Bahamian K-9 teams to compete in Space Coast Police K-9 Competition

By: Jada Stephens

VIERA, Fla. — Four civilian K-9 teams from Nassau, Bahamas, will travel to Florida this fall to compete in the eighth annual Space Coast Police K-9 Competition. 

The competition is scheduled for Nov. 13 at Space Coast Stadium in Viera and is expected to bring together police, military and civilian K-9 teams from across the United States and abroad. 

Teams will navigate an obstacle course designed to test obedience, agility, athleticism and handler communication. 

Three of the Bahamian teams represent KoleKutKennels242 K9 Services, while one team will compete on behalf of Lyrical Leashes K9 Training. 

According to organizers, KoleKutKennels242 provides obedience, agility, behavior modification, protection training and physical conditioning for civilians and law enforcement personnel in the Bahamas.  

The organization also offers free demonstrations at schools, churches and community events to educate residents about working dogs. 

The Bahamian organization launched its own K-9 Invitational Obstacle Course Competition after drawing inspiration from the Space Coast Police K-9 Competition, organizers said. It has also developed other canine sporting events, including the Decoy Challenge, Obedience Tournament and K9 Run & Gun. 

The teams traveling from Nassau include K-9 Django, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois; K-9 Draco, a 3-year-old Doberman Pinscher; K-9 Soprano, a 4-year-old Dutch shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix; and K-9 Assassin, known as Ajay, a 1 1/2-year-old Belgian Malinois. 

"We're honored to welcome these teams from Nassau and grateful they chose to be part of this year's competition," representatives of the Space Coast Police K-9 Foundation said in a statement.  

"It's exciting to see the connections that have grown through the working dog community and to know that our event has inspired others to create opportunities for handlers and K-9s in their own communities." 

Now in its eighth year, the competition has become a gathering place for working dog teams from different backgrounds and disciplines. The event also supports the mission of the Space Coast Police K-9 Foundation, which provides training, equipment and other resources to law enforcement K-9 programs.