ICRWDA K9 Casualty Response Training

Real Scenarios. Tactical Medicine. Threat Response.

Limited Working K9 Team Spots Available - Audit Positions Open to All Working Dog Professionals

The ICRWDA K9 Casualty Response Training Course is a specialized two-day training program designed for law enforcement K9 teams, private security working dog teams, and detection dog handlers seeking to improve their ability to respond to real-world emergencies involving working dogs.

This course focuses on practical, operational scenarios that handlers may encounter during active threat incidents, large public gatherings, special events, and high-risk security deployments where K9 teams operate in complex environments.

Participants will train with an experienced instructor team combining operational K9 expertise, tactical response training, and advanced veterinary trauma care.

ICRWDA is proud to partner with Next Level K9 Texas and Dr. Erica O'Donnell to make this advanced K9 training event possible.

The goal is simple: ensure handlers have the knowledge and skills necessary to protect and treat their working dogs during critical incidents.

Course Overview

This course provides hands-on instruction and scenario-based training focused on K9 teams operating in real-world environments such as:

• Major conferences and conventions

• Sporting events and concerts

• Hotels, casinos, and resorts

• Large public gatherings

• High-profile security deployments

Training emphasizes rapid response, casualty care, and handler decision-making under stress.

Reality Based Training Scenarios

The Reality Based Training (RBT) scenarios in this course are designed primarily for single-purpose and dual-purpose explosives detection K9 teams operating in bomb detection roles.

Training scenarios will simulate operational environments where explosives detection K9 teams may encounter threats, emergencies, or injuries during deployments.

Limited adjustments can be made to accommodate narcotics detection K9 teams if space allows, however the course content and scenarios are primarily designed around explosives detection operations.

Training Topics

Participants will receive instruction in the following areas:

Active Threat & Tactical Response

• Active shooter and threat response for K9 teams

• Handler-under-fire decision making

• Tactical deployment considerations for working dog teams

K9 Casualty & Trauma Care

• Canine trauma and casualty care

• Emergency treatment for working dogs

• Tactical veterinary response considerations

• Immediate stabilization and evacuation protocols

Operational Response Skills

• Reality based training scenarios

• Live tactical exercises

• Decision making under stress

• Coordinating K9 teams during emergency incidents

This training prepares K9 handlers for the types of emergencies that cannot be replicated during routine detection or patrol training.

Who Should Attend

This course is intended for operational K9 teams, including:

• Law enforcement K9 teams

• Casino and private security working dog teams

• Explosives detection dog handlers

• Narcotics detection dog handlers (space dependent)

• Independent working dog contractors

Handlers attending should currently be working with an active operational K9.

Instructor Team

Steven Antommarchi

Founder, Next Level K9 Texas

• 16+ years K9 operational experience

• 2025 World Police & Fire Games Gold Medalist

Ryan Millbern

President ICRWDA & Pinnacle Protection Group’s Director of K9 Operations & Gaming Security

• 18+ years working K9 operational experience

• Retired law enforcement officer

• K9 Explosives Detection Subject Matter Expert

Dr. Erica O'Donnell

DVM, MRCVS, CVA, CWDP, DACVECC

• Board-certified veterinary critical care specialist

• Emergency trauma specialist

• Certified working dog professional

This instructor team combines operational K9 experience, tactical response knowledge, and advanced veterinary medicine expertise to provide a comprehensive training experience.

Training Dates & Location

May 3-4, 2026

Las Vegas, Nevada

Venue details will be provided to registered participants prior to the course.

About This Training

The International Casino & Resort Working Dog Association (ICRWDA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing professional standards, training, and education for working detection K9 teams.

As part of that mission, ICRWDA is proud to provide this important training event at no cost to participating handlers.

Through partnerships with Next Level K9 Texas and Dr. Erica O'Donnell, ICRWDA is able to bring together experienced instructors and subject matter experts to deliver high-quality training focused on real operational challenges faced by working K9 teams.

This program is designed to help strengthen the skills, safety, and operational readiness of law enforcement and private security K9 teams who deploy working dogs in high-risk environments.

Registration

Due to the hands-on nature of this training and the complexity of the Reality Based Training scenarios, the number of working K9 team positions is limited.

Working team spots are reserved for handlers attending with an operational K9 and participating in the live training exercises and scenario-based deployments.

An unlimited number of audit positions are available for handlers, supervisors, trainers, veterinarians, and working dog professionals who wish to attend the course without participating with a dog.

Auditors will be able to observe all classroom instruction and training scenarios while gaining valuable insight into K9 casualty response, tactical medicine, and operational response protocols.

Early registration is encouraged to secure one of the limited working team positions.

Explosives Detection K9 Handler School

120-Hour Private Security & Law Enforcement Bomb Dog Handler School – Las Vegas, Nevada

Session 1 - October 2-5 , 2026

Session 2 - Nov 13-16, 2026

The International Casino & Resort Working Dog Association (ICRWDA) in partnership with Pinnacle Protection Group K9 offers a 120-hour Explosives Detection K9 Handler School designed specifically for law enforcement and private security bomb detection teams.

Held in Las Vegas, Nevada, this program provides professional instruction for handlers working with previously trained explosives detection dogs, preparing them for real-world operational deployments.

Unlike many generic K9 schools, this program focuses entirely on explosives detection K9 operations, ensuring bomb detection teams receive training designed specifically for the environments they actually work in. No influencers with no explosives experience.

Real Training From Real Bomb Dog Professionals

This 120-hour hybrid explosives detection K9 handler school prepares handlers through hands-on instruction delivered by instructors with extensive real-world bomb detection experience.

No influencer hype. Just proven field experience.

Our curriculum reflects real explosives detection deployments in both private security and law enforcement environments, taught by instructors who have spent decades actually doing the job – not just posting about it online.

Students learn the operational skills required to deploy bomb detection dogs in real environments, including large public venues, high-traffic facilities, and major event security operations.

What Makes This Handler School Different

Explosives detection handlers are often an afterthought in traditional K9 handler schools.

Most programs are built primarily around patrol or narcotics detection, with bomb dog teams receiving only limited instruction specific to explosives detection operations.

If you are tired of sending bomb detection handlers to generic diploma-mill style K9 schools taught by instructors with little or no real-world explosives detection experience, you are not alone.

Many handlers have experienced being the only explosives detection team in a class designed almost entirely around patrol or narcotics work.

The ICRWDA Explosives Detection K9 Handler School was built specifically to solve that problem.

This program focuses entirely on bomb detection K9 training, taught by instructors who have spent decades actively deploying explosives detection dogs in both law enforcement and private security environments.

Training scenarios reflect the environments where explosives detection K9 teams actually work, including:

• Major conventions and conferences

• Sporting events and stadiums

• Concerts and entertainment venues

• Hotels and casinos

• Transportation hubs and high-traffic facilities

The goal of this school is simple:

Real operational experience. Real deployments. Real training.

No social media trends. No generic curriculum. Just professional explosives detection K9 training for real bomb dog teams.

Course Structure

This 120-hour explosives detection K9 handler school combines online learning, classroom instruction, and extensive hands-on operational training.

• 40 hours – Online K9 Handler Coursework
• 20 hours – Explosives Detection Classroom Instruction
• 60 hours – Hands-On Bomb Detection K9 Training

The hybrid structure allows handlers to complete foundational coursework before participating in extensive field training with their detection dog.

Course Topics Include

Students receive advanced instruction in:

• Explosives detection K9 handling fundamentals
• Improvised explosive device (IED) recognition
• Explosives odor theory and scent dynamics
• Bomb detection search techniques
• Explosives vs firearm response protocols
• Legal considerations for explosives detection operations
• Safe explosives handling and storage procedures
• Marker training for bomb detection dogs
• Nevada Gaming Commission and Private Investigator Licensing Board (PILB) K9 regulations
• ADA considerations for working detection dogs
• Variable reward schedules for explosives detection K9s
• Front-of-house vs back-of-house bomb search strategies
• Counter-VBIED and parking garage search operations
• Public interaction protocols for bomb detection dogs
• Special event distraction proofing
• Explosives detection reporting and documentation
• VIP vehicle checkpoint search procedures
• Health, safety, and kennel standards for working detection dogs

Students will also participate in reality-based training scenarios designed to replicate real explosives detection deployments.

And much more.

Limited Working Team Positions

Because this course includes extensive hands-on explosives detection training and operational search scenarios, the number of working K9 team positions is limited.

Working spots are reserved for handlers attending with an operational explosives detection dog and participating in the live search exercises and deployment-based training scenarios.

Limiting class size ensures each working team receives meaningful hands-on instruction and operational feedback.

Early registration is strongly encouraged to secure one of the available working team positions.

Additional audit positions may be available for supervisors, trainers, or handlers who wish to observe the course without attending with a dog.

Who Should Attend

This explosives detection K9 handler school is designed for:

• Law enforcement bomb detection K9 teams

• Private security explosives detection K9 teams

• Casino and resort K9 units

• Event security bomb detection teams

• Independent explosives detection K9 contractors

The course is particularly beneficial for handlers who have not previously attended a handler school dedicated specifically to explosives detection operations.

Many handlers begin their careers in programs where explosives detection teams represent only a small portion of the class. While those programs provide valuable foundational skills, they are often designed primarily for patrol or narcotics K9 operations.

This school is built specifically for bomb detection teams and explosives detection handlers.

Why This Training Matters

Explosives detection is one of the most critical responsibilities in the working dog profession.

Whether operating in casinos, hotels, stadiums, transportation hubs, major events, or large public venues, explosives detection teams are trusted with protecting thousands of people and critical infrastructure.

That responsibility requires more than basic handler training. It requires a deep understanding of:

• explosives odor behavior

• search strategy and deployment tactics

• operational bomb detection environments

• real-world detection challenges

The ICRWDA Explosives Detection K9 Handler School is designed to help handlers develop the skills necessary to perform these missions professionally and effectively.

Handlers attending this program will train alongside instructors who have spent decades deploying explosives detection K9s in both law enforcement and private security operations.

High Stakes - Higher Standards - ICRWDA