Contributed K-9 TRAINING - More than 60 members of the criminal justice and animal science management programs at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School took part in a K-9 training session at Friendship Park in Smithfield on Sept. 15-17, where they learned how the dogs were prepared by working with their police handlers.

BLOOMINGDALE — Students in the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School’s criminal justice and animal science management programs got a glimpse of current and future K-9’s in training through a new partnership with 4NK9 Inc.

More than 60 students attended sessions with the Colerain-based company on Sept. 15-17 at Friendship Park in Smithfield and watched five dogs undergo training with handlers in local law enforcement, plus they participated at times. Various breeds from Belgian Malinois to German shepherds tested their skills to better serve the public. Criminal justice instructor Jamie Freeman contacted company President Shain Nickerson and a partnership was soon formed which benefits both sides.

“I reached out to Shain about being able to bring the students and asked (animal science program instructor) Emily Moore if she wanted her class to participate,” Freeman explained. “We learned about the program and how they trained the dogs.”

Representatives of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s and St. Clairsville Police departments were on hand with their K-9 partners for the activity, while senior criminal justice students Delaney O’Brien and Audrey Nutter said it was an informative lesson.

“They can sniff for drugs and attack, and some were gunpowder- and bomb-sniffing dogs,” said Nutter. “We got to experience how the process works.”

“We walked around bags with the bomb-sniffing dogs that smelled the bags,” O’Brien added, saying the K-9’s would alert officials if they touched upon a scent.

They also learned how the dogs are used in airports to the military and must learn to adapt to normal life following retirement. O’Brien noted her interest in training dogs in the future.

“They are versatile,” added Nutter, saying various breeds are trained. “If they have the right drive, they could do it.”

Meanwhile, Moore said her pupils observed and discussed training theory and animal behavior, which has plenty to do with her program.

“There were things the juniors were learning in class and it was great to see it in motion,” she added.

“It’s not easy work and there’s definitely a lot of patience required,” said Mary Sammut, senior animal science student. “It was a good learning experience and the trainers and everyone were very helpful.”

Nickerson said the partnership was a wonderful effort and he looked forward to continue working with the JVS.

“Jamie Freeman came across our Decoy Seminar flier and reached out after recognizing the value it could bring to her students. With our background in law enforcement and federal contracting, it was a natural fit to partner with the program and provide students with hands-on exposure to real-world K-9 operations,” said Nickerson. “We’re collaborating on seminars, demonstrations and training events. Students will not only observe odor detection and patrol dogs in action but also learn about professionalism, safety and the operational role of K-9’s in law enforcement and security. They’ll gain insight into career paths within the working dog industry.”

He added that the animal science students can study animal behavior as part of their lesson.

“We connect those lessons to our K-9 training, showing how the same principles and methods they’re learning in class apply directly to preparing working dogs for real-world service.”

He said it was a relatively new concept in the local area, but it fused classroom learning with the real world.

“While some programs invite guest speakers, very few give students direct access to certified trainers and operational working dogs on the street. It’s an innovative step that blends classroom instruction with field-based learning,” he commented, saying it was exciting to work with the vocational school. “These students are so motivated, and many are considering careers in law enforcement. Being able to mentor them, answer questions, and show them the reality of K-9 work is rewarding for us as professionals. Our youth are a priority, and giving them real-world experience alongside proper guidance is essential to preparing them for the future.”

He continued that the partnership with the JVS reflects a broader mission of making communities safer while helping to build the next generation of law enforcement professionals.

“By investing in students today, we’re shaping a stronger, more prepared workforce for the future. We deeply value this opportunity.”

Nickerson founded 4NK9 Inc. after serving in the Marine Corps, bringing nearly two decades of operational K-9 experience that includes combat deployments overseas as well as domestic work with federal, state, law enforcement and private sector clients. The company officially launched in June, but his team collectively brings more than 40 years of experience in the working dog industry. 4NK9 serves Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with services and working dogs procured and placed worldwide.

It serves a wide range of partners, including schools, law enforcement agencies, federal clients, sports venues and casinos to amusement parks. Nickerson said the goal is to provide scalable K-9 solutions to public and private sectors.

“We’ve sourced, trained and placed hundreds of single-purpose and dual-purpose working dogs with agencies all over the world. Each dog is carefully hand-selected, environmentally tested, and matched to the specific needs of the handler or unit. Once imprinted on target odors, the dog is placed with its handler, who then completes a comprehensive course designed to ensure certification and full operational readiness.”