Our Mission
To provide a practical approach to training and working tracking or trailing dogs, so that handlers and their dogs can advance to an effective level of real world deployment readiness. To improve technique, assist handlers in gaining valuable training options and provide teams with a solid basic foundation in tracking and trailing work. OUR TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
We believe in honest,
realistic training standards that work in real world situations, not just in training or at certification time. Our training program was originally developed and has evolved from years of working experience, not just THEORY. OUR TRAINERS
We have assembled a team of professional trainers from around the country who specialize in tracking and trailing work. All our traniers have working backgrounds and have been in service as full time Police K9 handlers and trainers or Search and Rescue Volunteers. We know what works in the real world, not just at certification time. CTA was one of the first organizations to specialize in tracking and trailing work for all breeds. We were also one of the first organization in the US to establish annual trailing certifications for Bloodhound teams. Since starting the Academy, we have trained and certified over 700 tracking and trailing LE, Military SAR and independent trailing teams in the US and overseas. Over the years, our tracking and trailing training program has evolved to become one of oldest, most recognized and respected training programs available to K9 handlers today. We have developed, introduced and taught our training techniques to Law Enforcement K9 Officers and Search and Rescue volunteers all across the country and overseas. Many different breeds are capable of learning to track or trail with the proper foundation training. Anyone who has an interest in learning to teach their dog to track or trail is welcome to attend our classes. Since one single training method does not work for every type of dog, we have developed our own training style and combined it with traditional training methods to create a program that provides a very sound and practical foundation for many different breeds. This makes us unique in the tracking and trailing world. Our Program is designed to enhance a handler's knowledge and skills by combining field training with classroom study. Unlike many sit and wait seminars, our five day, 50 hour training schedule maximizes training time by keeping the student to instructor ratio very low (3 to 1) so there is very little down time. It provides students with essential and practical training that will endure during actual deployments. We maintain a learning environment that is not only productive and practical but also functional for real working K9s. Each individual K9 teams needs are addressed during training and proper training methods are selected and applied to each dog. The program is not designed to fully train a dog in 5 days, rather it provides handlers with a well rounded knowledge and solid foundation in training skills that they can use to continue to advance their dogs after they have completed the basic program. Many of our students return to the training annual to re-certify or advance their training. The Canon City area provides a perfect environment to practice the new skills and training techniques learned in class. Students and their dogs will be working in a variety of different terrains under different conditions. The majority of the training is conducted in the field giving students valuable line time behind their dogs. We hope to meet you in class.
