K9 Top Tales

Please enjoy this episode with Bill Gaskins of Integrity Noseworx: Bill served in the US Air Force as a Law Enforcement Specialist Military Working Dog Handler of 10 different dogs, Trainer for over 50 operational K9 Teams, and Kennel Master managing kennel operations all over the world. As a canine training instructor, he trained and certified 624 operational Canine Teams for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan in tasks from Obedience, Patrol Protection, as well as Explosive and Narcotics detection.  Today, he is a sport Scent Work Judge for all levels of AKC Scent Work and an NACSW Judge and Trainer.  Bill can be found at: FB https://www.facebook.com/integritynoseworxdogtraining Website: https://www.integritynoseworx.com/  

Dustin Stiles is a US Marine Corp Veteran and one of the first 9 soldiers to handle an Explosive Detection Dog as part of the U.S. Marine Corp  off-leash EOD K9 program, also known as a Patrol Explosive Detection Dog Enhanced team.  At the time, this was a new program which was designed to allow dogs to operate 50-100+ meters ahead of infantry or EOD teams, significantly increasing safety by identifying IEDs at a distance.

Paul Bunker has decades of K9 detection experience, having worked all over the world and across many disciplines as a handler, instructor, innovator, and author. Starting more than 40 years ago training narcotics, explosives, and mine detection K9s for the military in both the UK and United States, Paul now predominantly focuses on K9 detection work for conservation, conducting endangered species management and reintegration surveys to oil leak detection. He is the author of two K9 detection books (Imprint Your Detection Dog in 15 Days and The Detection of Buried Targets by Canines) and has co-authored numerous scientific papers. You can find and follow Paul and his work via these links:  Skool: https://www.skool.com/the-detection-dog-lab-7184/about Website: www.Chiron-K9.com Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Chironk9

Sometimes even a hero needs a hero - that's where Intermountain Lifeflight steps in. Thanks to my guest Darby Earle, Flight RN, LIfeflight now has a program to provide treatment and helicopter transport for operational K9s when they are injured and need emergency care. Since the program's start, two police K9s have been saved and returned to work the streets with their human partners. 

In this episode, Retired CT State Trooper Andy Rebmann, author of the Cadaver Dog Handbook, shares lots of great training information and fantastic K9 capers with his Patrol K9s, Trailing Bloodhounds, and Cadaver Dogs. Hard to even scratch the surface of someone with 50 years experience but it was a super fun conversation with a legend in the industry. Thanks for the chat Andy! Andy's bio: Andy has been involved in search work and K-9 training since 1972. He is a retired trainer for Connecticut State Police. During his police career, he trained K-9 teams for patrol, tracking, trailing, narcotics, explosive, arson, wilderness, disaster, water and cadaver work. He developed the State Police training program for cadaver search dogs. Andy trained and handled bloodhounds from 1973 until 1990. His hounds were responsible for over 200 walk-up “finds.” The Connecticut Supreme Court upheld several cases on appeal. In addition, he has qualified in several states and Scotland as an expert witness regarding scenting dogs. He established the CSP SAR K-9 Team and served as team leader and search coordinator. Since retiring in 1991, he has conducted numerous seminars, schools and workshops throughout the U. S., Germany, Czech Republic, Mexico, Canada and Japan. Seminars and workshops include cadaver, disaster response and urban trailing. He is a consultant to law enforcement agencies. Andy is the retired past president of Northwest Disaster Search Dogs, Redmond, WA. The unit provides disaster search trained K-9 teams in support of the Puget Sound FEMA Task Force as well as local response. He is a founder of King County Search Dogs, a multi-tasked K-9 search unit that supports King County Police Special Operations for missing person searches. He has been a member and instructor for the National Police Bloodhound Association since 1974. Andy has participated in over 2000 missions in his career in a variety of roles; Trailing dog handler, cadaver dog handler or in a search management capacity. He has presented numerous papers at national seminars and is the author of “The Cadaver Dog Handbook,” published August 2000.

Renee (Retired Col. Annette Renee GrandPre) has lived a life of service from start to finish. With military deployments to Kosovo in 2006 and to Kandahar in 2018, she rounded out her military career as a full bird Colonel with too many awards and decorations to enumerate, culminating most recently with the Legion of Merit award. Her civilian work as an ER, Trauma, ICU and Psychiatric care nurse in Los Angeles lead her on a path to pursuing work as a Coroner Investigator for the County of Los Angeles. Among her accomplishments while at the Coroner's Office was starting a Human Remains Detection K9 Program. This episode is a must listen for HRD Handlers and CSI enthusiasts. It gives a detailed perspective of the inner workings of the largest coroner's office in the United States, the forensic considerations and details for skeletal remains and body recovery, and a handler's journey with a wonderful HRD K9 named "Indiana Bones!" Follow this link to a youtube feature with Renee and Indy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1WcZ7sgz48 If you enjoy this podcast, please give it a kind review and check out these links To learn more your host Sonja Nordstrom and her K9 training, follow these links: American Tactical Aggregate K-9 | Sonja's Dog Training Email: [email protected] | [email protected] Websites: www.atak9.com | sonjasdogtraining.com ATAK-9 apparel: www.atak-9.myspreadshop.com/all www.facebook.com/AggregateK9 | www.facebook.com/sonjasdogtraining2 www.instagram.com/ata.k9 | www.instagram/k9_top_tales YouTube: ATAK-9

Fred "Big Fred" Fusco of Storm Tactical Consulting Website: stormtactical.wixsite.com/stormtactical IG: www.instagram.com/storm_tactical_consulting/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC0KNW8fzQrOZgCSxQXHoHzA In this episode, Fred shares his training and deployment mission experiences and what it takes for a dog to make the grade in Special Operations. Fred is a retired US Army Special Mission Unit Operator, K9 Handler, and another member of the American Tactical Aggregate K-9 training team. He served more than 20 years in Army Special Operations including 12 years as a Green Beret working as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant and as an Operator from the US Army Special Mission Unit. While assigned there, he served as an Assaulter, Master Breacher, Sniper, Operations Sergeant Major, and completed 10 combat deployments as part of the Global War on Terrorism in both overt and covert roles. Since retiring, he has worked in the civilian sector as special operations K9 project manager, tactics and shooting instructor, assault climbing instructor, and as a contract trainer for BORTAC team, Naval Special Warfare Training Group 2, 75th Ranger Regiment, and multiple law enforcement agencies.ATAK-9 has a cadre of exceptional K9 and tactical instructors/consultants and offers workshops and full courses. Follow these links to learn more about American Tactical Aggregate K-9: Email: [email protected] Website: www.atak9.com ATAK-9 apparel: www.atak-9.myspreadshop.com/all FB: www.facebook.com/AggregateK9 IG: www.instagram.com/ata.k9 YouTube: ATAK-9

Please enjoy this episode with SHANNON KRIEGER, a person who has served the United States with dedication, sacrifice, and honor. From 1999 - 2012, Shannon Krieger was a working K9 handler and trainer for Special Operations Forces (SOF) and a K9 program that would become one of the best practical military initiatives in the last century. That initiative was the Combat Assault Dog (CAD) program in USSOCOM. In 1993, Shannon started at the 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment where he became a Rifle Squad Leader. In 1998, he became a member of a Tier One Unit within the US Army. Shortly following 9/11, Shannon was a member of the Assault team when the US launched a Direct-Action retaliatory strike against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. During follow-on operations, Shannon was injured in a helicopter crash that permanently changed his life and career path but which ultimately led him to a primary position to continue to build the CAD program. As a dog handler, trainer and program manager, Shannon travelled the world in search of the best training and canines for the SOF mission, pulling the best training techniques from KNPV, Schutzhund and Ring Sports and melding them into practical techniques that are combat proven. For more information about ATAK-9 cadre of exceptional instructors/consultants, workshops and full courses, follow these links: Email: [email protected] >> Website: www.atak9.com >> ATAK-9 apparel: www.atak-9.myspreadshop.com/all >> FB: www.facebook.com/AggregateK9 >> IG: www.instagram.com/ata.k9 >> YouTube: ATAK-9 If you enjoyed this podcast, please drop us a kind review! Also, please check out these links for more info from your K9 Top Tales host: Heimdallr K9 Services - Personal Family Executive K9s - heimdallrk9.com Sonja's Dog Training - Behavior, Scentwork, and Detection K9 Training - sonjasdogtraining.com

ATAK-9 Instructor/Trainer Spotlight #1 - Steve "Zane" Stoops: Welcome Steve of American Tactical Aggregate K-9 (ATAK-9) to K9 Top Tales. Steve has evolved through 3+ decades to become the dog man of dog men. He has vast field experience as a police K9 officer serving 20 years, international contract K9 Handler and Program Manager, and since 2004, a lead trainer for the Special Operations community with duty tours worldwide. ATAK-9 has a cadre of exceptional K9 and tactical instructors/consultants and offers workshops and full courses. Follow these links to learn more: Email: [email protected] Website: www.atak9.com ATAK-9 apparel: www.atak-9.myspreadshop.com/all FB: www.facebook.com/AggregateK9 IG: www.instagram.com/ata.k9 YouTube: ATAK-9 Podcast highlights: 13:00 - Primary threats to tactical K9 work 24:00 - The passive resister 25:20 - "Nemenistic" Training 31:00 - Tier One K9 - ReisenSchnauzer "The Creep" 39:20 - Thoughts on testing and equipment 48:00 - Talking Dog Sports 53:00 - More about Steve and American Tactical Aggregate K-9 (ATAK-9)

In light of the recent and very tragic Condominium Collapse disaster in Surfside, Florida, I called on a long-time Search and Rescue K9 colleague and friend, Deresa Kenney (Teller,) who is a one of the original FEMA Disaster K9 Handlers. In this episode, Deresa not only tells of her experiences while working large scale disasters such as the Oklahoma City Bombing, 9/11 World Trade Center, Hurricane Katrina, and other disaster sites, but also shares her knowledge and insights regarding the work of FEMA Disaster Response K9 teams and the requirements to become a Certified and Deployable FEMA K9 team. Minute 29:05 Discussion re Surfside Condominium Collapse Deresa is retired from Los Angeles City Fire Department where she served the majority of her 35 years as a paramedic. She now owns and operates a dog training business, Bella's K9 Babies (https://bellask9babies.com), specializing in puppy socialization and the scentwork/nosework. Show Sponsors: SONJA'S DOG TRAINING: www.sonjasdogtraining.com ~ Offering one-on-one general training and detection/scent work workshops and seminars for the SAR/Human Remains Detection K9 Handlers and Trainers. Sonja brings to training an extensive history and a unique blend of K9 sport, SAR K9 training and field work, investigative field experience, legal and courtroom experience, and a treasure trove of component and precision-based K9 training techniques to address the most challenging aspects and applications of Human Remains Detection K9 training for both Handler and K9. Now also available via Zoom! HEIMDALLR K9 SERVICES: www.heimdallrk9.com ~ Heimdallr Services, is a supplier of top quality K9s for personal, family, and executive protection. Heimdallr conducts hands-on selection from the finest breeders and kennels in Europe to locate top tier dogs selected for their courage, stability, sociability, and health. We are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding adding a protection dog to your home and look forward to hearing from you. Please leave a kind review and share this podcast with your friends! Thanks all.