Learn from top trainers and industry experts, each offering fresh perspectives and innovative strategies to elevate your SAR training and ensure your team’s success when it matters most.
It’s a meaningful calling—but it comes with real challenges. As handlers ourselves, we’ve been there.
That’s why it’s no surprise if you’ve found yourself in at least one of these situations:
It’s frustrating to feel like you’re doing everything right…but still unsure if you’re training in the most effective way for YOUR dog and YOUR training.
That’s exactly why we created the K9 SAR Summit—to give you a shortcut to the insights, strategies, and support from experts that will help you train and deploy your dog with confidence.
Imagine what your training would look like if you could…
This is exactly what you’ll learn at the K9 SAR Summit!
Every speaker was hand-picked to challenge your thinking, expand your training toolbox, and help you build a more reliable, capable search dog.
This lineup was curated with one goal in mind: to help you train smarter, avoid common mistakes, and take you and your dog’s performance to the next level.
Five focused days. Practical strategies from leaders across SAR and working-dog disciplines.
Foundations That Prepare You for Success
Training for Real-World Reliability
Creating a Dependable Field-Ready K9
Replay Day
We know many of you are volunteers with day jobs, families, and other commitments—so Day 4 gives you dedicated time to watch presentations you missed, revisit key sessions, and review notes so you don't miss anything that will take your training to the next level.
Live Training & Q&A
Final chance to watch replays plus a live training and Q&A with hosts Deana and Kathleen. See how we’re integrating the lessons—and how our new Training Membership opportunity will help you put them to work in your own training.
We’re dedicated to helping you train the most reliable K9 partner you can and to making the process as straightforward as possible. To help, you’ll hear about our Training Membership here and there throughout the summit.
On the final day, one handler will be selected to win a full year scholarship and have instant access to our Training Membership created to help you build and maintain a field-ready search dog.
Stay tuned for details and your chance to apply!
The team behind the K9 SAR Summit has spent decades in the field—training, deploying, and learning from some of the best in the business.
At the Center for Forensic Training and Education, we believe better trained handlers lead to better dogs and better outcomes on searches. That’s why we created the K9 SAR Summit.
This event reflects the same mission that drives everything we do—to bring you trusted insights, fresh perspectives, and a way to grow without wasting time or money chasing the wrong resources.
The K9 SAR Summit runs from November 5–9, 2025. It’s completely online—join from anywhere with internet access, no travel required.
Each day you’ll get access to pre-recorded presentations from top trainers, researchers, and subject-matter experts.
We know handlers juggle jobs, families, and callouts, so we offer a limited replay window over the weekend.
At the end of each day, the CFTE team shares a quick debrief: our favorite insights and how we see them applying to SAR K9 training.
We’ll show how we’re incorporating lessons into our own work and how you can apply what you’ve learned.
There will be opportunities to win giveaways and gear from our sponsors during the summit—just for participating.
After registering, you can upgrade to the All Access Pass for ongoing access to all presentations and exclusive bonuses.
On the final day, one handler will be selected to win a full year scholarship and have instant access to our Training Membership.
There’s no shortage of training options out there—but finding guidance you can trust and actually use in your SAR work isn’t always easy to come by.
The K9 SAR Summit has tracked down the most trusted voices, the most useful insights, and the most impactful strategies...so you don’t have to.
Here’s what sets this summit apart:
We built the summit we wish we had earlier in our own careers—to help you learn faster, avoid common mistakes, and get connected with the people, tools, and training that actually gets results.
Some of the most useful techniques we’ve learned didn’t come from within the SAR industry. This summit brings in cross-discipline experts to help you train smarter with a wider lens.
Get access to top-tier training without leaving home.
After years of deployments and working with dogs in high-stakes settings, we’ve developed a sharp filter for what’s worth learning—and what isn’t. This summit brings you the best of what we’ve found.
Whether you’re overcoming a specific training challenge or aiming to raise your team’s overall performance, this summit gives you practical, field-tested guidance so you can train more intentionally and move your team forward—without the usual costs. GET YOUR FREE TICKET
Same trusted experts, actionable training, and real-world strategies—without the airfare, hotels, and time away from home.
The K9 SAR Summit introduces you to a diverse group of skilled trainers, researchers, and subject matter experts—each one selected for their ability to offer practical, trustworthy guidance that you can directly apply to your training.
You’ll leave with:
A clearer understanding of what to focus on to build a reliable search dog—not just in training, but when it really counts out in the field.
New techniques to help you work through the specific training challenges you’re facing right now.
Innovative ideas on how to make meaningful progress with your dog—and strengthen your overall performance as a team.
Renewed clarity and purpose in your training—so you’re not just checking boxes, you’re building a mission-ready dog.
Whether you’re new to SAR or deep into your career, this is your chance to learn from voices you may not have crossed paths with—but absolutely should have.
We’d be honored to have you join us.
Warm welcome—quick answers. If you don’t see your question here, we’re just an email away.
Still have questions? We’ve got you. Reach out anytime at [email protected]
Five days of expert-led virtual training designed to sharpen your skills, expand your strategies, and prepare your dog for success when it matters most.
November 5–9, 2025 · Virtual Event · Free to Attend
GET YOUR FREE TICKET →