Reno is once again becoming a gathering place for working K9 teams as the Western States Police Canine Association brings its 2026 Working Dog Conference to the Peppermill Spa & Casino September 21–24.

For four days, handlers and their K9 partners will take part in a mix of classroom education, realistic working scenarios and hands-on problem-solving alongside trainers and other teams from across the United States, Canada and the Western region.

Training With The Dog, Not Just About The Dog

One of the defining elements of the WSPCA conference is that handlers attend with their K9 partners. The training is designed to put teams directly into scenarios that require communication, decision-making and problem-solving in real time.

Sessions include K9-involved scenarios as well as classroom instruction, giving handlers the opportunity to learn new techniques and then work through them with their dogs.

The conference also brings together trainers with extensive operational and training experience, creating an environment where handlers can learn from different approaches while working alongside other professional K9 teams.

16 Years In Reno

Reno has hosted the Working Dog Conference for 16 years, making the event a longstanding part of the city’s working-dog landscape.

The annual gathering provides more than four days of instruction. Bringing handlers and K9s together from different agencies and regions creates opportunities to exchange knowledge, compare experiences and build connections within the working-dog field.

The 2026 conference also includes expanded training venues and a range of patrol and detection scenarios, according to the Western States Police Canine Association.

A Different Side Of Nevada’s Dog Community

While much of Nevada’s dog culture centers on pets, recreation and dog-friendly travel, working K9 teams represent another important part of the state’s canine community.

The WSPCA Working Dog Conference offers a rare opportunity to see that side of the dog world up close, with teams and trainers spending several days focused on the skills, communication and partnership required of working dogs and their handlers.

The 2026 Working Dog Conference takes place September 21–24 at the Peppermill Spa & Casino in Reno.

2026 WSPCA Working Dog Conference