​Fred Helfers has been a leader in the detection canine field for over 40 years.

Starting his career in 1982, Fred served over 25 years in law enforcement, personally handling and training two drug detection dogs. Since then, he has trained thousands of detection canines and handlers across multiple specialties, including narcotics, accelerants, natural gas, insects, and spoiled products.

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Fred operated a professional detection dog training facility for over 20 years, working with both law enforcement and civilian teams. He also served as the contracted state trainer for the Oregon State Police Canine Unit (20 years) and has been recognized as an expert witness on detection canines in state and federal courts.

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Fred’s expertise is internationally recognized. He has conducted training seminars and workshops across the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Italy and Poland. He is the past president of the Washington State Police Canine Association and the founding president and president emeritus of the Pacific Northwest Police Detection Dog Association (PNWK9.org).

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He was a founding member of the Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal Factors (SWGDOG 2005 - 2012) and served on the Dogs and Sensors Subcommittee of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) from 2014 to 2024. In 2012, Fred developed and implemented Double Blind certification protocols that are now integral to detection dog certifications.

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Fred is the author of The Nosework Handler (available in English and Danish) and the inventor of a patented scent-based training system. He is a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) and serves as a judge and certifying official (ORT) for the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW) and the Australian Canine Scent Work (ACSW).

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Fred Helfers continues to shape the future of detection dog training with his unmatched experience, scientific approach, and passion for the craft.

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Book a Seminar or Consultation:

Looking to elevate your detection dog program or host a seminar with one of the world’s most respected experts?  

Contact Fred Helfers today to discuss training opportunities, workshops, seminars or expert consultations.

📧 Email: [helfersk9@gmail.com]
📞 Phone: 3606292670