Seminar Focus:

• Reading and interpreting your dog’s changes of behavior (COB)

• Managing scent puzzles in complex and transitional environments

• Scent aging, depth, accessibility, and environmental variables

• Building confident, independent, and operationally ready K9s

• Strengthening the handler’s decision-making in active search scenarios

• Customized coaching and scenario-based problem solving

This seminar is suitable for intermediate to advanced HRD teams. Teams will work in both individual and group scenarios with personalized feedback throughout.

About Kathleen Kelsey

Kathleen Kelsey has been training search and rescue dogs since 2003 and currently serves as a Canine Search Specialist for FEMA Missouri Task Force One and McLean County Illinois EMA. She is both a live find and HRD handler, deploying across the U.S. in response to natural and manmade disasters. Her dogs provide K9 assets to local law enforcement and federal response missions.

Kathleen is a nationally recognized instructor and evaluator with multiple organizations, including FEMA, the National Search Dog Alliance (NSDA), and the Alliance of Emergency Response Instructors and Examiners (AERIE). She also serves as Director of Calvary Canine, a non-profit that supports SAR K9 training, and is the CEO of Working Dog Enterprises, LLC, which focuses on advancing detection dog performance through training and research.

Through her role as with the Center for Forensic Training and Education, Kathleen works to ensure accessible, high-quality education for K9 handlers of every level. Her experience, professionalism, and mentorship have made her one of the most respected figures in the SAR community.