Please refer to the seminar information so you can be fully informed about what is happening during this week of training. The NPBA was a long-time fixture at the 4-H Camp for about 20 years and then decided to move the Spring Seminar in 1999, just north of Bradford, PA – to the Allegheny State Park, in Salamanca, NY. In 2015, the NPBA returned back to Garrett County where base camp was established at the WISP RESORT. Garrett College graciously offered CEU’s and made the training accredited for officer education credits. A solid relationship between Garrett College and the National Police Bloodhound Association has been established, not only offering the credits for the McHenry Seminar but to all three annual seminars held by the NPBA in South Carolina (fall), California(winter), along with Garrett County (spring). The classroom portion of the McHenry Seminar is conducted at Garrett College on Sunday, April 28 all day.
The seminar happens at a time of the year, between seasons in Garrett County, and for many of the businesses, it contributes to the economy.
This seminar was sold out within a month of it being posted. Between Instructors and Students, there are about 65 Bloodhound Team from all over the country that will be attending. Students are formed into groups of 4 and assigned an instructor. We are always looking for a few individuals from the community to volunteer to be trail layers for the groups. The groups move out from the WISP at 8:00 AM, Monday thru Thursday the week of April 29th until May 2nd. Groups are out in the field training from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM on those four days. Lunch is on your own. Most instructors, stop in at area restaurants for a bite and then move on. If you want to volunteer, please call me in advance so I can arrange a group for you or any interested party. It is a wonderful learning time, to experience how a man-trailing Bloodhound works to save the lives of the missing or to catch a fleeing felon or two.
Seminar & Certification Information
The National Police Bloodhound Association teaches basic standards that have been tried and proven from many years of trials by law enforcement officers from all over the country and found to be sound in the utilization of the man-trailing bloodhound.
Never has any Officer member of the National Police Bloodhound Association been proven wrong when challenged in his or her use of the bloodhound in law enforcement by the courts by following the standards that have been set by the National Police Bloodhound Association.
Seminar Information
NPBA hosts the following Seminars annually, open to any member. Members can attend as many seminars as they choose.
- Winter Seminar in Los Angeles, California in February.
- Spring Seminar in McHenry, Maryland in April
- Fall Seminar in Greenville, South Carolina in October.
All Seminars include the 40-hour man-trailing training & certification program (*certification is optional).
The week-long program involves classroom instruction, fieldwork, and evaluation in small groups with senior handlers and instructors.
New members will receive a training manual that describes our standards.
The traditional NPBA Auction Dinner is held on the last night of every Seminar to conclude the program and recognize accomplishments.
Curriculum and Certification
The curriculum that is followed adheres strictly to the National Police Bloodhound Association’s training manual standards.
Training is available to all members with single disciplined (man-trailing only) – purebred Bloodhounds.
Certification will be evaluated for interested members who meet the following criteria:
- Attend one of the three NPBA Seminars
- Bloodhounds meeting the minimum age of 10 months old.
- Handler required to submit a minimum of 6 months training records for self and the certifying bloodhound for review upon arrival at Seminar.
- Completion of the required 32 hours of field evaluation by one of the highly qualified and certified instructors of the NPBA.
- Please note the Education Workforce Development Department of Garrett College located in Western Maryland’s Garrett County – offers registrants at McHenry, Maryland 4 Contact Hours (Continuing Education Units).
Here is the link to information that I use when attending Public Information Events in Greensburg. This gives you a little information of what we do in Greensburg and the history behind it all.
Please note the Certification option should be selected in the Seminar registration form and is open to all NPBA members.
