Lets Play hide and seek! A practical Area Search course

Instructor: Toni Matthews 3 hour field course

This field work course is designed to give the handler and K9 practical experience in a real world scenerio. We will focus also on the roles a K9 team, Back up, and victim play. *some acting required* With team work from supporting SAR memebers we hope to also inspire networking amongst members from sister teams with a fun and engaging flare. There is something for everyone to take away from this course. New handlers are encouraged to attend.

Attendees may drive to training site if K9's require being safely secured in vehicles.

Bio

Toni Matthews has been a professional Dog trainer/handler for 10 years. She found her passion in 2008 with encouragment from her father, Jim Lacalamita, who was a founder of Monterey Search and Rescue Dogs, Inc. Toni Began her training under the mentorship of Mary Cortani and from then on became hooked. In 2009 a Belgian malinois named Raven entered her life and an epic adventure began. years later in 2013 Toni joined San Benito County Search and Rescue who at the time had never had other members with K9's. Soon after in 2015 Toni and her husband purchased a 40 Acre ranch and a new dream was realized. Together they began to develope the land to open the Wilderness Specialty K9 Training Center. Located in central California the is center dedicated to the advancement of SAR K9's. Currently Toni is between dogs as Raven has retired due to Age and is training her current partner Bulleit in trailing. They are opening the center for courses and certification testing to all california SAR teams.