Scottsville K9 training seminar draws police dogs from all over the country

SCOTTSVILLE, Ky.-For the 10th year in a row, police dogs and their handlers gather in Scottsville for the K9 seminar, certification, and competition! 

“So far the dog’s doing great. It’s his handler that needs to step up his game,” laughed Dillsboro Chief of Police Josh Cady who was attending the seminar from Indiana.  

Jason Hanley, owner of the K9 OnPoint Academy started the program in 2013. 

“Jason’s really just built this up. The first year I came to it there might have been 12 guys competing,” said Cady. 

Now that number is over 60. 

Word spread like wildfire in the police community, and now officers from around the country, including Colorado, Pennsylvania and South Carolina travel to partake in the program. 

“It’s been kind of overwhelming. I got my start in police dogs in Bowling Green in 1995. My trainer was Gene England and is known all across the world, he passed away a few years ago. Being able to carry on his legacy is a goal of mine,” said Hanley. 

During this week, the K9s will go through different activities that prepare them for real life scenarios. Their ultimate goal is to save lives.

“We’ll do narcotics searches, with the patrol aspect of it we’ll do area searches, building searches, tracking, apprehension work,” said Cady. 

And at the end of the training, they give out awards for the top dogs of the group. 

“It just adds a little something. That way at the end the handlers have something to take home and show to the sheriffs and the chiefs and the communities,” said Hanley.