Las Vegas will get an inside look at the skills, training and teamwork behind working K9s this weekend as the International Canine Rescue and Working Dog Association hosts its 2026 K9 Trials & Training at Tuscany Suites & Casino.

Taking place Saturday, October 3rd, and Sunday, October 4th, the event brings working-dog teams together for training and competition. Several portions of the weekend are also open to the public at no cost, including educational classes and Sunday’s Patrol & Handler Protection Competition, followed by a raffle, K9 retirement ceremony and awards ceremony.

For dog lovers, working-dog enthusiasts and anyone curious about what goes into developing and handling highly trained K9s, it’s an opportunity to see this specialized work up close.

Free Classes Open To The Public

The educational portion of the weekend offers attendees the opportunity to learn directly from professionals covering working-dog training, detection, emergency response and handler skills.

All public access classes are held in Florentine E at Tuscany Suites & Casino.

Saturday, October 3

9–11 a.m. — Out Means Out: From Toys to Suspects
Tim Adams will focus on building a clear, reliable release while addressing common handler-created problems.

12:45–1:45 p.m. — Naloxone & Opioid Response
Sara Ayoub will cover how to recognize opioid exposure and how to administer naloxone to people or working K9s.

2:15–4:15 p.m. — K9 First Aid & TECC
Dr. Erica O’Donnell will teach attendees how to recognize K9 emergencies, stabilize injured working dogs and respond confidently while awaiting veterinary care.

Sunday, October 4

9–11 a.m. — The Making of a Detection Dog
Jake Wright will explore how selection, hunt drive, odor recognition and reward systems work together to develop a dependable detection dog.

12:45–1:45 p.m. — Naloxone & Opioid Response
Sara Ayoub returns for another opportunity to learn about recognizing opioid exposure and administering naloxone to people or working K9s.

These classes provide a look at disciplines most people rarely get to see from the inside, from building reliable working behaviors to emergency care and the development of detection dogs.

Sunday’s Competition Is Open To The Public

Sunday afternoon brings the weekend’s main public event with the Patrol & Handler Protection Competition.

Public seating and the patrol setup begin at 2:30 p.m., followed by the competition from 3–5:30 p.m. Spectators can watch K9 teams demonstrate their training and the teamwork between dog and handler in a competitive environment.

The afternoon continues with:

5:30–5:50 p.m. — Raffle

5:50–6:10 p.m. — K9 Retirement Ceremony

6:10–6:40 p.m. — Awards Ceremony

The retirement ceremony offers a particularly meaningful moment during the afternoon, recognizing K9s as they conclude their working careers. The weekend then closes with the awards ceremony honoring participating teams.

What To Know Before You Go

The public classes and Sunday events are free to attend, and organizers invite attendees to bring family, coworkers and friends.

There is one important note for dog lovers: public attendees should not bring their dogs. While the weekend is all about working K9s, the public portions are intended for human spectators and participants.

The 2026 ICRWDA K9 Trials & Training takes place October 3–4 at Tuscany Suites & Casino in Las Vegas, with the public classes and Sunday events held in Florentine E.

For the latest schedule, updates and event information, visit ICRWDA.org.

For anyone interested in working dogs, this weekend offers a rare opportunity to move beyond simply watching K9s at work and learn more about the training, preparation and partnership behind what they do.