Friends of the Kansas Task Force K9

11/05/2024

02/16/2023

Soldiers from the Kansas National Guard and the Friends of the Kansas Task Force K9 conducted training together recently.

The Kansas Army National Guard helped state fire investigators get some aviation training in.

12/12/2022

Fall Ball 2022 was successfully held November 4-6 at Crisis City (Salina, KS). Friends of the Kansas Task Force K9 hosted more than 40 search dog handlers from across the country to train on simulated collapsed heavy structures, simulated collapsed light-frame structures, train derailments, urban village/city settings, and complete agility and distraction challenges.

This opportunity to train with handlers from cross-sections of the country is only made possible through the extensive donations of time, talent, product, and funds by our volunteers and corporate partners. Thank you to Rejensa, Nylabone, Chewy, BarkBox, Ray Allen Manufacturing, PetSafe Brand, SportDOG Brand, Invisible Fence Brand, Weiss Equipment, and more.

As our photographer was unable attend at the last minute due to illness, many folks stepped up to crowdsource the photos we are happy to share with you today. If you attended the event and have more photos, please share them in the comments of this post, or upload them to: http://bit.ly/3fUQXBk

12/11/2022

Please join us in congratulating four of our handlers for their successful completion of the SUSAR Foundational Skills Assessment, Type 2 (FSA). Successful completion of the FSA certifies that a canine and handler team has demonstrated the disposition, obedience, agility, control, and search capabilities required to serve as in-state search assets responsible for moderate-sized search areas. It is a required pre-test for all new and currently certified handlers preparing to participate in the Certification Evaluation, Type 1. The Type 1 rating certifies handlers as capable of working larger, more complex search areas and responding nationwide.

Congrats to: Ella Rewerts and Gemma (initial certification), Kody Songs and Duke (recertification), Scott Burger and Ryker (recertification), and Dana (recertification with Ruth Hensleigh, not pictured).
Congrats also to Tammy Robinson of Oklahoma (not pictured) who joined us for testing, and special thanks go to Andrew Pitcher of Nebraska and our own Shelia Stern for serving as evaluators.

07/12/2022

UPDATE: 42 training slots were reserved within 45 minutes! Thank you everyone for being so responsive. We are now officially continuing registration for the wait-list.

GO SEARCH! ... Sorry, force of habit. Go REGISTER!!!
Fall Ball 2022 Registration is now open and limited to 42 training slots.

ATTENTION!!!!! AT THIS TIME K9 HANDLER POSITIONS ARE FULL!!! AUDIT POSITIONS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. TO BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST FOR K9 HANDLER POSITIONS FILL OUT AND SUBMIT THE BELOW FORM. LIST IS BASED ON TIME STAMPED REGISTRATION FORMS BEING SUBMITTED. YOU WILL BE CONTACTED DIRECTLY IF A SPOT COM...

07/11/2022

Update: We are hoping to open registration at NOON Central Standard Time tomorrow! Set your alarms now to register tomorrow!

Original posting:
It is almost time! Registration for Fall Ball 2022 will open tomorrow, Tuesday, July 12. Spread the word to teammates and friends today because this event is expected to sell out of it's 42 handler-dog team slots quickly! (After that names will go on to a time-stamped waiting list and admitted first-come, first-served as cancellations permit!)

Fall Ball 2022 is an event for urban search and rescue canine teams to spend a weekend training at multi-venue Crisis City near Salina Kansas. Hosted by Friends of the Kansas Task Force K9, event participants will have the opportunity to train on agility equipment, pallet pile, overturned rail cars, heavy concrete piles, urban village, wide-area search, directional, and through our epic distraction field.

Share this post and watch tomorrow for the registration link to appear!

12/08/2021

Several of our handlers took the first steps in their 2022 recertification cycle this past weekend by completing the Foundational Skills Assessment (Type 2). This milestone renews their intrastate deployability status. Please help us congratulate the following handlers and canines as they prepare for their spring 2022 Certification Evaluation (Type 1):
Lillian L. and Justin (Live find, age 6)
Troy L. and Hoke (Live find, age 5)
Ruth H. and Kitty (Human remains, age 6)
Erin M. and Cutter (Live find, age 11)
Nathan R. and Blue (Human Remains, age 4)
Chad W. and Sailor (Live find, age 5)

11/17/2021

It's been a little over a week since Fall Ball 2021. Would anyone care to share their favorite memory or a lesson learned from the weekend? I'll go first: Timing + Aim = Good Rewarding Technique

11/09/2021

Photos from Day 2 are now posted. A special thanks to the 57 canine handlers from throughout the nation who joined Kansas Task Force K9 handlers at Crisis City this past weekend for . TREMENDOUS thanks to everyone who supported the event, including but not limited to K9 Tactical Gear Tactipup Rejensa and Ruff Land Kennels Hope to see everyone again at !