Smarter K9 Training Records

Smarter K9 Training Records

Welcome to another PACKTRACK release. It's a big one! This update includes significant refinements to the way PACKTRACK works and new interface changes aimed at making the service easier to use.

New Dog Settings Interface

We're in the process of updating the PACKTRACK interface, step by step, to improve the experience for everyone. In this release we've introduced a modernized Dogs page with more features and a layout that adapts across all devices - from phones to desktop computers. Dogs are now listed on summary "cards" which provide a clear overview of their configuration and a summary of their training and deployment activity. The card view is interactive and has options for changing the dog image, viewing documents or editing dog details. The menu button (3 horizontal dots) in the upper right of each dog card shows a drop-down menu with additional options.

New PACKTRACK Dogs Page

Choosing to Add or Edit a dog shows a panel on the right side of the page. There are 3 options in the upper left of this panel for managing your dog's information: Edit Details, Edit Photo and Manage Documents. Feel free to explore some of the new functionality. For example, the Edit Details option shows new dog configuration fields including settings for your dog's Patrol Types and Detection Odor Types. Information on how these new dog type settings are used is covered in the sections below. The Edit Photo screen now supports drag and drop and provides additional image editing options like zoom and rotation. Managing documents for your dogs is easier than ever. In addition to supporting drag and drop to upload new files, you can now rename your files and organize them into categories. If you have questions about how these new screens work then check out the instructions shown in the bottom left.

Edit K9 Photo Screen

Ignore Exercises That Aren't Applicable To Your K9

When training at a group event, there may be exercises that don't apply to your dog. For example, the event might include a detection exercise but you have a patrol dog. Or perhaps there's a patrol tracking exercise but your patrol dog doesn't track. In the past, you would need to complete all exercises at an event for each of your dogs in PACKTRACK. For each exercise that doesn't apply to a specific dog you would select the option "Did Not Perform - Not Applicable to Dog". With this release we're introducing K9 type attributes. These new settings allow you to specify the types of exercises that apply to your dog. All other exercise types will be automatically ignored.

Configure your K9's attributes

When you first log in after this update you'll be asked to review your dog configuration. From the new Dogs page, click the Edit icon for each of your dogs to open the editor interface. Choose the Edit Details option and scroll down in the right pane to select any Patrol Types and Detection Odor Types that apply. Only exercises of the types that you select will be visible for completion by this dog in the future. However, changes to these settings will not affect the applicability of past exercises. These changes affect patrol and detection dogs. For example, if a patrol dog only has the Obedience and Apprehension patrol types selected then they will not have the option to complete a future patrol Tracking exercise or any detection exercises. This applies to exercise target odors for detection dogs as well. For example, if a detection dog only has the Drugs odor type selected then they will not have to complete exercises at future events which only contain Explosive type target odors. They also won't have to complete any patrol exercises. If you want your dog to complete all exercise types at every event then feel free to select all of the patrol and detection odor types for each of your dogs. Once all of your dog's types are set, PACKTRACK will only require you to complete a training record for the specific dogs that match the exercise type. If you have no dogs that match an exercise type then the exercise will show in the list with a new icon indicating that the exercise doesn't apply. In the example below, a handler with a patrol tracking dog does not have to complete the detection exercise from the same event.

Example where K9 exercise does not apply

Automatically Categorize Odors As Target Or Proofing

When creating a detection exercise, PACKTRACK enables you to specify target odors (drugs, currency, explosives, etc.) as well as any proofing odors (typically packaging or distractor odors such as cardboard, plastic wrap, paper, etc.) that may be used. Your dog should alert to the target odors and ignore the proofing odors. This works great if all of the dogs at an event are of the same detection odor type. However, if different detection dog types, such as a drug dog and a currency dog, are in an exercise that uses both drug and currency odors then things get more complicated. In this case, we want the drug dog to use drugs as the target odor and currency as the proofing odor. The currency dog would use currency as the target odor and drugs as the proofing odor. In the past, adding this type of training required you to create 2 separate exercise records in PACKTRACK - one for each dog. Each exercise would specify different target and proofing odors. With this release we've made the process much simpler. Now you only have to create one exercise no matter how many different detection dogs may attend the event. PACKTRACK will automatically categorize each odor in the exercise as target or proofing based on your dog's detection odor type configuration. In the screenshots below, two K9s completed the same drug detection exercise. However, the drug odor was categorized as a target odor for drug dog 'Max' (top screenshot) and a proofing odor for currency dog 'Gore' (bottom screenshot).

K9 Detection Odor Categorization

How does this work in practice? For simple exercises nothing should change. Record your target odors in the exercise and you're set. If you're running an exercise that only contains proofing odors then make sure to set the Blank / Controlled Negative checkbox when you create the exercise. This ensures that all detection dogs have to complete it. If the exercise contains both target and proofing odors or there are different types of detection dogs at the event then these changes should make things easier for you. As in the past, when creating the exercise you should explicitly specify the proofing odors which you want all detection dogs to ignore (towels, cardboard, etc.). Next, enter all of the odors that will be target odors for at least some of the dogs. That's it - PACKTRACK should take care of categorizing the odors as target or proofing for each of your dogs based on their attributes. For example, you might add drug and currency odors to an exercise. Now, when a drug dog completes this exercise they will have the drug odor categorized as the target and the currency odor categorized as proofing. A currency dog completing the same exercise will have the currency odor categorized as the target and the drug odor categorized as proofing. Of course, both dogs will continue to see any explicitly added proofing odors (dog toy, cardboard, etc.) categorized as proofing. Information about how the exercise odors are categorized is displayed when you complete your training record to help you write an accurate narrative (see previous screenshots). The odor category is also shown in your exercise report. The report screenshot below shows that drugs were categorized as a proofing odor for currency dog 'Gore'.

K9 Training Report With Proofing Odor

Conclusion

We're really excited about this update. The new Dogs interface extends the design which started earlier this year with a modernized site layout and interactive handler home page. We're eager to migrate other areas of PACKTRACK to this new design over the coming months to enable new features and make the system easier to use. The new dog type settings are aimed at making the system smarter and more automated. With this change we expect there will be fewer occasions where you'll need to complete a training record by specifying that the exercise didn't apply to your dog. Meanwhile, automatic odor categorization streamlines how exercises are created for detection dogs. All dogs completing the same exercise will have odors categorized as target or proofing automatically based on their detection odor settings. Let us know what you think of these changes. We'd love to hear from you.

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Updates to Streamline Your Records

We’re always working to make PACKTRACK faster and more user-friendly for handlers, trainers, and supervisors. Today, we’re excited to highlight several new improvements designed to save you time and improve communication across your team.

We’re always working to make PACKTRACK faster and more user-friendly for handlers, trainers, and supervisors. Today, we’re excited to highlight several new improvements designed to save you time and improve communication across your team.

Attach Documents to Events and Exercises

You’ve always been able to upload documents to individual exercise completions — but now you can include them directly in Events and Exercise definitions as well. This update gives handlers and trainers more flexibility to provide supplemental materials such as training outlines, reference documents, maps, diagrams, etc. Adding documents at the event or exercise level ensures everyone starts with the same information and supports more consistent, well-documented training.

Add files to event and exercise K9 records

Faster Data Entry with Autocomplete Locations

Recording where an event or deployment occurred is now even faster. PACKTRACK’s training and deployment forms now include Google-powered location autocomplete. Just start typing a name or address and nearby matching suggestions will appear. Select the correct option, and PACKTRACK will automatically fill in the relevant location fields for you. This means less typing, fewer mistakes and more accurate location data.

Location autocomplete

Supervisor Notifications for Completed Records

Supervisors can now choose to receive notifications whenever a handler they oversee completes a training or deployment record. This gives them a heads-up to review the new records. Notifications are sent by email as well as within PACKTRACK, keeping supervisors informed without requiring constant manual review. Supervisors can configure their preferences in the Notifications section of their Profile page, choosing whether to receive training record completion alerts, deployment record completion alerts or both. Note that these alerts are off by default. This feature enhances accountability and ensures important activity never gets overlooked.

K9 supervisor notifications

Cleaner, More Modern Email Styling

PACKTRACK emails just got a major upgrade. All system emails are now sent using clean, modern looking HTML formatting — with improved colors, visual hierarchy, and clear action buttons. These updates make PACKTRACK emails easier to read and quicker to act on, whether you're on your phone or desktop.

Html email for police K9 notifications

Share the News About Group Billing

As of a couple months ago, your supervisor or administrator can use the new Group Billing feature to pay for all department subscriptions at the same time in one invoice. We now make it easy to share this feature with others. Visit your Billing page, click the Share button and then enter the email address of anyone in your department that should know about this. They'll get an email with a link to our Group Billing help article.

Share group billing with your administrator

These features are part of our ongoing effort to make PACKTRACK the most intuitive K9 record-keeping platform available. As always, we welcome your feedback and look forward to sharing even more updates soon. If you haven’t explored these new features yet, log in and give them a try!

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Group Subscriptions

Managing multiple K9 handler subscriptions just got a whole lot easier. We’re excited to announce our newest feature - Group Subscriptions - designed to give department billing managers complete control over their team’s subscriptions, all under a single account.

Managing multiple K9 handler subscriptions just got a whole lot easier. We’re excited to announce our newest feature - Group Subscriptions - designed to give department billing managers complete control over their team’s subscriptions, all under a single account.

One Invoice, One Account, Total Control

With Group subscriptions, billing managers can now pay for and manage the subscriptions of multiple K9 handlers together. No more juggling individual invoices or tracking down renewals across separate accounts. Everything is streamlined into one centralized billing dashboard. Managing your team’s subscriptions is simple and flexible. First, invite the handlers in your department to join your group subscription. Next, purchase a license with the desired number of seats. That's it! If handlers join or leave the department, you can easily add, remove, or reassign seats at any time.

Why It Matters

For agencies with multiple K9 handlers, managing subscriptions individually can be time-consuming and confusing. Group subscriptions eliminates that friction, offering:

  • Simplified billing – One invoice covers your entire team.
  • Flexible management – Add or remove handlers as your team changes.
  • Better oversight – Track your active users and seat usage in one place.

Step by Step Guide

Step 1: Get the Billing Manager role

To access the group subscription feature you need to use the new Billing Manager role. A billing manager can be a handler, supervisor or administrator that's responsible for ensuring that everyone in the department has an up to date subscription. Only one person needs to do this for the department. You may select this role at

registration or, if you're currently a supervisor, then you can add the Billing Manager role from your Profile page. You may also ask for the role to be added to your account using our support chat.

Enable the billing manager role

Step 2: Choose handlers to be managed

Switch to the Billing Manager role and choose the Billing tab. Here, you'll add the handlers that you want to include in your group subscription. Note that your invitations are queued in the Pending list and will be sent later. The goal is simply to identify the handlers that you want to be covered.

Add K9 handlers to group subscription

Use the Add Handler option in the Manage menu to provide the email address for each handler. If you already supervise handlers then they can be added by clicking the plus button next to their name in the Supervised Handlers list. If you add a handler that isn't a PACKTRACK member then they will receive an email asking them to sign up. This is a great way to onboard the handlers in your department with the PACKTRACK service. When they complete the registration they'll automatically be queued in the Pending list to be included in this group subscription.

Pending handlers in group subscription

Step 3: Purchase a group subscription

Now that you've identified the handlers that you want to include, you're ready to configure the group subscription. Click the Add Subscription option in the Manage drop down menu to open the billing editor. Adjust the department name and email address if desired, choose the desired payment type (invoice or credit card) and then enter the number of seats that you'd like to purchase. You also have the option of setting a specific billing date. If you want to be billed every year on January 1st then you'd enter that date here.

Create group subscription
Save group subscription

Once you purchase your subscription, the Billing page will update. Pending handlers will occupy the newly available seats and be invited to have their subscription paid for by the billing manager.

K9 handlers occupy seats

Handlers accept the invite and join the group subscription. Their previous subscription is cancelled. If there is paid time left on the handler's previous subscription then the unused portion will be credited to the billing manager's group subscription.

Handlers accept group subscription invite

The billing manager receives an invoice based on the number of purchased seats. All handlers who occupy seats are listed on the invoice. This reflects the handlers assigned to this group subscription at the time that it was created. Future changes to the list of handlers will be shown on the invoice which is due at your next billing date.

Group subscription invoice

Step 4: Make changes later

What happens if things change? Perhaps you need to swap out one handler for another or add/remove seats before the next billing date. You can remove assigned handlers using the trash can icon next to their names. Add new ones using the Add Handler option in the Manage drop down menu or select them from the Supervised Handlers list. If you need to adjust the seat count then use the Edit Subscription option in the Manage drop down menu and adjust the Seat Count field up or down. Increasing the count will result in a prorated charge based on the amount of time remaining in your subscription. Decreasing the count will lower the subscription cost shown on your next yearly invoice.

Modify group subscription

Group subscriptions are all about making life easier for K9 teams and their departments — freeing up more time for what really matters: supporting the dogs and handlers who keep our communities safe. We encourage departments of all sizes to use the group subscription feature to simplify billing. Consider forwarding this page to your department administrator to let them know about this feature. We're constantly updating and improving the PACKTRACK experience and we'd love to hear your feedback.

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Single Sign-On Is Here!

The new Sign in with Microsoft feature provides a simple and secure way to sign into PACKTRACK using your Microsoft work account. Note that this feature won't work if you try to sign in using a personal Microsoft account. Instead, select this login option if your department uses single sign-on (SSO) through Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Active Directory). Once configured, you'll be able to login to PACKTRACK using your department email address. This makes logging in easier but it also increases security. This feature works in both the web browser and in the PACKTRACK app (v5.2.0 or above). You must have an active PACKTRACK account. Note that if your department uses SAML technology for single sign-on then that isn't yet supported. Reach out to your IT department to confirm this feature is right for you. They can help you get set up.

Single Sign-on (SSO) blog post

The new Sign in with Microsoft feature provides a simple and secure way to sign into PACKTRACK using your Microsoft work account. Note that this feature won't work if you try to sign in using a personal Microsoft account. Instead, select this login option if your department uses single sign-on (SSO) through Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Active Directory). Once configured, you'll be able to login to PACKTRACK using your department email address. This makes logging in easier but it also increases security. This feature works in both the web browser and in the PACKTRACK app (v5.2.0 or above). You must have an active PACKTRACK account. Note that if your department uses SAML technology for single sign-on then that isn't yet supported. Reach out to your IT department to confirm this feature is right for you. They can help you get set up.

Connect Your Microsoft Account

1. Click the Sign in with Microsoft button.

PACKTRACK login page

2. Enter your department email and then wait to get redirected to your department login. Once there, type in the department email address and password associated with your Microsoft account or select it from the list. You may also have to verify yourself using 2 factor authentication.

Microsoft sign-in dialog
Microsoft redirect dialog
Microsoft login dialog

3. Click Accept on the permission screen to allow PACKTRACK to use your Microsoft account credentials to log in.

Microsoft account permissions dialog

4. You should now be back at the login page and see a note asking you to link your PACKTRACK account. If you don't see this then try reloading the page. Type in your PACKTRACK email address and password.

PACKTRACK login to link account

5. You're all set. The next time you press the Sign in with Microsoft button you'll just need to enter your department credentials. As an alternative, you can also configure Single Sign-On after you're logged in. Simply visit the Microsoft Account option in your Profile page and click the Connect Microsoft Account button.

Disconnect Your Microsoft Account

If you connected the wrong account or just want to remove your Microsoft account from PACKTRACK then use the disconnect option. Click the Profile link in the main menu then select the Microsoft Account option. This will open the editor as shown below. Click the Disconnect Microsoft Account button.

Disconnect your Microsoft account from PACKTRACK

Technical Note (For Entra ID administrators only)

In some situations it may be desirable to approve the PACKTRACK app for SSO across all users of your department. This can be especially helpful if there are restrictions on who can add service principals to your Entra ID configuration. Admins that are authorized to consent on behalf of the department can use

THIS LINK to grant tenant-wide admin consent to the PACKTRACK application. Learn More about how this works. When this is complete, the PACKTRACK service principal is added to your Enterprise Applications list in Entra ID. This allows all department users to access the application without explicitly providing consent. Note, however, that they must still link their department credentials to PACKTRACK the first time that they use SSO.