Pfannenstiel, Zach

Zach Pfannenstiel brings over 18 years of law enforcement experience, with more than 12 years dedicated to police canine operations as a handler, trainer, and program manager. He currently serves as a Police Lieutenant, where he is assigned to and oversees critical operations including barricaded suspects, high-risk vehicle stops, canine area and building searches, and other SWAT callouts.

Zach manages one of the largest canine programs in the region, consisting of more than 40 working teams, and developed a specialized Field Training Officer (FTO) program for K9 handlers. He is a recognized, court-certified expert in animal behavior, police canine handling, and use of force, and has provided expert testimony in state legislative hearings on police tactics at the California State Capitol.

In addition to his leadership role, Zach runs comprehensive canine academies and specialized training programs nationwide. His instruction covers e-collar integration, tactical tracking, decoy development schools, and SWAT/K9 integration, preparing teams for high-risk, real-world deployments.

As the CEO of Echelon K9, Zach oversees all operations related to training law enforcement and military canine teams. He travels across the country delivering seminars to police departments and military units, sharing his expertise in canine deployment, tactical operations, and program management to raise operational standards and reduce liability in the field.

Class: Engagement Unleashed: Fixing Hesitation and Drive Issues in Patrol Dogs

This class is a high-impact, solutions-focused course designed to tackle one of the most frustrating problems in modern K9 deployments, dogs that hesitate or lack clarity in real-world engagements. This course dives into practical strategies to identify and correct drive deficiencies, build engagement confidence, and reinforce decision-making under pressure. This class will utilize body-worn camera (BWC) footage to analyze real K9 deployments, allowing attendees to break down and troubleshoot engagement issues with a focus on improving clarity, commitment, and decision-making in the dog.