Law Enforcement

The American Mantrailing, Police & Work Dog Association (AMPWDA) offers K9 training geared specifically for Law Enforcement and referrals for ready, trained Police K9s..

THE TEAM

Master Trainer John Holcomb - Holcomb's expertise in training Police K9s is second to none. He has trained in all areas, including: agility, obedience, narcotics, utility, protection, mantrailing and more. Holcomb has over 35 years law enforcement experience and is still active and continues to maintain and utilize multiple full-time Police Service dogs

Master Trainer Tony Keith - Keith has over 22 years K9 law enforcement experience. He has worked with various civilian and law enforcement agencies, including: FBI, Indiana State Police, US Marshall Service, Indiana Department Of Corrections, various city and county police departments, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and more. He has led and/or participated in well over 300 actual manhunts. See his complete bio here.

Master Trainer Dave Wheeler - Wheeler has over 25 years K9 law enforcement experience. He has worked with various civilian and law enforcement agencies, including: FBI, Indiana State Police, US Marshall Service, Indiana Department Of Corrections, various city and county police departments, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and more. He has led and/or participated in well over 600 actual manhunts. See his complete bio here.

Master Trainer Tracy Sargent - Sargent has served as a law enforcement officer, licensed firefighter, EMT and Master Trainer for the International Association for Law Enforcement and Rescue Dog Trainers. She has a very extensive resume with numerous licenses, certifications and a variety of professional K9 experience, both as a handler and instructor. She has been called out on over 700 searches with K9 partners in the United States & international missions. Sargent heads up AMPWDA's Human Remains Detection training and certification. See her complete bio here.

THE TRAINING

AMPWDA offers training in the following areas - Agility, Human Remains Detection (HRD), Mantrailing, Mantracking (read about us in OFFICER.COM), Narcotics Detection, Obedience, Patrol/Utility, Protection & more . We also offer referrals for all ready trained Police K9s. Remember, we are flexible and will adapt to fit your specific needs and budget. Contact us for more information.

SEMINARS

AMPWDA holds two Mantrailing/HRD seminars a year, fall and spring. These seminars provide intensive training in a relatively short time span. We have found this approach the most conducive to learning for both you and your K9. It also further cements a bond between handler and K9 partner, which is very important. The seminars are held on the beautiful AI campus in Parke County, Indiana. It's a park-like setting, with modern accommodations. We have over 500 acres right onsite, which means less driving and more training. We also have access to thousands of additional acres very nearby. The seminars are for all skill levels, beginners through advanced. Each day you will be assigned to a group. The group will be assigned to a Master Trainer, a Trainer and one or more Assistant Trainers. Each member of the group will work with the Master Trainer and receive individual instruction, geared towards your specific goals and skill level. You will work with a different Master Trainer each day, this allows everyone to work with each Master Trainer and gain from their individual approach.

Our seminars are all inclusive: 3 delicious meals a day, lodging, training materials, photo cd of the week's activities, and a souvenir T-Shirt. After dinner, you can just relax or you can partake in the various optional activities, which include: special classes, demos, campfire discussions, fishing pond, swimming, games and more. It really is a great time. Our next seminar is scheduled for September 11th through September 16th, 2011 - Click here for more details.

FREE TRAININGS

We offer free trainings for Mantrailing once or twice a month, depending on the weather and our workload. These free trainings are provided as a courtesy and are available for Law Enforcement, Search & Rescue Personnel, and our members. Typically, it is a full day of training, starting at 8AM and running until 4PM or later. Of course, you can come and go as you please and you are not required to stay for the whole day. These sessions are for all levels, from beginners to advanced. It's a great opportunity to get some individual attention and work on problem areas. Because the free trainings are for everyone to practice and learn, we ask that you be considerate of your fellow handlers. If someone lays a trail for you, you need to lay a trail for someone else. For more information and specific dates, check out our Events page.

WORKSHOPS

Throughout the year, AMPWDA holds various weekend workshops. These events range in topic and usually require payment and registration. For more information and specific dates, check out our Events page.

READ ABOUT OUR RECENT JAILBREAK 2011
SEARCH & APPREHENSION WORKSHOP

CERTIFICATIONS

AMPWDA is a leading provider of K9 Team Certifications. Certifications opportunities are provided at Free Trainings, Workshops and Seminars. You must be a member to obtain and maintain certification, click here for Membership Information. Click here to review our STANDARDS.

TRAINED POLICE K9s

AMPWDA provides referrals for trained Police K9s, including: Trailing Bloodhounds, Narcotics Detection, and Utility/Patrol. Contact us for more details.

Outlaw (smaller male 80-85lbs)

AVAILABLE NOW! - email or 765-720-8940

Joker (large male)

AVAILABLE NOW! - email or 765-720-8940