Trained. Proven. Professional.
Locate. Rescue. Return.
Working Dog Magazine presents the 2027 Working Dog Search & Rescue Summit — classroom training led by world-renowned instructors. Built to strengthen real-world search capability and handler decision-making. Designed for K9 handlers, operational team members, and SAR professionals committed to improving search outcomes.
This is an information-based, classroom training event. Attendees are not required to bring their dogs, but they are welcome to attend with them.
What: 2027 Working Dog Search & Rescue Summit
When: April 13, 14, 15 – 2027
Where: River Room A & B | Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront | Paducah, Kentucky
Cost: $315.00 per person (includes a certificate for 12 hours, welcome bag, and WDM T-shirt)
Host Hotel: Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront
Group Rate: $129.00 per night (spacious rooms + free parking)
Train with intention.
See the schedule.
Attendee Cost: $315
April 13, 14, 15 – 2027
Questions? (636) 795-0530
Learn from the best.
Meet your instructors.
2027 WD SAR SUMMIT SCHEDULE
Tuesday, April 13 | 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- ATTENDEE REGISTRATION (RIVER ROOM LOBBY)
Open from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
» Start your experience early: Pick up your name badge, shirt, welcome bag, and schedule. - HOTEL-HOSTED COMPLIMENTARY COCKTAIL HOUR
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
» For registered hotel guests
» Unwind, connect, and start the week on a relaxed note
Wednesday, April 14 | 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (RIVER ROOM A & B)
- ATTENDEE REGISTRATION
Opens at 7:00 a.m. - TRAINING CLASSES & DEMOS
Classes & Demonstrations | 8:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
» Applied Scent Theory & Environmental Effects: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
» Reading the Dog: Changes of Behavior, Alerts & Handler Interpretation: 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
» Lunch Break: 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Lunch on your own. Buffet available.)
» Search Strategy & Navigation: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
» Demo: Odor Detection: 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. - HOTEL-HOSTED COMPLIMENTARY COCKTAIL HOUR
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
» For registered hotel guests
» A chance to decompress and continue conversations from the day
Thursday, April 15 | 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (RIVER ROOM A & B)
- TRAINING CLASSES & DEMOS
Classes & Demonstrations | 8:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
» Trailing, Scent Discrimination, and Trail Decisions: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
» Human Remains Detection (HRD): 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
» Lunch Break: 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Lunch on your own. Buffet available.)
» Raffle tickets go on sale at noon: Enter for a chance to win great prizes.
» Emergency First Aid for Handlers and Dogs: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
» Demo: Hands-On First Aid – DIESEL (Animatronic Dog): 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. - CLOSING PROGRAM & RAFFLE
Recognition / Raffle / Certificates | 4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
» Instructor Recognition: 4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
» Raffle: 5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
» Attendee Certificate Pickup (Registration Desk): 5:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Host Hotel:
Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront
600 North 4th Street, Paducah, KY 42001
• Group Rate: $129.00 per night
• Complimentary parking
• Complimentary cocktail hour on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings
Paducah, Kentucky
A relaxed riverfront city with a walkable downtown, local dining, and easy access from major routes. The host hotel is centrally located along the river, close to restaurants and evening options.
Paducah is also remarkably easy to reach. Located along I-24, it is about two hours from Nashville, two and a half hours from St. Louis, and three hours from Memphis and Louisville. Barkley Regional Airport offers daily nonstop service to Chicago O’Hare and Houston Intercontinental, with convenient connections to destinations throughout the United States and abroad.
INSTRUCTORS
Our instructors bring extensive operational experience to each class, offering practical insights shaped by real deployments, rigorous training, and years of work in the field. Their backgrounds reflect a wide range of SAR disciplines, giving teams a clear, actionable understanding of the skills needed for effective search operations. (Instructors are listed as they are confirmed.)
Applied Scent Theory & Environmental Effects
The effects of wind, weather, terrain, structures, and other environmental conditions on scent movement and availability.
Reading the Dog: Changes of Behavior, Alerts & Handler Interpretation
Recognizing odor acquisition and loss, changes of behavior, trained alerts, uncertainty, and the influence of handler assumptions.
Search Strategy & Navigation
Planning and executing effective searches that support canine success, team safety, accountability, and operational efficiency.
Trailing, Scent Discrimination, and Trail Decisions
Scent articles, contamination, negative trails, trail loss, and the decisions handlers make throughout a trailing deployment.
Human Remains Detection (HRD)
Operational considerations, odor characteristics, environmental challenges, and professional expectations for HRD teams in the field.
Cheryl F. Nelson, DVM and K9 DIESEL
Emergency First Aid for Handlers and Dogs
Field-ready first aid principles for managing injuries and emergencies involving handlers and working dogs.
CLASSES
Train with intention.
See the schedule.
Attendee Cost: $315
April 13, 14, 15 – 2027
Questions? (636) 795-0530
Learn from the best.
Meet your instructors.
QUESTIONS?
Contact us at (636) 795-0530
or
events@workingdogmagazine.com