BridgeValley’s K9 Train-the-Trainer Students Visit ATF’s National Canine Training Center

(Montgomery, WV) - BridgeValley Community and Technical College’s (BVCTC) K9 Train-the-Trainer students recently took a trip to the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearm’s (ATF) Canine Training Center in Front Royal, Virginia. Established in 1996, ATF’s national canine division is the leading federal authority for explosives and accelerant detection canines for law enforcement and military organizations. 

Jan Hensley, Director of Lifelong Learning at BVCTC said the field trip to the ATF Canine Training Center was a great opportunity for their specialists to reinforce what the students have been learning/practicing during their classes on campus. 

Students were given a tour of the training facility and observed demonstrations educating them in various techniques on how to train canines to detect firearms, explosives, etc. With the capabilities of detecting 19,000 different explosive compounds, the ATF National Canine program is the only scientifically based canine program in the world operated by law enforcement. “The students returned excited and with a greater commitment to their K9 program classes,” said Hensley. 
"Visiting the ATF Canine Training Facility was truly incredible,” said Hannah Kincaid, second-year K9 student. “We got to see their impeccably clean kennels, on-site veterinary hospital, and training areas. We talked to some of their trainers and learned what qualities they look for in their Labrador Retrievers for firearm, explosives, and arson detection dogs. We received a look into a part of how dogs aid the government agents in keeping American citizens protected. This experience wouldn't have been possible without the instructor, Jay Kerr." 

BridgeValley’s K9 Train-the-Trainer program will provide students with hands-on experience working with different breeds of canines while educating students in the different canine behavioral tendencies. Working with expert instructors and master trainers from all over the world, the students will learn various methods and techniques in obedience training and foundational knowledge in canine anatomy.

"The students are learning all aspects of K9 training, from how to train all the way to learning how to acquire contracts with the US government and the ATF,” said Jay Kerr, Master Trainer with MAKOR K9 of WV. “ Instructors at the ATF lectured the students on the mission of the ATF K9 units and what they test for with new K9 dogs." 
Upon completion of the program, students will obtain the knowledge needed to graduate and prepare themselves for the national exam to become certified as a Master Trainer. 

For more information on BridgeValley’s K9 Train-the-Trainer program, please contact Jan Hensley at [email protected].