainer Bios:
Amy Couts has been training working dogs for search, rescue & recovery for both local response & disaster response since 2014. She has trained & certified 5 K9s for live scent search, Human Remains Detection, and most recently, Electronic Storage Device Detection with India. Amy has achieved SARTECH 2/FUNSAR certification through NASAR multiple times and K9 certification through AMPWDA, NAPWDA and USPCA.
Amy has trained with an extensive list of teams, handlers, trainers & task forces across the country in an effort to learn the best techniques from the best trainers in a variety of environments.
Crysta McBride is a current K9 handler with Port Orange Police Department. Crysta has in her tenth year as an officer and is certified as a detection K9 trainer, K9 medic, firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor, emergency vehicle driving instructor, and general instructor. Crysta's current partner, K9 Mila (Belgian Malinois and German Shepard mix, has been on patrol with her for approximately one year. Before K9 Mila, Crysta was partnered with K9 Buddy (Golden Retriever), for six and a half years. Both K9 Mila and K9 Buddy are trained in narcotic detection, person tracking, and evidence/article recovery. During Crysta and K9 Buddy's career they won first place (top dog) multiple times at the annual Space Coast K9 Detection Conference. In addition to this, Crysta deployed K9 Buddy over 600 times resulting in the seizure of copious amounts of narcotics, weapons, currency, and the arrest of hundreds of criminals.
Jarrad Alevisatos is a police officer with Port Orange Police Department serving nine years as a police K9 officer and over thirteen years as a police officer. K9 career focus on person recovery tracking, and detection work. Officer Alevisatos performed and was certified through Florida as bite apprehension K9 as well incorporating and training a “no bite” locate track program. Officer Alevisatos has worked as a crime suppression task officer and served as attachment to Coast Guard as detection K9 operator. Officer Alevisatos is certified as a K9 narcotic detection trainer through Southern Coast K9 and has worked two dogs during his tenure and trained 8 dogs in his career in detection and track work. Officer Alevisatos also holds training certification in hard surface K9 tracking and K9 first aid as well as NNDDA certification for narcotics detection, Florida Firearms Instructor, Florida General Law Enforcement Instructor.
For any questions regarding the seminar please contact Amy Couts with 421 K9 SAR at [email protected] or (407) 504-7003
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
1294 Industrial Park Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168, United States
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