Police K9 Training

At Cedar Creek Kennels, our success rate is not just a statistic—it’s a reflection of our dedication to training top-performing K-9 teams that make a significant impact in the field. We are committed to continuing this tradition of excellence and helping law enforcement agencies achieve unparalleled success in their K-9 operations.

Our training course is scenario-based and has been developed and modeled after real-world K-9 deployments. The course is unique to Cedar Creek Kennels LLC and is not seen anywhere else in the United States

THE CEDAR CREEK DIFFERENCE

Unmatched Performance: Our K-9 teams consistently outperform the national average, demonstrating a 73.2% success rate in various operational scenarios. This success rate reflects our rigorous training methods, effective dog-handler pairings, and the real-world applicability of our training.

National Comparison: While the national average success rate for K-9 teams is 5% – 10%, our teams excel with a significantly higher success rate. This stark contrast highlights the exceptional quality and effectiveness of the Cedar Creek Kennels training program.

High-Impact Results: Our K-9 teams are known for their ability to successfully handle complex cases, including tracking suspects, locating missing persons, and conducting successful searches. This effectiveness is a direct result of our advanced training techniques and the strong bond between our handlers and their K-9 partners.

Real-World Application: The success rate of our teams underscores the practical value of our training. Whether in urban, rural, or specialized environments, our K-9 teams consistently deliver results, enhancing public safety and operational efficiency.

We Are Proud To Have Provided Dogs To The Following Agencies

WHO WE ARE

Cedar Creek Kennels has established itself as a premier provider of police canine teams, delivering highly trained canines to a wide range of law enforcement agencies throughout the United States. Their clientele includes not only local and state police departments but also federal agencies and elite U.S. military special forces groups. Cedar Creek Kennels is known for its commitment to excellence in canine training, ensuring that their teams are equipped to meet the demanding needs of modern law enforcement and specialized military operations.

THE CEDAR CREEK DIFFERENCE

Length of Course:

The Cedar Creek Kennels Dual Purpose Course spans 8 weeks and offers a unique approach compared to most programs in the United States. Unlike other courses, we do not provide pre-trained dogs. Instead, handlers are taught to train their own dogs during the course. We understand that small agencies may face staffing challenges and losing an officer for an extended period can be difficult. However, the 8-week duration is crucial for mastering the fundamentals of dog handling. We believe that if an agency or police department invests in purchasing a K-9, it is equally important to commit adequate time and resources to thorough training to ensure the success of their canine unit.

At Cedar Creek Kennels, we believe in training handlers and dogs together from the start. Our approach involves teaching novice handlers to train their own dogs, which provides a deeper understanding of K-9 behaviors, operational deployments, and canine indications. This hands-on experience enables handlers to effectively read, interpret, and respond to their dog's signals and troubleshoot any issues that arise. We’ve encountered numerous cases where handlers are given pre-trained dogs and instructed to conduct searches without adequate training in line handling, search patterns, or understanding dog behaviors in odor. Often, these handlers are sent back to their departments with no ongoing support or training. When problems with their dogs emerge, they lack the necessary tools and knowledge to address these issues effectively because they don't understand how their dogs were trained. By training handlers and dogs together, we ensure that handlers have the skills, resources, and confidence needed to handle real-world situations and maintain their canine partner's performance and well-being.

Matt Greenlief

Advanced Tracking Capabilities

The ability to track is a specialized, complex skill and one that is a strong passion held by Matt and Dave. A large emphasis on tracking is found within the Dual Purpose Course where handlers are taught specialized training techniques which are proven on the street. Dave had over 400 tracking apprehensions whilst working his numerous police dogs back in Australia which prove these techniques work and are effective.

A large amount of time is dedicated to teaching the handlers how to track correctly and effectively. The handlers start off in fields/paddocks where they are taught the fundamentals of tracking to build a solid foundation. The handlers are taught line control, correct line pressure, reading and interpreting their dogs tracking indications, casting patterns, hard surface tracking, cross tracks and scent discrimination. After the fundamentals are learnt and mastered on grassed fields, training is then moved to an operational environment where tracking takes place in urban, residential, industrial, rural and forest settings. In these environments, the handlers are taught advanced line handling, line control and casting techniques through the many diverse and complex tracks they are exposed to.

Operational Based Scenarios

A great emphasis is placed on operational based training and preparing the handlers for when they return to their departments. The handlers are set many different and complex scenario’s they are likely to encounter on a daily basis as a Police dog handler. Training scenarios are set up to replicate jobs such as stolen vehicle’s being abandoned after police pursuits, suspects running away from the scene of an armed robbery or burglary, suspects being lost after a foot pursuit, search for missing or vulnerable persons, large building searches for persons believed to still be on premise, wooded area searches for suspects and article searches for weapons believed to be disposed of by suspects just to name a few.

Education for support resources

Handlers are taught the importance of educating and working closely with their fellow patrol officers and 911 dispatchers. Topics such as the preservation of the scene, obtaining the correct information from witnesses/victims and the establishment of perimeters are all discussed. The handlers are taught that setting a perimeter is paramount for the success of any deployment and they are taught how to instruct their fellow patrol officers and 911 operators how to implement and establish these perimeters. Without a perimeter, the suspect has no reason to stop and go to ground. Without the suspect going to ground, the K9 team will never be able to apprehend anyone.

Selection of Dog

Matt and Dave are firm believers in placing the right dog with the right person. Before a potential handler is shown any green dogs, Matt and Dave get to know the handler. They ask about their personality, their level of co-ordination, their voice modulation and they gauge their infinity with animals and their level of confidence around dogs. The potential handlers are then given time to interact with the available dogs without any stress or pressure before they are given the opportunity to work these dogs. The handers are then encouraged to track with each dog and are taken to a training building where they can do some detection work with their prospective partners. There is no pressure placed on any person to select a certain dog or a certain type of dog, rather this process allows for the dog and handler to choose themselves. No dog will ever be selected for a handler without that handler being present throughout the entire dog selection process. There are too many incidents where a difficult, strong, tough and extremely high drive dog is placed with an inexperienced handler that lacks the coordination and confidence to control and work that type of dog. The swapping or replacing a handler’s dog during course may even occur if problems arise and to ensure that the right dog is with the right handler.

K9 Handler Selection Process

If a department has numerous applicants for their K9 position, Cedar Creek Kennels can assist in the selection process for the K9 Handler. They can provide independent evaluations on the suitability of any potential candidate based on their level of co-ordination, their ability to function under pressure and their ability to think and react quickly whilst doing complex fine motor skill exercises. All of these traits are required in potential handlers if they are going to be successful handlers moving forward. Not all applicants are suitable to become Police K-9 Handlers or have the skill level required to work a Police K9.

Through these philosophies, the team at Cedar Creek Kennels are committed to producing strong, confident and successful K9 teams which, in turn will create a safer community for everyone to live and enjoy.

OUR COURSES

BASIC HANDLER COURSE DUAL PURPOSE - 8 WEEKS

SINGLE PURPOSE HANDLER COURSE - 5 WEEKS
SINGLE PURPOSE HANDLER COURSE WITH TRACKING -7 WEEKS

Our basic dual purpose handlers course is a demanding course conducted over 10 weeks. Our comprehensive course has been developed to cover all aspects of working a police K-9 to the highest level. The courses includes:

Narcotics searching in residential, commercial and vehicle scenarios.
Advanced tracking in all operational environments including hard surface tracking.
Searching for suspects in all operational environments including advanced building searching techniques.
Property and evidence searching
Obedience and control
Handler Protection and criminal apprehension
Agility

BASIC TRACKING COURSE
5 DAY

Our basic tracking course covers the fundamental skills such as line handling and line control. Learn to track 100-yard tracks with success.

ADVANCED TRACKING COURSE
5 DAY

This advanced tracking course concentrates on tracking in an urban and residential environment. This course will enhance your line handling and line control skills as well as developing your skills in casting techniques, hard surface tracking and general skills while out tracking in an urban environment.

PATROL OFFICERS AND
911 OPERATORS COURSE
1 DAY

In this course, we will come to your department and train your patrol officers and 911 operators in how they can assist your K-9 teams while they are out on their deployments. Their role is extremely important to the success of any K-9 deployment. We teach your officers how a police K-9 works as well as how they can assist by establishing perimeters and preserving the scene.