IrondogK9 is a company committed to transforming ordinary Police and Military K9s into extraordinary, fearless "Irondogs".  We provide Law Enforcement, Military and Working Service K9 teams with cutting edge survival training, medical training/supplies and life saving equipment ensuring they both return safely to their families.   Not only supporting these teams through their careers, We also provide dignified end-of-life services to honor their service like Heros deserve

Paul Ludwig established IrondogK9, a 25 year veteran K9 police officer from Washington D.C., who almost lost his life during a shooting when a police K9 failed to engage.  His company's purpose is to provide K9 teams with survival training methods, adaptive deployment techniques and honing their critical thinking skills

Training techniques are derived ONLY from his experience and law enforcement/military instructors who have survived life-threatening encounters in real life 

In my experience as a police officer,  chaos disrupted the best trained tactics.  Unexpected variants can, will and have injured or killed officers.  You must train for the unexpected.  It's not only your life you are training for 

Adapt to every situation, think outside of the box and deploy your K9 with confidence

Current-2013

American Tactical K9 Association Conference Instructor

ATK9 Board of Directors (Current-2020)

 
K9 Trainer Orange County Sheriff's Office Virginia

 
K9 Trainer George Mason University Police (2020-2018)

 
K9 Seminar Instructor  Brisbane, Australia 2017 2018 2023 2024

K9 Seminar Instructor London, England September 2018

K9 Seminar Instructor Wrexham, Wales September 2018

 
K9 Seminar  Instructor  Mullingar, Ireland

2018

 
ARMY Fort AP Hill K9 Seminar Instructor

(Current-2014)

 
Traveled the US and multiple Countries as a K9 Seminar Instructor 

(Current-2013)

K-9 Handler 

Retired Jan 1, 2015 after serving 25 years for the Metro Police Department in Washington D.C.

11th place overall in the National USPCA PD1 canine trials in Punta Gorda, Florida with newly trained Malinois partner (Fall 2012) 

Trains and certifies canines through the USPCA (United States Police Canine Association) 

Trains and certifies multi-jurisdictional canine teams in Detector training (Narcotics, Explosive) 

Trained and Decoyed for the MTPD national team in the USPCA nationals held in New Orleans Louisianna

2011 Received Meritorious Service award for the K9 apprehension of a suspect wanted for Assault on a Police Officer in which the suspect disarmed the officer of his weapon and was in possession of two additional handguns 

"Officer of the Year "

2005 

for apprehensions of three armed suspects firing their weapons in an attempt to murder a police officer 

Received nominations and awarded “Officer of the Quarter”  in 2003 relating to multiple narcotics distribution cases

 
Received nominations and awarded “Officer of the Quarter” for the first quarter in 2003 relating to multiple narcotics distribution cases
 

Honored with the Meritorious Service Awards in 1991, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2011
 

 “Officer of the Year”

1993

for apprehending 4 armed robbery suspects who fled after 'pistol whipping"  and critically injuring a young couple. 

Received commendations from the A.T.F. for apprehending a burglary suspect and recovery of dozens of stolen handguns stashed in a neighborhood, next to an elementary school after a local gun store was burglarized.
 

Successfully completed the F.B.I. Post Blast School in 2002 

Certified as a CVSA (Lie Detector) Technician through Prince Georges County, MD
 

Successfully completed an explosive detection school and certified an explosive detection canine in December 2002 

Received commendations from the District of Columbia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office for apprehending three Attempted Murder/serial sexual assault suspects
 

Received commendations from Prince Georges County Police Department for utilizing my patrol canine to locate/recover a handgun which was used in the attempted murder of a Prince George's County Police Officer
 

Competed in the USPCA National trials held in Florida in 2000 and won fourth place police team in the Nation
 

Handled and certified 6 separate canines 3 GSD and 3 Belgian Malinois with national points through the USPCA (Patrol, Narcotics and Explosives) throughout my K9 career
 

Completed U.S. Park Police’s narcotics school in 2000 while successfully cross training my patrol canine for narcotics
 

Received several commendations while utilizing my patrol canine during Special Operations Assignments Robbery Squad, Auto Theft Unit, Pick Pocket Details and Narcotics Squad
 

Graduated “Top Dog” in Montgomery County with K-9 “Hutch” out of several competing police departments
 

Continue to make quality arrests for felony narcotics distribution cases and auto theft crimes

 
1999-1995
Motorcycle Officer 

Assigned to the Auto Theft Unit
 

Worked side by side with canine teams assigned to the Auto Theft Unit
 

Certified through the Maryland State Police Motorcycle Instructor School as a Police Motorcycle Instructor in which I graduated top of class
 

Maintained a high level of quality arrests involving felony vehicle thefts and narcotics distribution / possession
 

 Interrogations/Interviews

Obtained several written confessions which closed multiple cases for Forgery, Auto Theft, Robbery & Sexual Assault.
 

Four year competitor of the COG (Council of Governments Washington D.C.) Patrol Officers Competition in which I was awarded several individual and team trophies throughout the years including

 Overall award for “Top Cop” in 1999 

Subsequent awards 1995-1999 for 

"Top 3" in Firearms

"Top 3" in EVOC Driving

"Top 3" in Scenarios

1995-1992
Bicycle Officer
 

Maintained a high level of quality arrests involving narcotics distribution and robbery's
 

Honored as "Officer of the Quarter" in 1993
  

Training 

Honored as "Officer of the Year" for 1993
 

Honored with the Meritorious Service Award in 1994
1991-1992
Plain Clothes Officer / Narcotics Detail
 

Assigned to narcotics investigations
 

Graduated the DEA Drug Enforcement Agency School through Fairfax
County Police Department in March 1992
 

Gained experience with drug interdiction while working throughout the Tri-State area in a plain clothes capacity
 

Maintained a high level of quality arrests involving narcotics distribution and possession
 

Assisted several agencies with multi jurisdictional arrests involving interstate narcotics transporting
1989-1991 

Patrol Officer
 

Worked a variety of assignments including plain clothes details involving forgery uttering, and robbery/pickpocket details
 

Honored as "Officer of the Quarter" in 1991
 

Maintained a high level of quality arrests involving forgery/uttering and robbery/pickpocket
 

Current-1989
 

Certified USPCA Canine Trainer/Judge
 

District of Columbia COG SWAT K9 Integration Instructor
 

NVCJA (Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy) Certified Instructor
 

Drug Enforcement Agency School
 

Certified P.A.T.R.I.O.T (Anti Terrorism) Trainer
 

FBI Post Blast School 

CVSA Certified Technician
 

Assistant Trainer status PD-1 U.S. Park Police 2006
 

U.S. Park Police Patrol Dog Academy 2006
 

USPCA Certified Montgomery County Maryland Patrol Canine School
 

USPCA Certified MTPD Detector Canine School
 

U.S. Park Police Canine Narcotics School
 

Maryland State Police certified Police Motorcycle Instructor
 

NVCJA Motorcycle School
 

Metro Transit Police Motorcycle Training
 

 Metro Transit Police Bicycle School 

Metro Transit Forgery/Uttering Details 

Interests 

Completion of my first Ironman triathlon in Lake Placid, NY in 2008 was an achievement I am extremely proud of. I went back in 2014 and completed my second Ironman.  I completed my 3rd Ironman in July 2024 alongside with the added bonus of my family competing also.  (My Wife, Daughter, Son and Son in Law)  

I have continued to train and complete in various endurance races in my region in the past 25 years in the effort to maintain my physical fitness and strength required for this type of K9 training

I received the honor of "Maryland State Baseball Player of the year" in 1986.  I received the award from Arthur Ashe at the Touchdown Club in Washington DC.  With this honor, I also received multiple baseball scholarship offers to play college baseball and chose Oklahoma State University.

I have and will always maintain a high level of physical fitness throughout my life to meet the demands of these positions I have held. I consider myself emphatic, strong willed, decisive, and one who continues to enjoy a challenge 

I enjoyed my police career and continue to love working with canines and their handlers.  I continually strive to improve myself with life-long learning, and believe, "Drop the Ego!  It's what you learn after you know it all that counts”