The Working Dog Depot Podcast

Send us a textWe've got a special interview with two fine gentlemen. They are each well accomplished, but have unique stories. They may seem like an unlikely pair to be collaborating with each other which makes this story unique. This is a special episode about redemption and seeing the good in people in spite of past misdeeds. It took some intestinal fortitude and careful consideration to come forward with this story. There's no hiding from it, but it's a whole different ball game to openly broadcast it. We're happy to know these gentleman and share their stories. Be on the lookout for seminars they will be offering in the future. Bob Ungurean is a dual purpose canine handler in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia.  He operates Tri County Canine which focuses on pet training as well as police canine seminars ranging from variable surface tracking to team integration.Fritz Vorderbrug is the owner of FirstLine K9 in Pennsylvania. Firstline K9 is a law enforcement K9 vendor that offerers single and dual purpose K9’s, as well as a provider of pet training of all forms. Several years ago, Fritz teamed up with Bob Ungrean of Tri County Canine.  The duo offers fast paced law enforcement training seminars geared toward canines and handlers of all skill levels.We are pleased to announce that Vested Interest in K9's has become our newest sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org. Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.comHLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2025 conference will be April 1,2,3, 2025. Register today at www.htlk9.com. Welcome out newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: [email protected]

Send us a textSteve “Zane” Stoops spent the last 19 years as the Senior Combat Assault Dog Trainer (CAD) for the United States Joint Special Operations Command-JSOC, assigned to the 1st SFOD-D, located at Ft. Liberty, NC (retired January 2024.) He and a very small and exclusive group of Special Operators are innovators and developed many K9 training philosophies utilized today by the most elite SOF tactical working dog programs throughout the world. Steve actively handled these dogs in numerous combat situations facing fire fights, suicide bombers, and IEDs. A veteran of 14 combat deployments, Steve was also requested by and assisted Naval Special Warfare units in Iraq. During this time, Steve also played a crucial role in the development of the following CAD programs worldwide: Conducted the initial training course for Army Ranger CAD program. Selected and trained the CADs and Handlers for the elite British Special Forces, traveling to England to instruct at the inaugural K9 course for both British Army and Naval Special Operators and their dogs. Selected and trained the dogs for the Danish Jaeger Corps, traveling to Scandinavia to conduct training events. Stood up a K9 program in a combat zone by importing dogs into the zone for the Kurdish Counter Terror Group (CTG). Assisted the German KSK with their CAD program and was co-located with them on a combat deployments. Assisted the Norwegian SOF Dog program in Afghanistan. Stood up the CAD program for the FBI Hostage Rescue Team, selecting and training the K9/Handler teams on a multi-week training course.  Prior to working for Special Operations, Steve stood up and supervised a protection dog program in Afghanistan for Afghan President Hammed Karzai (2002.) Thereafter, Steve stood up a detection dog program in Tirana, Albania, for the Albanian National Police (2003.)Steve’s K9 career started while serving 15 of his 20 years as a Police K9 Officer in Anderson, Indiana, after serving in the United States Marine Corps as a Security Specialist at U.S. Embassies throughout Europe and South America. While a K9 Officer, Steve was a SWAT Team member, SWAT Dog handler, and a veteran of hundreds of K9 deployments. He experienced numerous violent encounters with suspects including Officer involved shootings and edged weapon attacks and was responsible for numerous narcotics seizures with his K9s. SteveWe are pleased to announce that Vested Interest in K9's has become our newest sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org. Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.comHLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2025 conference will be April 1,2,3, 2025. Register today at www.htlk9.com. Welcome out newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: [email protected]

Send us a textI first met Jessie some 8 years ago when she payed her way into a decoy class that I was teaching. She immediately impressed me with her athleticism and enthusiasm. At that time, she was simply a young law enforcement officer with and intense desire to become a k9 handler. She did her due diligence to make herself a viable candidate for the job and was rewarded with the opportunity.  On this episode, Jessie shares some of her journey. Like most journeys hers includes successes and hardships. There a many lessons to take away from this episode. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did.....HowardJessie Owens-Wilder (Aka Tanto) has been in law enforcement for almost 10 years and is embarking on her master police officer recognition.  Within that time frame she has had many different roles at her agency so of which were being on the agency's swat team, bike patrol team, and is now a part of the k9 unit.  She has always had an interest in k9 and quickly pursued decoying as a way to learn as much as she could about the specialty.  Jessie decoyed for multiple years until the k9 position opened up at her agency.  She was selected to be her agency's handler and she has been serving her community for the past 6 years with her partner K9 Wilson. We are pleased to announce that Vested Interest in K9's has become our newest sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org. Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.comHLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2025 conference will be April 1,2,3, 2025. Register today at www.htlk9.com. Welcome out newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: [email protected]

Send us a textWe have been after Ben for an interview for a good while. He is actually one of the first gentlemen we pursued when we began the podcast. It was in his best interest to wait until he had fully retired from the Army before we interviewed him.  Ben is one of those guys that makes you feel glad he's on our side! If your old enough to remember the original GI Joe toys you'll be able to relate to this. Ben looks like the original GI Joe with live action hair. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did. As you might expect his biography is understated. Ben, we appreciate your friendship and of course your service to our country. Ben Rader is a 21-year Veteran of the U.S. Army and the owner of Rader K9. Ben gained much of his operational experience conducting operations in the middle east during the Global War on Terror (GWOT) for a U.S. Army Special Forces Commander’s In-Extremis Force (CIF) Company and later as a Multi-Purpose Canine Handler/Trainer. Afterwards, Ben served as the Kennel Master/Detachment Operations Sergeant for his Group. We are pleased to announce that Vested Interest in K9's has become our newest sponsor. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit whose mission is to provide bullet and stab-protective vests and other assistance to dogs. Check it out www.vik9s.org. Please welcome Ray Allen Manufacturing as a sponsor to the podcast. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the RAMWDDP10 discount code.Welcome our sponsor Gold Coast K9. Gold Coast K9 trains and deploys hand-selected service dogs for personal and family protection, police agencies, and school districts. Their training programs rank among the best and most trusted in the world. Follow Gold Coast k9 on all social media platforms. For 10% off merchandise use the GCK910 discount code on their website www.goldcoastk9.comHLTK9 Conference continues to be a supporter of the WDDP. They are gearing up for the next conference in Myrtle Beach SC. Plan ahead, the 2025 conference will be April 1,2,3, 2025. Register today at www.htlk9.com. Welcome out newest sponsor NCK9LLC. Located in Four Oaks NC, just east of Raleigh NC. Jim O'Brien and staff offer a variety of K9 services. Contact them at Phone : 919-353-7149 Email: [email protected]