PACKTRACK has always provided notifications about the status of your K9 training and deployment records. These alerts are shown in the bottom of the interface when something important happens. They’re displayed whether you’re on the main website or using the mobile app. We also send these messages by email. This keeps you in the loop about what’s happening even when you’re not using the system.

In this release we’ve extended this feature to include more notification types and to provide new configuration options so you can decide which notifications are sent to your email. These are the new notifications types:

1. Upcoming event. Get notified when future training events are created so you know your schedule. This includes events with either mandatory or opt-in attendance.
2. Exercise ready to complete. This notification is sent when an exercise is added to an event that you recently attended. The message suggests that you now complete the exercise and describe how your dog performed.
3. Exercise completion past due. If you haven’t yet completed an exercise that took place over 7 days ago then this notification will remind you that it needs to be done.
4. Exercise ready for comments. Trainers now have the option to be notified when a handler completes an exercise. This reminds the trainer to add comments and feedback to the training.

The user profile page now gives you the option of configuring which notification types will also send you an email. If you’re receiving too many email messages or finding that they’re not helpful then you can disable them.

We hope these improvements help you to stay up to date with what’s happening in your PACKTRACK account without being overloaded with emails. Let us know what you think.

We’re constantly updating PACKTRACK with new features, refinements and bug fixes. Much of this development is driven by your feedback. One comment we hear fairly often is that the interface can be too bright when viewed in a car laptop at night. Our latest release is aimed at fixing this situation by providing a light and dark mode view for your records.

Of course you can use this new dark mode anytime you want. Many people prefer looking at a dark screen in daily use as it can help reduce eye strain. You may also just like how it looks. Whatever your reasons, PACKTRACK makes it easy to customize your experience with the system.

The screenshot below shows the light and dark mode themes side by side.

All of the functionality remains exactly the same no matter which mode you prefer. It’s also available across all roles: handler, trainer and supervisor. Dark mode works great on phones too. It can even improve battery life (a little).

Using dark mode is completely optional but if you’d like to try it out then open your PACKTRACK Profile and edit the Details. Here you’ll see a toggle for switching between both themes. Change the theme setting, hit Save and see what you think.

If you’re using PACKTRACK on a computer then there’s a convenient shortcut for switching between light and dark modes right on the title bar.

Your selected view mode is saved with your account and will be remembered when you next login. Note that this feature doesn’t yet work in older PACKTRACK pages such as Groups and Custom Entries, though these pages will be updated soon. Also, report previews continue to show with a white background.

We hope this update makes your PACKTRACK experience just a little easier and provides some needed relief for tired eyes. Have comments on this change or any other area? We’d love to hear from you!

Trainers and supervisors provide important oversight in K9 record keeping. With our latest update these roles gain full access to the system through our mobile app. Read on for an overview of how the PACKTRACK phone app enables trainers and supervisors to manage the K9 record keeping process on the go. Handlers, trainers and supervisors can download the Android and iOS mobile apps anytime from the app stores.

Trainers

Trainers use PACKTRACK to create training groups as well as schedule events and exercises for handlers. They also provide data entry supervision and ensure that everyone completes their records in a timely manner. Just as important, trainers provide critical feedback on training. This includes personalized analysis of how the team performed in each exercise as well as comments on how the exercise was recorded.

The Records view allows trainers to add new training events. It also conveniently shows all past and future scheduled training in one place. The interface works the same as it does for handlers. Simply tap on the calendar to see any training for that date. Tap the plus button in the upper right to add new training.

Use the Manage view to see a list of the handlers that you’re training. From here you can invite new handlers, monitor record completion and view the Profile and Dogs page of each handler. Tap on any of the statistics (ex: 3 Late Records) to show more detail.

Regardless of whether they created the initial exercise, trainers can add comments when handlers complete an exercise. These notes become permanent additions to the handler’s training record.

Supervisors

Supervisors ensure managed handlers train and deploy effectively for the department. This role has additional supervisory options including paying for handler subscriptions and the ability to see detailed historical data entry activities. Supervisors have access to all training and deployment records created by each managed handler. They also have the ability to review and reject completed records. Lastly, supervisors can view active deployment tracking for any handler on a live map.

Supervisors use the Records view to get an overview of K9 training and deployment activity across the department. From here they can open records, create reports and approve or reject records. Convenient filters make it easy to focus on specific types of records or just those from a particular handler.

The Manage view provides access to handler details such as their record edit history and configuration options for their billing, profile and dogs. Convenient statistics link directly to the relevant training or deployment records with just a tap. Invite new handlers to be managed using the plus button in the upper right.

Open handler records by tapping on them in the Records view. From here K9 supervisors can review the training and deployment logs to ensure they meet requirements. Rejecting a record notifies the associated handler and includes the reason that the record requires updates.

Real time location tracking is available to all handlers. Supervisors can view any active deployment by tapping on the map icon in the deployment row of the Records Page. They can also view all active deployments on the same map.

Role Switching

Do you have multiple roles? Perhaps you’re a trainer who’s also a handler. Or maybe you use all 3 roles. It’s easy to switch between roles using the main menu in the upper left of your phone.

With this release we’ve also made switching roles more convenient. PACKTRACK now remembers which role you last used on each device. For example, if you prefer to add exercises as a trainer on your desktop but use your phone to complete the exercises as a handler then each device will allow you to use these different roles at the same time. It will also remember your role preference when you next login.

We hope these changes make your work just a little bit easier and more convenient. Remember: trainer and supervisor accounts are completely free. If you’re new to PACKTRACK then you can sign up for an account HERE. If you’d like to add one of these roles to your current account then just let us know and we’ll set you up. Otherwise, if you’re already a trainer or supervisor, grab the app and try logging in!

Today we’re introducing a new feature to give you more insight into how your records change over time. This release includes a new History page with a table showing each record modification and when it occurred.

You can open this page using the new History link in the left menu on desktop or in the mobile app. All of your record changes are shown in a table from newest to oldest in chronological order.

Use this page to get an overview of your activity in PACKTRACK and track when your records were added, modified or deleted. The table also includes a link to the changed record so you can conveniently open it in one click.

The same functionality is also available in the PACKTRACK mobile app for Android and iOS.

Supervisors can view the modification history of all supervised handlers using the new History link in the context menus of the Manage page.

Record integrity is core to PACKTRACK’s mission and we hope you find this feature helpful. Got a comment or feedback for us? Login to the PACKTRACK service and start a support chat or use the Contact Us form at the bottom of this page.

A record keeping system should make it easy to put data in and reward you with the ability to pull out great reports. Our latest update includes a more integrated reporting system that adds several new features. This new design brings all of the existing reporting functionality into one place. It also supports generating (and even printing!) reports right from your phone. In addition, you can create more advanced reports. For example, you can now create an exercise log report which only includes your tracking training exercises. Or generate a statistical summary report which only contains deployments from a specific requesting agency.

If you’re already familiar with reporting in PACKTRACK then some of this will be review.

What is a report?

A report takes information that you’ve entered into PACKTRACK and displays it in a readable format that’s easy to print or save as a PDF file. It might show a single record, such as a training exercise or deployment, or it could combine many records together in a long list or summarized view.

Where do I create reports?

The first thing you’ll notice is that all reports are now created in one place: the Records page. The old Reports page is no longer used. Click the context menu for one of the rows on your Records page to view a report for just that record. Click the new Create Report button to generate a report which combines multiple records together.

When you click the Create Report button you’ll see this dialog where you can configure your report. You’ll use this interface when you need to combine multiple records into one cohesive report.

What types of reports are available?

There are 2 main report categories: Full Record reports and Summary reports. A full record report includes all of the details about the included records including any attached images. The screenshot below shows part of a full record exercise report.

A summary report combines information from multiple records. For example, it might simply list the records or provide summary statistical information. The screenshot below shows the first part of a training summary report which collects information together from multiple records.

Feel free to read more about the different types of reports that you can create.

How do I set which records to use in the report?

PACKTRACK now allows you to specify exactly which records should be included in a report. The reporting dialog supports 2 modes of operation: Standard Reports and Custom Reports.

Standard reports use all of your records. In addition, the dialog allows you to specify the report type and a date range. This functionality work just like it always has.

There may be times, however, when you want to use only a subset of your records in a report. For example, you might want a log report which lists all of your obedience exercises. Or, perhaps you need a report with statistics on every deployment where there was an arrest. In this case you’ll need to create a custom report, which requires that you run a search on the Records page first. This feature is new and gives you more control of your reports. Learn more about custom reports.

Can I run reports from my phone?

As of this release, reports also work great on the PACKTRACK mobile app. While it can be difficult to see reports on a small phone screen you can still save them or even print directly from your phone (if it supports this feature).

How do I run really large reports?

Some reports take a long time to generate. This is most common when trying to print the entire training history of a dog using the Exercise report type (which includes all record data). When reports are expected to take a long time to generate PACKTRACK will disable the View option in the reports dialog. In this case, you should click the Download button instead.

You will be notified when the report is ready by email and with a notification in the website or mobile app. You can then click the included link to download the report.

I have more questions

Feel free to review our knowledge base for more information. Here are some additional links to reporting help topics.

• What types of reports can I create? (includes samples)
• How do I create a report for just one record?
• How do I create a report that includes multiple records?
• How do I create a customized report that includes only the records I specify?
• How do I create a report for court with my dog’s entire exercise history?

We’ve reworked how exercise changes are handled to make records more robust, yet easier to modify.

How K9 Training Records Work

In PACKTRACK, exercises consist of 2 parts:

1. The exercise Details describe what will be done in the training. All handlers with dogs at the training event share the same exercise details. This saves time and reduces errors.
2. The Dog Completion is added when the exercise is over. This is where you describe how each of your dogs performed in that exercise. This information is specific to you and isn’t shared with other handlers.

Sometimes, the shared exercise Details need to be updated after handlers have already recorded how their dogs did in that exercise. This creates a problem since changing the exercise can impact the correctness of the dog completion record. For example, an exercise might define a drug detection activity with 0.1 grams of cocaine. A handler at this event completes the exercise by describing how his dog performed. He explicitly mentions the 0.1 grams in his narrative. If the exercise details are later updated to reflect the actual amount of cocaine (say 0.02 grams) then the handler’s completion record may no longer be accurate.

In the past, PACKTRACK hasn’t allowed changes to the exercise details if there are handlers who have completed it. This ensures that handler records aren’t modified or invalidated without their knowledge. Updating the exercise details required that you ask the handlers to first delete their completion records since they were written based on an outdated exercise description. That can be quite a hassle, especially if you’re only making a small change to the exercise details.

The New “Outdated Record” System

With this latest update, changing exercise details after handlers have completed the exercise is much simpler. A trainer or group leader can now modify the exercise details at any time. If a handler has completed the exercise then they will receive an email and site notification explaining that their completion record is now “outdated” and needs to be verified.

Clicking on an outdated exercise takes you to the completion record where the exercise detail changes are explained. You can now make updates to your completion based on the exercise changes or simply click Save to acknowledge and accept the modification. If there’s a problem with the exercise detail changes then the handler should not resave their completion record and instead discuss the exercise modifications with the person making the update.

Maintaining robust records that you can trust is core to PACKTRACK’s mission. This feature was targeted at making record modification easier without sacrificing record integrity. We thank you for your comments and feedback which ultimately led us to develop this functionality. Let us know what you think.

PACKTRACK has always provided a dedicated interface for police K9 trainers. With our latest release we’ve updated the Trainer UI to the newer design currently used for the handler and supervisor roles. Now all 3 roles share the same Records page layout with an intuitive calendar and record list view.

Trainers often work with a group of K9 handlers and are responsible for creating and scheduling appropriate training exercises. To create a new training event just use the +Record button at the top right of the Records page. The search bar provides convenient record filtering capabilities. Click the search icon on the far right to expand the form for more filtering options. Click any date on the calendar to filter the record list to the selected day. Click a record row to open the K9 training event or exercise for editing.

A K9 trainer may also add feedback when handlers complete an exercise record. To do this, simply click on the record row, select the exercise and handler in the left pane and then click the Trainer Comments button in the upper right. Comments are automatically appended to the handler record and will appear in printed reports. Handlers are notified within PACKTRACK and by email when trainers add comments to their exercises.

The new Manage page allows trainers to see an overview of each K9 handler’s training activity. Convenient stats link directly to the associated data on the Records page. Click any of the numbers for more detail on a specific handler. The Training By Month graph makes it easy to see which handlers are training at least 16 hours each month (green bar). Click the icon with 3 dots on the far right of each row to open a context menu with additional options. Finally, you can invite more handlers to your trainer group using the +Member button in the upper right of the page.

We hope these changes make it a little easier for trainers to create training events, provide handler feedback and monitor training activity. Log in at mypacktrack.com, give it a try and please let us know your thoughts on this update. We’d love to hear from you.

We’re continuing to update PACKTRACK to a modern, easier to use design. We now have K9 training class support in the Records page as well as a new handler profile page that works on the web and in the mobile app.

Training Classes

Create a training class record any time you want to document classroom work (which typically takes place indoors without your dog). This new record type is displayed on the records page just like any other police K9 record you may have for training or deployment activities.

Click on a training class record row to open the record in the editor. From here you can view and edit any details. Classroom records support the new PACKTRACK record review system so supervisors can accept or reject records and the handler will be notified. Training class records are also a great place to store any K9 training documents you might have received at the class.

User Profile Page

The updated profile page is available on the web and in the mobile app. It provides a cleaner interface and additional statistical information including your total training hours and number of deployments. It’s available for handlers (web and mobile app), trainers (web) and supervisors (web).

The new profile page borrows a feature from the Dogs page: you can organize all of your K9 record keeping documents into categories. Drag and drop files from your computer or select them from your phone. You can even rename files and move them between categories by dragging.

By the way, did you know that PACKTRACK has mobile apps for Android and iOS/iPhone? Download them anytime from the mobile app stores.

We hope these new updates improve your PACKTRACK experience. Got questions? Let us know.

As a K9 supervisor you have a lot to manage. PACKTRACK has always provided a dedicated supervisor role to assist you in overseeing the training and deployments of your K9 teams. Our latest update significantly extends this functionality with a new interface, more features and a new record review system.

The most obvious change is that supervisors now see the same modern PACKTRACK interface that handlers have been using. This includes an expandable search bar at the top of the page, an intuitive calendar view summarizing the activities of all of your K9 teams and a detailed record list sorted into date groups.

Key information is right at the top of the page. Click the Late Records banner to show any records that your handlers should have completed by now. Click the Not Reviewed banner to find all records that have been completed by your handlers but still need to be reviewed. Finally, select the Live Tracks banner to see all active tracking deployments as well as any that have occurred in the last 3 days.

You can view the deployment track for any of your handlers in a fully interactive map by clicking the View Tracking Map button on the associated record row.

The same familiar Search Bar used by handlers is now available for supervisors as well. Filter the displayed records by type or handler using the dropdown fields or select one of your own custom Saved Searches. Expand the search form using the icon on the right to run a detailed record search. You can save any search to be used later by clicking the Save Search button.

All activities performed by your handlers are overlaid in the calendar. Simply click a date and all training and deployments for that day will show below. Circle icons in the calendar show training while stars are deployments. An outlined icon means there are incomplete records on that date.

The records list summarizes each record as a row and the Completion and Reviewed status of each record are clearly marked. Click anywhere on a training or deployment row to open a detail view.

Reviewing records is fast and intuitive. Once a record is open just select an appropriate exercise, handler and dog and then click the Reviewed icon in the top right. Reviewing deployments works the same way.

When rejecting records you’ll need to enter a rejection reason. The associated handler will get a notification within PACKTRACK and by email that their record was rejected, along with the reason. Once they update and resave the record you’ll be able to review it again.

The new member management page provides a simple summary of each of your handler’s activities. Invite or signup new members using the +Member button in the upper right. Use the Handlers table to review and compare performance. You can click on a column header such as Training Hours or Total Deployments to sort the table the way you want. Clicking on a handler’s name or one of their statistics will open the Records page filtered to show those records. Lastly, the bar charts in this table offer a snapshot of training and deployment activity for each handler by month. This makes it easy to spot issues with things like training consistency. Green bars in the Training By Month column show months where the handler has trained for 16 or more hours.

We hope these updates help make your supervisory work just a little bit easier. Find a bug or have a suggestion to improve PACKTRACK? Let us know!