DIRECTOR OF TRAINING
K-9 SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL

As the Director of Training at K-9SI Ricky works daily with some of the best vendors in the world to ensure he procures top notch working dogs capable of the environmental and physical demands necessary for any working dog capacity. Additionally, he and his team provide all initial imprinting on the our K-9’s, as well as, those we provide our clients. Ricky also develops and implements course curriculum for our handlers, trainers and managers courses.

Ricky is also the owner and operator of the Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officer’s Training Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He began working with the Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officer’s Training Center in 1994 and purchased the Center in 1996. As owner and operator, Ricky oversees the daily operations of his trainers and kennels techs, with over 100 dogs in his kennels. Ricky assists trainers with various behavioral problems as they arise, and he instructs classes in all facets of law enforcement and military canine use. His position often requires that he travel to Europe to purchase dogs for various contracts and clients.

Previous to his current position with Alabama Canine Law Enforcement, Ricky attended an 80-hour Tracking Course instructed by Manfred Willnat, Chief of Hessen Polizei Diensthund Schule. He also attended a 540-hour Police Service Dog Instructor Course in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The course was conducted by the Landespolezischule Fur Diensthundfuhrer (State Police School for Service Dog Handers) and taught in conjunction with the Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officer’s Training Center. Completion of this course enabled Ricky to certify dogs under Polezischutzhund Prufung (PSP) guidelines, which are considered by the industry to be the hardest guidelines to teach and pass. Prior to his advanced training and certification, Ricky trained Shutzhund Dog for Westervelt Kennels and competed in National Competitions. Additionally, Ricky has received 160 hours of Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging (KNPV) training, which is Dutch for Royal Dutch Police Dog Association. It is a style of canine training adopted by Holland’s system for good quality working dogs. Ricky has attended numerous KNPV trails and seminars conducted by some of the most successful participants in the sport to further his knowledge on the KNPV training style.

In addition to his training and certifications, Ricky is known for his involvement in canine working dog research and publications. He currently writes for Police Magazine on various assignments and questions as they pertain to Police Service Dogs. In 2005, Ricky conducted research with Dr. Jake Jacoby of the University of Alabama. Their article on the research, “Reliability of Cadaver Dogs in the South During Summer Months,” received many awards and was published in the Forensic Science Journal. In 2002, he studied and recreated the Tracking Experiments conducted by Colonal Konrad Most in 1928 in Karlshorster, Germany along with the Landespolezischule Fur Diensthundfuhrer (State Police School for Service Dog Handlers). In 1999, Ricky assisted Auburn University in their research on the canine olfactory system. Ricky has also appeared on TV for his expertise on canine related topics, including on Animal Planet productions and numerous local news programs around the United States.

Ricky’s extensive expertise can be backed by a plethora of experience and deployments with the international canine working dog community. From 1988-1991, he worked with the Anti-Terrorist Assistance Program (ATAP) where he trained Bomb Detector Canines for over 30 foreign countries; approximately 300 dogs were trained per year. In 1990, Ricky worked with the United States Border Patrol where he trained instructors and handlers who went on to establish the training facility for the United States Border Patrol in Texas on Biggs Air Force Base. He continued to sell “Green” canines (untrained pure-bred canines) to them until 1999. In 1992, Ricky trained 15 Narcotic Detection Canines, 20 Patrol Dogs, and 4 Explosive Detection Canines in Barbados. In 1993, he trained Narcotic Detection Canines in Costa Rica. In 1994, Ricky trained Explosive Detection Canines, Instructors, and Spotters in the Philippines. In 1995, he trained Explosive Detection Canines for the Department of Energy as well as for the Federal Park Police at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty in New York, New York. In 1996, Ricky trained Narcotic Detection Canines and Explosive Detection Canines in Peru, as well as Explosive Detection Canines, Instructors, and Tactical Tracking Canines in the Philippines. In 1997, he trained Narcotic Detection Canines for the Maryland Department of Public Safety, and evaluated all canines belonging to the State Department. He reported back to Alan Langland, then head of the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) of the State Department. In 1998, Ricky began a training facility for canines in Bolivia that continues to operate today. From 1999-2000, Ricky training Explosive Detection Canines for King Bolkiah Inner Guard of Brunei, as well as for Ecuador. From 2000-2001, he trained Narcotic Detection Canines and instructors for the Alabama Department of Public Safety, as well as Dual Purpose Canines and instructors in Kuwait. In 2002, Ricky conducted training through the U.S. State Department for Narcotics Detection Canines, Explosive Detection Canines, and Land Mine Detection Canines in Guatemala. He also established a training facility in Guatemala that continues to operate today. In 2003, Ricky training Explosive Detection Canines and instructors for the Pinkerton Security Group for work on strategic oil reserve sites in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas, USA. In 2004, he trained Narcotic Detection Canines and Explosive Detection Canines in the Bahamas. In 2005, Ricky trained Explosive Detection Canines in Sri Lanka. In 2008, he trained instructors for the State of Idaho Post, canines for the Georgia Department of Public Safety and Georgia Department of Corrections, and canines in Belize. In 2010, Ricky wrote Canine Standards in the Philippines that are still used today to certify Explosive Canines for the Philippine Government and Armed Services. In 2013, Ricky worked as the Canine Advisor for the State of Alabama E.O.D. during the 50th Anniversary Selma March in Selma, Alabama, USA.

Ricky continues to serve the canine working dog industry by conducting seminars on numerous topics, including, but not limited to: muzzle training for patrol canines, detection problem solving for explosive and narcotics canines, canine legal updates, tactical building searches using canines, advanced canine muzzle training, aggressive canine behavior, air scenting vs. ecological ground disturbances in tracking, canine swat tactics, tracking and civil liability, mental and physical stress: signs and corrective measures, and narcotics and canine psychology. Further, Ricky has aided in numerous trials regarding police canines with his expertise in the field through testimonies in depositions and/or court trail appearances.

Ricky prides himself on staying up to date on all canine working dog guidelines, standards, and legislation, and he would like to see the latest training techniques be used to develop strong handlers around the world. He strives to connect the international canine working dog community under similar guidelines and standards to establish an effective and advanced international canine working dog industry. Ricky’s continuous goal is to maintain the integrity of the art of the most effective and efficient canine training.