Course Description

July 11-13th, 2025

While a variety of boats are allocated to course instruction, student capacity will be limited to 12 HRD K9 handlers due to the duration it takes with each dog/handler in watercraft situations. This will give more one-on-one time for instruction when the class size is lower.

The cost of the course includes the following:

• Individualized instruction with K9 experts
• Access and use of boat(s)
• Lunch at the lake(s) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
• WCU Water Recovery K9 Training T-shirt

ABILITY LEVEL & QUALIFICATIONS: 
Participants must have the physical capability to safely work on a boat and handle their dog in both aquatic and small boat environments. This is not a beginner-level course; dogs should already be proficient in the successful detection of remains on dry land prior to enrollment. While we will have a “socialization” boat available to build the confidence of the K9 and handler, it is expected that the working dog that attends this course has had previous exposure and comfort in watercrafts as well as has been imprinted on human remains in water sources, and has a fully-trained final response. While K9s and handlers with less experience to water recovery searches are allowed to attend this training, the expectation of the handler should match the experience of the K9 for this advanced course.  For example, if the K9 does not recognize the odor of human remains in water, nor has a final trained response, nor is acclimated to watercrafts most of the time will have to be given to accomplishing those tasks during this training.

Notes