Thoughtful Thursday: Are you ready?
There is much talk in the canine world about certifications. The one thing everyone can agree on, certifications represent the minimum level skills and training that a team should demonstrate. As Teresa MacPherson aptly puts it, certifications are meant to evaluate the skills and abilities that predict success in the field.

But here's the thing: no certification has ever asked my explosives dog to search
vehicles in subzero temperatures for 40 minutes straight, repeatedly over an 8-hour shift. No certification has tested my explosive dog's ability to clear backstage areas and then patrol outdoor grounds in 100-degree heat for hours. No certification has prepared my narcotics dog to search vehicles in 40 mph winds when it's 10°F. No certification has ever asked my disaster dog to to fly on a plane and work in disaster zones for days withstanding daily decontamination and cramped living conditions.
Our work on the street demands something far beyond the basics:
The mental and physical stamina to endure the unpredictable.
Resilient training that holds strong under grueling conditions.
Conditioning that ensures safety and effectiveness, no matter how long the search.
This is the fight.
As trainers and handlers, it’s our responsibility to prepare for these challenges—not just for our dogs, but for ourselves.
You have time limits during a certification. Real life demands so much more than 12 minutes to search four rooms or 45 minutes to search two acres when large odor is involved.
This work is not a sport.
This is not a social club.
It is public safety.
It is saving lives.
It is bringing someone home.
It is catching the bad guy.
Let’s hold ourselves to a higher standard. We owe it to our dogs, to the people we serve, and to the mission itself.
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If you are looking for training help, reach out for coaching or check the on demand webinars listed on the website. The K9Sensus Detection Dog Academy Fall 2025 Cohort will begin in September. Make sure you get enrolled!
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