Thurmont, MD | Oct 30 - Nov 1, 2026
Join our highly accredited canine trainers in a three-day seminar dedicated to small group learning around the ins-and-outs of live-find air-scenting. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups will commingle to create an atmosphere based around growth and knowledge-sharing. Together we’ll learn how to Follow your dog…And Find Out!
Trailing has been added to FAFO!
Currently all 4 trailing spots have been claimed and the waitlist is now open. The FAFO team wanted to find a way to expand the seminar, without compromising our dedicated focus on small-group learning. We are fortunate to have an extremely qualified trailing instructor who will be providing invaluable learning opportunities in addition to the live-find air-scent part of the seminar. Read more about Rich below.
Is this the opportunity you’ve been waiting for as a trailing dog team? Simply fill out the application form below and get ready to Follow your dog…And Find Out!
Rich Smith, Sr
Rich, prior to retirement from the Baltimore Police Department, was the supervisor of the K-9 Training Unit. He was responsible for the basic K-9 training and scent training for both Drug Detection and Explosive Detection Dogs. During his tenure there, he oversaw the training and certification of 36 internal and allied agency teams. He has previously been certified as an academic instructor by the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commission.
With a focus on learning, Rich holds a master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins University Public Safety Leadership Program and a Graduate Certificate in Higher Learning also from The Johns Hopkins University.
Since joining the Western Maryland K-9 Search and Rescue team, Rich has completed NASAR (National Association of Search and Rescue) SARTECH III, FUNSAR/SARTECH II, and Managing the Lost Person Incident. He has been involved in Search and Rescue since 2020.
Rich has instructed, or assisted in instructing, over 15 trailing dog teams in scent article acquisition, proper handling techniques and other skills related to working a scent discriminating trailing dog in both woodland and urban environments. He has been authorized to evaluate trailing teams by Kentucky Scent Trailing Air and Rescue since 2021.
Additionally, he is certified by the National Association of Search and Rescue as a Level I trailing handler and has been certified as a Lead Evaluator for Trailing by the National Association of Search and Rescue since 2024.
Located in Cunningham Falls State Park
Three day working spot with your dog: $375 per dog
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FAFO is an annual live-find air-scent seminar hosted by Western Maryland K-9 Search and Rescue. Inspired by other powerful seminars run by neighboring canine teams, WMDK9 decided to host a seminar based around live find air-scenting.
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Each ticket comes with access to a powered campsite. RV’s under 23’ in length are welcome at these sites as well.
There is also a dog friendly hotel available in the nearby town.
Super 8 by Wyndham300 Tippin Drive
Thurmont, MD 21788
Starting at $52 per night with breakfast included
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Breakfast and lunch will be provided with each ticket. There are locations around the park that are accessible for dinner.
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Thursday night (check-in only), Friday, Saturday (8am - 5pm), and Sunday (until 4pm).
Meet Your Instructors
Christine Ronsisvalle
Chris is an Operational K9 Handler with K9 ALERT, a K9 search and rescue team registered with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. K9 ALERT is used to assist local Law Enforcement and other agencies to locate lost or missing people. Chris has been an active member of the team since 2006 and has responded to over 100 search missions throughout Virginia. In her search career Chris has worked a dog in both the Live-Find and Human Remains Detection (HRD) disciplines. Chris is currently working her third operational dog who is cross-trained in both Live-Find and HRD as well as water recovery. Chris is a State Evaluator for the Virginia K9 Air Scent and HRD Teams and has taught at many search and rescue seminars, sharing knowledge with other eager handlers.
David Fleenor
David is a member of K9 Alert Search and Rescue Dogs Inc that operates under an MOU with the Va Dept of Emergency Management (VDEM). He has been with K9 Alert since 1991. Currently a VDEM State K9 Evaluator, certified Search Team Leader, a former Search Management Member and a certified Handler with American Society of Canine Trainers (ASCT). David has worked two previous K9s with VDEM certifications in Air Scent Wilderness and Land HRD. His current K9 (Argo) is certified in VDEM Air Scent Wilderness, Human Remains Detection, Water Recovery Shoreline and Human Remains Detection with ASCT. Additionally, they dedicate training evolutions to locating articles and understanding change of behaviors related to subject movement and aged residual scent. David enjoys embracing technology in the search for the missing and blending “old school” skills with technology when needed.
William Maydosz
Bio coming soon!
About your hosts: Western Maryland K-9 Search and Rescue is equipped with, and currently training, Air Scent Dog Teams to assist with lost person searches in wilderness and urban interface environments. We follow criteria equivalent to FEMA Type II Wilderness Air Scent Team capabilities. We also have teammates that are certified in Human Remains Detection (HRD). The team can be self-sustaining for 48 hours in all weather conditions and low angle wilderness terrain or larger areas of 120 acres or more. We can also provide assistance with searching in a disaster environment, such as the outlying areas of a tornado zone.
Not a trailing team? The live-find air-scent waitlist application form is still open!
Currently all 15 slots are filled and the waitlist is now open. If someone is unable to attend, then the next in line for the waitlist will be contacted. The structure of this seminar will still focus heavily on mixing different levels of experience, while maintaining our limited number of seats.