MEET OUR DESERT DOGS K9S

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Falcon - ASCTI Certified HRD

K9 Falcon is a 4 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.

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. 

Freya - HRD K9 In Training 

K9 Freya is a Human Remains Detection (HRD) K9 in training with Desert Dogs K9 Search and Rescue Recovery, working toward becoming the organization’s second certified HRD canine.

At just one year of age, this young Belgian Malinois has already demonstrated exceptional drive, focus, and aptitude for detection work. 

Freya has successfully earned her AKC Puppy STAR and AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) titles, reflecting a strong foundation in obedience, stability, and handler engagement. 

Her owner and handler, Patrick, has done an outstanding job maintaining and advancing her skills through consistent weekly training sessions. 

With her continued development and proven capabilities, Freya is a promising asset to the team’s future operational success.

Zuni - Tracking In Training 

K9 Zuni is a 1 year old plush coat German Shepherd currently in training to become Desert Dogs K9 Search and Rescue Recovery’s second ASCTI Certified Tracking K9. Carefully selected for her strong working potential, Zuni demonstrates the key traits required for search and rescue work, including high prey drive, environmental confidence, and a natural desire to engage and work alongside her handlers.

Zuni is in the foundational stages of her training, focusing on obedience, handler engagement, scent work introduction, and developing reliable tracking skills. Her training program is designed to meet the rigorous standards set forth by the American Society of Canine Trainers International (ASCTI), ensuring she is prepared for real-world deployment scenarios.

Handled by Randy and Tyler, with continued development in obedience and foundational skills, Zuni is progressing through a structured training plan that emphasizes consistency, control, and clear communication. As her training advances, she will be exposed to increasingly complex tracking environments and scenarios to build the reliability and accuracy required of a certified search and rescue K9.

Zuni’s enthusiasm for work, combined with her strong genetic foundation and structured training, positions her as a promising future asset to the Desert Dogs K9 Search and Rescue Recovery team. Upon successful completion of her certification, she will serve as a critical resource in tracking operations, assisting in locating missing persons and supporting search efforts within the community.

Zuni represents the next generation of working K9s within the organization, reflecting a continued commitment to professionalism, training excellence, and service.

Rune - Air-Scent/Area Search In Training 

K9 Rune is a young female Belgian Malinois and one of the newest members of Desert Dogs K9 Search and Rescue Recovery. Rune is currently in training to become an ASCTI Certified Air-Scent/Area Search K9, where she is developing the skills necessary to locate and follow human scent in a variety of search environments.

Rune and her handler are the youngest K9 team on the Desert Dogs team. Together, they are building their partnership through consistent training, obedience, scent and trailing work, and real-world preparation.

Rune’s handler is also committed to growing within the team and is currently working toward becoming a Certified EMT as well as an ASCTI Certified Pet Trainer. This combination of K9 training and emergency-response education will help prepare the team for the demands of search and rescue operations.

While Rune is still early in her career, she is already showing the dedication, drive, and potential needed to become a highly capable Air-Scent/Area Search K9. Desert Dogs is proud to support this young team as they continue their journey toward certification and operational readiness.

Coco - Tracking & Trailing In Training 

Coco is a young German Shepherd Dog proudly serving with Desert Dogs K9 Search and Rescue Recovery. She is currently in training to become an ASCTI Certified Tracking/Trailing K9, with the goal of working both desert and urban searches.

Coco is developing the skills necessary to follow human scent trails across a variety of environments and challenging terrain. Her training emphasizes reliability, focus, endurance, and the ability to work as part of a dedicated K9 search team.

Coco is handled by Patrick, who also owns and handles K9 Freya. Together, Patrick and Coco are working toward certification and continued operational readiness.

As Coco progresses through her training, she will become another valuable asset to the Desert Dogs K9 Search and Rescue Recovery team. We are excited to watch this young team grow and look forward to the important work they will accomplish together.