The 2024 competition field includes civilians who are professional dog trainers. They train dogs for obedience, protection, and sport. Some of the dogs they train end up working in law enforcement agencies.
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Anuschka Bland and K-9 Grace
K9 Training Space LLC, Mount Dora, Florida
K-9 Grace is a 4-year old Dutch Shepherd. This team has been together since Grace was born. Grace is a personal protection dog, and loves ManTrailing, and bitework. This is the second year they are competing in this event. Her human says, "she has the heart of a lion".
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William Hall and K9 Xe
Orlando, Florida
This team has been together for 5 years. Xe competed in Cody Rowes K9 Competition in 2023 and won 1st place in Termination. Earlier this year (2024) the team won 1st place in the Obstacle course against 20 other teams. She placed 10th at nationals in dock diving with a distance of 26’4”. This team finished 2nd in the 2023 Space Coast Police K-9 Competition Civilian category. When she isn’t competing, Xe loves to go outside and hunt for lizards and squirrels. She also helps train rescue puppies with MAD Rescue.
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Nicolas Jablonsky and K9 Sasha
Titusville, Florida
Sasha is a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois. They have been together since she was 5 months old. Sasha loves to work, and begs her human to take her out whenever possible. She’s motivated by intense play, and practicing defense work. ”She and I competed in the Space Coast canine competition last year and placed during the civilian competition and had an excellent exhibition run during the law-enforcement competition.
Sashas incredibly curious and loves to work as a team. On several occasions, I’ve caught her teaching other dogs how to do things so that they could do them together. In one example an owner placed a toy its dog was playing with on a tree limb so that it would be out of reach. Sasha taught the other dog by example how to jump up into the tree and then how to retrieve the item. Without grabbing it, she jumped out of the tree and allowed the dog to do it himself.” - Nicolas Jablonsky
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Henryk Konhauser and K-9 Dax
Iron Sharp K9/Vom Rheinadler German Shepherd, Crowley, Texas
This team has been together for three years. Dax is a 3-year-old German Shepherd. "He loves his hot dogs and his balls. But if there's a bite suit, he'll forget about everything. Apart from that he can be super social, but wild. He is very stable around people and other dogs. He just does not like the bad guy. He is fearless and one of the most fund dogs I ever had." ~ Henryk Konhauser
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Naomi Moon and K-9 Alita
Space Coast Elite K9, Melbourne, FL
Alita is a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois. She was born and bred by her handler. Alita has already earned 10 AKC titles and is currently working on more. Her favorite toy is her bite pillow!
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Danielle Paquette and K-9 Addy
Winter Park, FL
This team has been together since February, 2024. Addy is a 3-year-old Malinois. She enjoys chasing "trash" bunnies, also known as playing on the FastCAT course. She also enjoys dock diving and running. She competes in OneWorld K9 Obstacle Challenge in Alabama, Cody Rowe's K9 Competition in Virginia, and is currently training french ring. Addy has several AKC titles including Canine Good Citizen, Canine Good Citizen Advanced, Canine Good Citizen Urban, and BCAT. She was imported from Czech, and is "tiny but mighty at 43 pounds".
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Rene Rodriguez and K9 Harper
Ed Reyes K9, Orlando, FL
K9 Harper is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois. This team has been together since Harper was born. Harper loves tug toys, and going to the beach. She is great with children, loves carrots and peanut butter, and loves searching for explosives. This team finished in 3rd place among the civilian teams in 2023. It currently works explosives ordnance detection at Port Canaveral.
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Stan Smith and K-9 Boots
Iron Sharp K9, Cleburne, Texas
K-9 Boots is a 2-year-old Australian Shepherd. He and Stan have been together since Boots was just a pup at 7-weeks old. Stan has competed in this event since the very beginning, and has won 1st place every year with his K-9 Annie Oakley. This is the first year he is competing with K9 Boots. "He is motivated by me and anything we want him to try, he gives his best effort."