Available K9 Handler Courses

120-Hour K9 Trainer Course

Starting at $4,950.95 per student

Build your training career on a true 120-hour foundation. This course focuses on the core principles of canine behavior, learning theory, and the anatomy and physiology of the canine olfactory system, all with one goal: successfully imprinting and certifying a working detection dog. You will work under experienced law-enforcement K9 trainers and be responsible for taking a green dog from initial imprinting through final certification by the end of the course.

What you’ll learn

• Canine behavior, drives, and learning theory from a trainer’s perspective
• Canine psychology and motivation, including building and maintaining hunt, play, and food drives
• Anatomy and physiology of the canine olfactory system and how dogs process odor
• Odor imprinting methods and progression for explosive detection dogs
• Marker training, reward timing, and clear communication systems
• Developing training plans, session structure, and training logs
• Problem-solving for fringe alerts, environmental issues, handler dependency, and false responses
• Safe, effective use of training aids, hides, and search environments
• Coaching handlers, giving clear direction, correcting errors, and reinforcing best practices
• Industry standards, certification requirements, and defensible record-keeping for trainers

You’ll leave able to:

• Independently imprint and proof a detection dog on designated target odors
• Build progressive training plans and document performance to certification standards
• Diagnose and correct common training and deployment problems in detection dogs
• Explain your training methods and decisions to handlers, supervisors, auditors, or in court
• Support a K9 program with structured, repeatable, and defensible training practices

Certificates on successful completion

• 120-Hour K9 Trainer Course – Certificate of Graduation
• Black Dog America (BDA) K9 Trainer Certification

120-Hour K9 Handler Course

Starting at $3,950.95 per student

Start your K9 career with a true 120-hour foundation. This course is built for new explosive detection handlers who want real-world skills, not just a certificate. You will train under experienced law-enforcement K9 handlers and trainers, combining classroom instruction with extensive, supervised hands-on work on live training aids. By graduation, you and your dog will be ready to step into operational environments with confidence.

What you’ll learn

• Scent theory, canine behavior, and proper use of handling equipment
• Command delivery, leash handling, and obedience fundamentals for detection work
• Explosives 101, including basic threat categories and safety protocols
• Search strategies for buildings, venues, vehicles, luggage, and open areas
• Industry standards, documentation, and record-keeping for K9 deployments
• Basic K9 medical, first aid, and daily care to keep your partner operational
• How to handle unattended versus suspicious items and maintain scene safety
• Alert response procedures, reporting, and preparing for testimony
• Legal and policy considerations for private security K9 deployments
• Extensive, supervised hands-on explosive odor detection work

You’ll leave able to:

• Deploy your K9 safely and efficiently in real-world environments
• Plan and document ongoing training blocks using solid, defensible paperwork
• Explain your methods, decisions, and deployment records to clients, auditors, or in court

Certificates on successful completion

• EDD Canine Handler Course – Certificate of Graduation
• Black Dog America (BDA) EDD Certification
• DrugBeat EDD Certification
• BDA Odor Recognition Certificate

80-Hour K9 Handler Course

Starting at $2,950.95 per student

This focused 80-hour course pairs an experienced handler with a new dog to build a fast, reliable baseline for deployment. You will refresh core skills in scent theory, canine behavior, leash handling, and command delivery, then apply them in tightly run detection repetitions. All field work is supervised by career law-enforcement K9 handlers to keep standards high and progress on track.

What you’ll learn

• Refresher on scent theory, canine behavior, and working-dog drives
• Leash handling, search posture, and clear command delivery with a new dog
• Search strategies for buildings, venues, vehicles, luggage, and open areas
• Industry standards, deployment documentation, and training record-keeping
• Basic K9 medical, first aid, and daily care for operational readiness
• Handling unattended versus suspicious items and maintaining scene safety
• Alert response procedures, reporting, and preparing for testimony
• Legal and policy considerations for private security K9 deployments
• Intensive, supervised explosive odor detection reps to solidify team performance

You’ll leave able to:

• Deploy your new K9 partner safely and efficiently in real-world environments
• Run tighter leash work, cleaner searches, and clearer final responses
• Document deployments and training in a way that stands up to audits or court review
• Follow a structured handler training plan that keeps your new dog progressing

Certificates on successful completion

• EDD Canine Handler Course – Certificate of Graduation
• Black Dog America (BDA) EDD Certification
• DrugBeat EDD Certification
• BDA Odor Recognition Certificate

Explosive Detection for Dogs: Foundations in Search, Odor & Indication

Starting at $3,950.95 per Canine

This program is for agencies, organizations and that already have an imprinted dog and want it developed in explosive detection by a professional Working Dog Trainer. An owner- or agency-supplied dog is worked through Black Dog America’s 120-Hour Explosive Detection K9 Handler Course, with all training performed by an experienced explosive detection dog (EDD) handler/trainer.

Using marker-based methods, the dog is taught to hunt independently, work productive areas, recognize designated explosive odors, and offer a clear, reliable indication. The goal is a solid working foundation that your own handlers can build on, this is not a shortcut around the training time that real teams require. It is an enhancement.

What this program covers

• Structured search patterns for rooms, vehicles, luggage, and open areas
• Understanding and working productive areas instead of searching empty space
• Marker-based training to build clear communication
• Reinforcement of target explosive odors
• Development of a consistent, readable indication on target odor
• Building hunt drive, focus, and odor commitment around distractions

8 hour K9 Safety Officer (CSO)

Starting at $395.95 per student

CSO is a security Officers who has successfully complete the Canine Safety Officer Course and who is dedicated to the safety of the Handler and their VRK9, EDD, or FDD K9 partner, during High Risk dynamic situation.

Prerequisite:

FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness:

• IED Awareness and Safety Procedures
• Bomb Threat Preparedness and Response
• Suspicious Activity Recognition for Bombing Prevention, Web-Based Delivery
• High-Risk Explosives Sweep

Online Course: CDP DHS Online Courses

8 hour K9 Team Supervisor (CTS) Course

Starting at $495.95 per student

The Canine Supervisor course is tailored for current and aspiring K9 unit supervisors, offering critical knowledge and strategies to effectively manage and lead K9 operations.

Topics covered include: Respondeat Superior, Vicarious Liability, Negligent Appointment/Failure To Appoint, Negligent Retention/Failure To Retain, Discipline/Failure to Discipline, K9 Training & Records, Handler Selection, Dog Selection, and K9 Certification.