Situated on a secluded twenty acres in Mayfield are the police dog training grounds of Narc K9 where certified K9 handlers raise and train dogs to be qualified for narcotics detection, personal protection, search and rescue and dual purpose police service dogs.

While their work is necessary to the safety of the residents of Murray and Calloway County, the trainers have decided to bring a piece of their work into the homes of area residents, at least those who have dogs.

Narc K9 and the Murray Calloway County Animal Shelter are sponsoring a K9 Obedience Training Seminar at the end of August. The purpose of the seminar is to provide training for pet owners and their dogs as well as donate dog food to the animal shelter.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of dog obedience from certified police dog trainers.

But the training begins on day one with the handlers only...no dogs allowed. Tye Jackson, a police dog handler and trainer, said most of a dog's problems are handler errors. "So many obedience schools focus on the dog," said Jackson, who also serves as a narcotics detective with the Calloway County Sheriff's Department and the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force. "This is focus on the handler." The class is designed to meet the needs of every pet owner regardless of the age of their dog.

On day one of the two-day training seminar, the owners will show up for class at the Calloway County Fire Rescue Building. Jackson said they will be asked to set individual goals and then learn about puppy training, bonding with their pet, correcting, addressing problems and rewarding. Instruction on the use of pinch collars, choke collars and e-collars will be given.

There will also be demonstrations and videos depicting obedience and the capabilities of trained canines.
On the second day, the handlers will arrive with their dogs and begin field exercises where one-on-one training is available to help with basic commands and problems.
"The main thing is obedience," he said. "Obedience does so much for the dog and for the team."

According to Jackson, the class will go to the animal shelter where they will choose a dog they would like to see trained. Thirty minutes later, the class will be presented with the dog and the basic commands it learned in that time.
"The whole point is to have fun and teach people how to have fun with their dogs," said Jackson.
The cost for the seminar is $150 but if participants donate a bag of dog food to the animal shelter or adopt a pet the price is $100, said Jackson.
"That's the whole purpose," he said. "To get the Murray Calloway County Animal Shelter food."

The seminar is scheduled for Aug. 30 and 31. Those who are interested are encouraged to contact Jackson at
(270) 804-8067.

By HOLLY WISE
Staff Writer