With 25 years experience in the area of working dogs I feel I have knowledge and experience to help and teach others to be better k9 handlers/trainers. I believe in building working k9 teams. I offer seminars to those who want to experience a working relationship with their search and rescue or detection dogs.

The seminars I offer are hands-on classes with some teaching. One of my goals is to have fun and learn at the same time. In addition, I am dedicated in teaching you to develop your dogs natural working ability. Building drive in your k9 partner is the key for success with every detection dog team.

Seminars are a great way to meet people and make friends. People with like interests seem to make a social connection almost immediately. It is easier to train if you can meet as a group and work through those hard places that are always creeping into your training routines.

 

One of the key factors for any detection dog is building drive and focus. This should start with the young pup and build throughout the dog's life. I will teach you how to build drive. If you are not building drive in your training, you must modify what you are doing, and bring the dog back into drive. Building prey and hunt drive with focus, is the primary emphasis for a successful detection dog team. Genetics with proper breeding is the only way to get a dog with the proper drives. Then it is up to you to develop that drive. You cannot build drive if it is not there to begin with.

A rock solid, readable indication is extremely important. During the seminar we will introduce the different types of indications and how they are used. While the dog is in drive I start teaching the indication. Going directly to the source of the scent, which contains the reward system, will ensure we have the right foundation to build for the indication. We have to make it fun for the dog.

During the seminar, I teach you what reward system to use. Then we work on the proper execution to get a rock solid, reliable indication.

Seminars are a lot of fun and a very rewarding experience for dog and handler. You will meet new people who love their dogs and want to build a better relationship with them. We work from the dog's natural ability to please as we work through drive. The proper reward system coupled with the dog's prey and hunt drive, is the motivation to build a working team. Teaching the dog to only go tothe source of the scent is a primary emphasis when training a detection dog. I will teach how to build that focus. And then lastly, I will teach you how to develop that rock solid, readable indication that will mean the difference between success and failure.

I hope to see you there,
Tom Brown
Vom Fieldcrest Shepherds

Detection Dog Seminar Course Syllabus

By covering these topics you and your dog will gain knowledge on how to work as a team. At the same time you will be learning to read and trust your dog's natural ability to do work. Recognizing your dog's behavior and his change in attitude is one of the most overlooked facets in the training process. Reading and trusting your dog is vital.