K-9s compete and learn from the best

DENVER, Ind. (WLFI) - This week has proved to be no walk in the park for some police and government agencies and their K-9s.

For Marco and his handler, Deputy Sheriff Jon Lendermon with the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department, this week is all about training and learning.

Lendermon said he and Marco had taken part in two activities on Wednesday. The first was area search, where he and Marco searched a large area for drugs and narcotics.

"The other thing we got done doing was the obstacle course, which is about a mile-and-a-half, roughly," said Lendermon.

Marco is just one of hundreds of dogs competing in the annual K-9 Olympics at Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana in northern Miami County. Owner Ken Licklider said police and government agencies come from all over.

"We've got guys from South Africa, Turkey, the Virgin Islands, Holland, Canada and nine states. They're here from all over," said Licklider.

Vohne Liche Kennels is also where Purdue University's newest K-9, Macho, was trained.

"It gives you an opportunity to come re-certify as well. It kind of saves some time with everything. Just getting back to seeing the guys you went to class with, it's always good to come back and see them on a different level," said Gabe Argerbright, Macho's handling officer with the Purdue University Police Department.

The four-day event offers a wide variety of scenarios a K-9 could experience while on the job such as explosives and narcotics detection, among other things.

"It's competitive and it's a week of training they can't get anywhere else," said Licklider.

Vohne Liche Kennels keeps about 170 dogs on its property throughout the year. It produces about 600 to 800 dogs per year as well.

K-9s can cost as much as $15,000 depending upon the level of training they received. As for the K-9 Olympics, officers will leave with a better trained K-9 and hopefully an award as well.

"Just the obstacle course here is a mile and a half with everything you can imagine thrown at them, so they deserve a plaque here or there," said Licklider.

Licklider adds top instructors across the United States and the world come to judge the K-9s and teach the officers.

"There are events going on that these guys can take home first, second and third place plaques and trophies. The main emphasis is on the learning process," said Licklider.

"We have some classes that we go to just to keep up on the legal aspects of K-9 handling, drug and narcotics and also bomb handling," said Lendermon.

The K-9 Olympics is in its 11th year. Awards will be handed out on Friday. The event wraps up with a concert for the officers that evening.