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DDK9 SAR/R Certified Team
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Marsha Durfee
Marsha Durfee-ASCTI Certified. HRD K9 Handler.
HRD K9 Commander.
Marsha Durfee is an ASCTI Certified Master Trainer, ASCTI HRD K9 Handler, and DDK9 SARR HRD K9 Commander with nearly two decades of professional experience in canine training, behavior, and working K9 development. Known throughout the tri-state region for her leadership and dedication to humane, effective training methods, Marsha has built a reputation for excellence in both pet dog training and specialized working K9 disciplines. Her work reflects a deep commitment to building strong, trust-based relationships between handlers and their dogs while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards in the field.
Alongside her K9 partner, Falcon, Marsha leads the tri-state as the only Certified Human Remains Detection (HRD) K9 team. Their work in search, recovery, and certification testing demonstrates the level of precision, discipline, and teamwork required in HRD operations. As a commander within DDK9 SARR, Marsha not only deploys in the field but also mentor's handlers, prepares teams for rigorous certification testing, and contributes to raising the standard of working K9 readiness and professionalism across the region.
A lifelong learner, Marsha believes that continued education is essential to staying current in the evolving science of canine behavior and training. She is currently furthering her education through London Hanover University College of Zoological Studies (LHU), pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Canine Behavioral Science. Her dedication to advancing her knowledge ensures that the clients, students, and K9 teams she serves benefit from the most up-to-date practices, research, and methodologies in modern canine training.
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Tyler Hansen
Tyler Hansen-ASCTI Certified SAR Handler.
SAR K9 Tracking Commander.
Tyler Hansen is an ASCTI Certified Pet Trainer and an ASCTI Certified Search and Rescue (SAR) K9 Handler with a strong foundation in professional canine training and operational fieldwork. His dedication to excellence, continual learning, and hands-on experience have made him a valuable asset within the K9 search and rescue community.
Serving as the Tracking K9 Commander for Desert Dogs K9 Search and Rescue and Recovery (DDK9 SARR), Tyler leads with both skill and maturity beyond his years. Even as one of the youngest members of the organization, he brings extensive real-world experience working alongside certified teams in demanding search environments.
His leadership role reflects not only his technical proficiency in tracking and handling, but also the trust and respect he has earned from fellow handlers and command staff.
Tyler is committed to the standards of safety, professionalism, and teamwork required in search and rescue operations. His work demonstrates a deep understanding of the bond between handler and K9, and a passion for using that partnership to serve the community during critical situations.
Randy Durfee
Randy Durfee-ASCTI Master Pet Trainer.
DDK9 SAR/R Logistic Commander.
Randy Durfee is an ASCTI Master Pet Trainer with decades of hands-on experience working with dogs and handlers in both pet training and specialized working K9 disciplines.
His knowledge has been developed through extensive field work, formal certifications, and a lifelong commitment to safe, humane, and effective training methods. Randy is known for his calm leadership, practical problem-solving skills, and ability to build reliable working partnerships between dogs and their handlers across a wide range of training environments.
In addition to his professional training credentials, Randy serves as the Logistics Commander for Desert Dogs K9 Search and Rescue/Recovery, where he plays a critical role in coordinating operational readiness, resource management, and team support for real-world deployments and training missions.
His leadership ensures that both K9 teams and human responders are properly equipped, organized, and prepared to perform under demanding conditions.
Randy’s dedication to the K9 community extends beyond training into service, mentorship, and operational support. He is highly respected for his behind-the-scenes leadership that keeps teams functioning efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, safety, and preparedness in both training and search and rescue operations.
Meet the K9s of Desert Dogs
K9 Falcon-ASCTI Certified HRD
K9 Falcon is a 3-year-old female Belgian Malinois whose training and accomplishments reflect a high-level commitment to operational excellence, fitness, and real-world readiness.
Among her many achievements, Falcon’s Human Remains Detection (HRD) certification stands as the defining credential of her working career.
Falcon is HRD certified, having demonstrated the ability to locate and correctly identify human remains odor across varied environments under Strict evaluation standards.
This certification confirms her reliability, odor discrimination capability, and handler communication—critical components required for search and recovery operations. Her HRD title further validates her performance and consistency in detection work.
Supporting her detection certification, Falcon has earned both 3K and 5K endurance titles, highlighting exceptional physical conditioning, cardiovascular endurance, and mental resilience necessary for extended searches and demanding deployments. She also holds the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title, demonstrating stable temperament, obedience, and professionalism in public and operational settings.
Falcon’s advanced training includes ASCTI Urban Agility and Novice Parkour, skills that directly enhance her ability to safely and efficiently navigate complex terrain, urban environments, and disaster scenes. Each title she has earned reinforces her status as a deployment-ready working K9, trained with purpose and precision.
In addition to her operational accomplishments, Falcon has been selected twice for inclusion in a K9 Search and Rescue calendar, featuring her in active training and working scenarios. She proudly serves as a breed ambassador for the Belgian Malinois, exemplifying the drive, clarity, and control the breed is known for.
K9 Lucy-ASCTI Certified SAR Live Find
K9 Lucy is a young Basset Hound certified through the American Society of Canine Trainers International (ASCTI) for Live Find Search and Rescue (SAR). Despite her compact stature, K9 Lucy possesses exceptional olfactory capability and drive, proving that effectiveness in SAR work is defined by skill and training—not size.
K9 Lucy’s achievements continue to grow and reflect a strong foundation in training and reliability. She is an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy graduate, an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title holder, and ASCTI Certified for locating missing persons. These accomplishments demonstrate her solid obedience, stable temperament, and readiness to work in real-world search environments.
K9 Lucy is a dedicated and enthusiastic working partner whose focus, scenting ability, and teamwork make her a valuable asset to any SAR team. She exemplifies the professionalism, commitment, and capability required of a deployment-ready search dog.