TRIAL VIDEO REVIEW SEMINAR (with PUPUS and DRINKS!) – with Fred Helfers
Saturday Evening, February 27th, 2016

In this seminar, Fred will review trial and training videos, and provide commentary to help handlers prepare for their own trials.  Fred is a frequent nose work trial judge, so his insight is invaluable. Topics will include:

* What are the different types of search areas that are commonly used, and how big are the search areas?

* What are the common handler mistakes you see in NW1 and NW2 trial that cost people their titles?

* What is the most challenging aspect of an NW2 and Level 2 Container search?

* As a judge, what did you like about the teamwork in the videos we reviewed? What kind of teamwork do you like to see in general? When would you give a team “Pronounced” for a search?

* As a judge, when would you ask “Where?” when the handler calls Alert?

* …and more

* …plus a Q&A session

Please note this is a seminar, so we will not be working any dogs. If you are entered in the Odor Recognition Test earlier on this day, you may bring your dog to the seminar and leave him or her crated.  If you are not entered in the ORT, please leave your dogs at home. Mahalo!

ABOUT FRED HELFERS

Fred Helfers began working detection dogs in the early ’80s in Washington State, working with a municipal Police department.  For over 22 years Fred worked in undercover narcotics and it was during his early years in the department that Fred wrote a proposal for the first drug detection dog for that agency. The proposal was accepted and Fred entered the world of detection dogs. Completing training in 1982 with his first dog Sammy (a Black Labrador Retriever), Fred and Sammy were the only drug detection unit between Seattle and the Canadian Border, and, as such, were very busy. Working as a detective in the drug unit, Fred worked and trained regularly with the local US Customs dog team. For the next 8 years Fred and Sammy worked between Seattle and the Canadian border, detecting over a million dollars in US currency (drug proceeds) and multiple large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and cannabis.

As Fred’s reputation and expertise became recognised, he was approached by many police agencies to train detection dogs and handlers. So, in 1984, Fred opened a police detection dog training facility on 8 acres north of Seattle WA. His reputation for training drug detection dogs and their handlers had then spread to other states in the Pacific Northwest of the US.

While still working as a police detective, Fred would train detection dogs in the morning then go to work as a police detective. He became President of the Washington State Police Canine Association and for over two terms was able to influence, administer and oversee certifications for drug detection dogs in WA State.

Fred’s passion for detection dogs was widely known by this time and eventually he began training accelerant detection dogs for fire departments in Washington State. During Maggie’s first field application, Maggie and her handler, Larry Micheau were dispatched to a triple homicide fire scene. Fred also went along for the dog application, to assist the fire marshal, Larry Micheau. Maggie detected minute traces of accelerants that proved crucial in the conviction of a woman on three counts of aggravated homicide. Fred testified for over five hours, educating the court and jurors on how detection dogs were trained and detected odours. Fred was easily qualified and received court recognition as an expert in detection canines.

Fred’s experience also includes newer forms of detection including:

* Oregon State Department of Agriculture’s pilot program on insect detection (Gypsy moth egg mass and Japanese beetle larvae)
* Natural gas leak detection for a large utility company for their pipeline network