North Star K9 Training Association is a non-profit corporation that is dedicated to bringing the emergency K9 search teams free and low cost training.

Historically, search and rescue K9 trainers have provided free training to handlers and their K9's. In the last few years many trainers have begun to charge for their services. While we agree that traineres deserve compensation, we believe that the dedicated volunteer search and recovery personnel need organized support for free and low cost training from competent trainers.

North Star does not endorse any one trainer nor any one training method. Our goal is to raise funds to provide expenses for trainers who are endorsed by North Star K9 Training Association's Board of Directors.

In addition, we offer multiple training opportunities at no cost to the handler. Our services are delivered in the KY, OH and IN tri state area.

We encourage K9 from outside of the tri state area to take advantage of our 3 day weekend training and our annual 5 day seminars.

Check back frequently. We will be offering scholarships to most of our training opportunities.

The camp is quiet now with only the whispering of the trees to keep my company. The friendly chatter of the K9 handlers is gone. No more is the occasional howl of dog floating through the trees or the laughter of friends sharing a joke.

Tim Coomer helped me load the crates atop my car. I was the last to leave. Tim said something that summed it up for me, "You know it was a great seminar when you get that feeling in your stomach because you have to leave." Maybe I am just a tad predjudiced but I am proud of the instructors who taught and the professionalism of the K9 teams that participated.

'Til next time. Keep on being the great teams that you demonstrated yourselves to be at the seminar. -Maryln

Focus, intensity and accuracy are often our K9 training goals. This weekend North Star K9 trailing instructors Maryln Adams and Jill Hollman and HRD instructor Kevin Bullard assisted by Robin Stanifer had the every instructors dream classes. The 17 handlers attending the weekend event were eager to learn and willing to step out of their comfort zones to obtain their training goals. I am proud to call you part of the North Star K9 family. You represented everything North Star strives to be!!!

North Stars K9 Training Association's First Winter Trailing Weekend: As daylight faded and the darkness of the surrounding forest took control of the light, North Star staff was busy laying trails ahead of the incoming snow. Five inches of snow and 16 hours later the first K9, began his trail. The snow presented many great training opportunites; enhanced critter tracks that brought out the inner puppy in all the dogs, necessity to transport down snow covered roads in unfamiliar 4 x 4's and foot print marked trails which enhanced handler confidence. Great job by North Star participants and staff. Watch for the next weekend opportunity after the holidays!!!