Perry, GA -
More than 70 K-9 teams from all around the country got first class training in Perry Wednesday.
The 3rd Annual South Georgia K-9 Training and Certification Workshop brought in expert instructors from agencies such as the US Border patrol and the Navy Seals.
Wednesday, the Georgia National fairgrounds turned into a training facility for K-9 teams from all around the country.
"We've got Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Arkansas and as far away as Alaska," said Marsha Peavey, Owner of South Georgia Canine.
Each team with their own set of challenges but one thing in common.
"We've all got dogs," said Peavey.
Wednesday, Dooly county teamed up with the Houston County Sheriff's office for the 3rd annual south Georgia K-9 Training and Certification workshop, where K-9 teams visited various stations with potential scenarios ranging from search and rescue efforts, traffic stops, apprehension and narcotics detection.
"We're officer this training course so handlers learn from the highest level of instruction," said Corey Biles, Sgt. Jackson Police Department.
Instructors from the Navy Seals, Department of Homeland Security and the United States Border Patrol were on hand to help guide these teams.
Robert Lukason a training operation supervisor for the Border Patrol understands the importance these K-9s play in keeping the border safe.
"A K-9 is a very good location tool. They help you pinpoint groups of people large groups or small groups," said Training operation and supervisor for United States Border Patrol, Robert Lukason.
Wednesday he worked with teams on methods for locating narcotics.
"The ingenuity of these smugglers where they hide the drugs nowadays. Now they are creating compartments and traps to conceal these narcotics and these K-9's find it every time," said Lukason.
The Georgia State Patrol also sent dogs up for rides in the helicopter in case they are ever put in a similar situation.
"My job is just to be a decoy for dogs, by decoy I give them a target to bite or attack," said Dan Taylor, Houston Co. Sheriff's Office Deputy.
And some of these K-9 officers have real life experience,
"He's actually apprehended an armed robber from the United States Postal Service," said Taylor.
Others posses skills most other K-9's don't have.
"My dog is very unusual that we trained him not only to find narcotics but also Alcohol," said Ian Stroud, North Slop Borough.
But practice makes perfect.
"There are really not a lot of opportunities to train with a lot of other officers when you live in Alaska," said Stroud.
Regardless of how large the agency or how small the department. Each one of these teams will walk away with a more in depth knowledge and a better ability to serve and protect.
Those K-9 teams also got important lessons like how deadly heat is in a patrol car.
Wednesday, a Veterinarian used K-9 Sasha, a k-9 in Warwick who died inside of a hot car.
The teams in Alaska say they have the opposite problem protecting their dogs from getting too cold.
Not only did those K-9 teams learn from the best but they also will get to enjoy some of the best BBQ too.
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