Search and Rescue and Working Dog Training

The owner of Maine K-9 Services, Deborah Palman, retired in 2008 after 30 years service as a game warden with the Maine Warden Service, the law enforcement division of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Twenty eight of those years were as a K-9 handler and over 25 were as the K-9 administrator and trainer for the Warden Service K-9 Unit.

Deborah is still active in Maine volunteer search and rescue activities, and currently is a special deputy and trainer with the Washington County Sheriff's Department.

Deborah is a certified Master Trainer with the International Police Work Dog Association (IPWDA) and can offer certifications though IPWDA for cadaver detection, wilderness air scent search, evidence or article search, tracking, trailing, and water search. She is a Level II certified trainer with the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA). Deborah is also a Maine Criminal Justice Academy (MCJA) certified K-9 trainer. Maine K-9 Services is located in Amherst, Maine and has land and water available in the immediate area for training working dogs.

Training and Certification:

Maine K-9 Services specializes in working dog training for search and rescue and law enforcement dog teams. Individualized training for search and rescue, human remains detection, basic dog management, obedience or behavior problems can be scheduled to fit the owner’s need. 

Maine K-9 Services offers online courses for working dog and search and rescue dog handlers. These courses give the background information needed to be a working dog or search and rescue dog handler.

Consulting:

Deborah Palman has also had over 40 years experience in the wilderness K-9 search and rescue field from the ground search level to the organization and planning of searches. She would be happy to provide information or advice on the use and capabilities of wilderness search and rescue dogs and how SAR organizations work and respond to SAR incidents.