The dogs are descending on Gordon County. More than 100 police officers from around the country will be bringing their canine companions to Calhoun for the 2009 North American Police Work Dog Association National (NAPWDA) Training Seminar.

The officers and their canine partners will participate in a week long training session that will focus on helping the officers maintain their NAPWDA certifications.

“These certifications are important, because if an officer is called to court they would want to know what certification a K-9 handler has,” said Calhoun Police Chief Garry Moss.

This is the second year that program has been hosted in Calhoun, and organizer, Dale Pullen said it will be a big economic draw for Gordon County.

“We will have 100 or more people here staying in our hotels and hanging out for a week,” Pullen said.

The event boasts 17 master trainers from around the country. Each team will be put through a series of obstacles that range from tracking to patrol and the detection of narcotics and explosives.

The teams will also receive training in obedience building and aggression.

“It is a very intense certification process,” said Moss.

“The teams have to be certified annually,” said Pullen.

The teams, according to Pullen, consist of one officer and one canine.

Pullen has been working with his K-9 partner, Simba, for five years.

"It takes a lot of training to get a dog to the level of certification,” Pullen said.

Pullen began planning for the even in February, organizing meeting spaces, training facilities and sponsors.

“It takes a lot of time and effort to put this together,” Pullen said.

The event will take place beginning Oct. 4 and will continue with daily lessons through Oct. 9. The majority of the event will be held at the Gordon County Fair Ground.