NAPWDA National Workshop

From 21 June 09 through 26 June 09, The Signature K-9 Team attended the 2009 North American Police Work Dog (NAPWDA) National Workshop in Northbrook, Illinois. Over 200 K-9 Teams from Law Enforcement agencies across North America (including our friends from Canada), along with the Signature K-9 Team and other vendors, converged upon Northbrook for the week-long series of training, certification, workshops, and other events.

Dave and Phil represented our team, mingling amongst their customers from Local, County, State, and Federal Law Enforcement along with their four-footed partners.

Braving the murderous Illinois heat and humidity, severe thunderstorms, and swarms of mosquitoes, our heroes were among the few vendors to attend various training sites to showcase the latest and greatest Signature K-9 equipment and offer on-the-spot ordering assistance when sub-par equipment failed (and it did!). More than that, a drawing for our new Trunk Lid Organizer was held, which was given away to Jack Oldroyd of Elkhart PD! Laughing in the face of adversity, with a dab of sunscreen and some OFF! Spray, they bravely ventured where few vendors dared venture.

To further prove their worth to the Law Enforcement Community, Dave and Phil were the only vendors to gear up and tackle a 36ft Rappelling Tower! Dave, with his Army training, was already experienced in this exciting activity, while it was completely new to Phil. Dave, of course, flew down the tower with ease. With some encouragement from Dave and some training from the excellent CSX RRX group, Phil quickly learned the new skill and managed not to look too badly while doing it. Thus our boys distanced themselves from the vendors who only sat behind a table, and managed to get out where the rubber meets the road!

However, they didn’t stop there! To test some equipment and show off his decoying prowess, Dave suited up and assisted several departments in aggression training out by the lake. Brushing off crushing blows from their eager canine partners, he selflessly helped demonstrate the skills required of a decoy.

At the end of the week it was time to pack up and say goodbye. Yet again the Signature K-9 Team outshone the competition both in & out of the vendor’s area. Mission accomplished, an on to the next venue!