Mark9 search and rescue
Always Ready, Ever able
Meet the Team
They are our canine family members with a day job — and they work plenty of nights, too. The MARK9 search dogs are owned by the handlers who work them and are trained collaboratively by their handlers, team trainers, and outside coaches.
These dogs generally work search and rescue for eight to ten years, and when they retire, they remain with the families they love. Each dog has a personality and charisma all his or her own, with two things in common: all our dogs are people-friendly, and they all love their work.
Service by MARK9 dogs has been awarded by the Oklahoma Veterinary Hall of Fame, the Plano Police Department, Dallas Police Department, and the AKC, among other organizations.
K9 Aspen
AKC Canine CGC, AWDA Human Remains Detection Type IV, AWDA Wilderness Area Search Type III
Aspen is a black sable German Shepard who has high drive and loves to work. She loves her job and just wants to please. She's a little shy when you first meets you but i very sweet and friendly. When she isn't training or searching for MARK9, she loves aggravating her 6 packmates, camping, and playing around the house.
Handler: Mike Holmberg
K9 Kao
AKC Canine CGC, Wilderness, Urban, AWDA Wilderness Area Search Type III and IV, AWDA Human Remains Detection Type III, IV, and V, NSDA Land Human Remains Detection
Kao comes from Slovakian lineage from a long line of working dogs. Kao's sire is currently a working police K9 in Slovakia and was bred out of the Slovakian national kennel. While working Kao displays extreme drive and focus, and is totally dedicated to finding missing people. When not working he loves to play tug, chase tennis balls, and find new ways to have his tummy rubbed.
Handler: Zephrin Allen
K9 Mayhem
In Training
Comrade Mayhem is a black and tan bloodhound. We named him
Mayhem because he was the most active puppy in his litter, and we
brought him home in the midst of Covid. His hobbies include chasing
his” cat, tearing up his beds, counter-surfing, and eating Sonic Breakfast
burritos (with bacon). He loves scent-work and earned an AKC Tracking
Dog Title before he turned 2 years old. He is just starting out with
Search and Rescue, and he really loves finding people.
Handler: Pandora Galbraith
K9 Prissy
AKC Canine CGC, AWDA Wilderness Area Search Type III, NSDA Area Search II
Prissy is a Black Lab and comes from a long lineage of SAR dogs. She likes to eat and hunt, between those two activities there's not much else that interest her, which makes her a great search dog.
Handler: Zephrin Allen
K9 Augie
In Training
Augie is a Black Labrador Retriever who loves to run, search, and play fetch. Like most Labradors, he is strong, fast, and naturally takes to the water (except for baths). Augie was rescued as a puppy and named for Augustus McCrae, the life-loving Lonesome Dove character. He is training for certification in Wilderness Area Search. When not training or playing fetch, he can be found lounging alongside his siblings.
Handler: Taylor Mcclure
K9 Lucie
In Training
Hello! My name is Lucie I am a Belgian Malinois. I love everything more than you do! I love jumping, running, playing, sleeping, eating etc… I have even earned a few titles in agility.
Sometimes my handler will take me out to "work" but it really is just more running with my sniffer turned on. She thinks it's work, but I just love it! She even rewards me with a toy when I find something! I would do anything to get that toy!
The toy and I have great battles, but I never lose! My handler and I absolutely love working and I make sure to challenge her at all times! If I want the toy, I've got to earn it! I'm so excited to see what the rest of this world has in store for us. Bye for now!
Handler: Christian Hornbeck
K9 Menar
AKC Canine CGC, NAPWDA Cadaver
Menar is a black Labrador Retriever who was born at Ground Zero Emergency Training Center in Norman, OK. He is certified in land and shoreline for Human Remains Detection and is working to gain experience in working from a boat. He has wonderful hunt drive and extreme energy, and can work all day but is still a great companion in the house. He loves food and also to retrieve or tug. He has rock-solid nerve strength and works well on rubble or through briars. He is a great partner!
Handler: Liz Forbes
K9 Ryker
AKC Canine CGC, AWDA Human Remains Detection Type IV, NNDDA Human Remains, NSDA Wilderness Cadaver
Ryker is a Dutch Shepard out of a working police dog sire and a personal protection dam. He has an amazing ball drive and super hunt drive. He loves dock diving and agility. When he is working he has extreme focus on the job. He is an amazing partner who never lets me down. I look forward to many years of learning from him.
Handler: Laurie Davis
K9 Gypsy
AMPWDA Urban Mantrailing, AWDA Wilderness Trailing Type I
Gypsy is a liver and tan bloodhound. She absolutely loves trailing lost people, whether in training or on searches. Outside of searches and training, her favorite pastimes are playing in the waves, swimming in the pool, and hanging out with the other dogs.
Handler: Cindy Selzler
K9 Mae Belle
In Training
“Mae” is a black and tan bloodhound and enjoys the work mantrailing requires. She is a sensitive dog that works softly, but slow and steady, requiring focus and attention by her handler to read her behavior correctly.
She loves people and affection as much as the treats she gets when she finds her “victim” in training.
Handler: Laura Davis
K9 Orca
Canine CGC, Wilderness Area Search Type III
Orca is a black and white Border Collie with Welsh parents. He is just starting his search and rescue training and loves it. He is definitely high drive and high energy. Outside of search and rescue, his favorite things to do are play tug, run after balls, and hang out with his bloodhound roommates and his border collie friends. My favorite thing about him is, he is fun loving and makes everyday a fun day for me.
Cindy Selzler
K9 Samantha
AKC Canine CGC, NSDA Area Search II
Samantha is a Belgium Malinois (Mal-in-Wah), a breed that dates back to the early 1800s. The Belgium
Malinois has an extreme sense of smell and drive, therefore allowing the breed to excel in herding,
protection, drug, bomb, gas detection, and Search & Rescue. Malinois’ are very intelligent, obedient,
agile, fast, and extremely energetic. As a result, this makes them a breed for a more experienced owner
and not your typical family pet owner. Samantha is very loyal, dedicated, and loves to be in a family
environment. Outside of Search & Rescue, Samantha loves swimming, boating, hiking trails, running,
playing fetch, tugging, and searching for hidden objects.
Handler: George Ramirez