Ben Branch

Ben formerly served as Chief of Police for the City of Frontenac.  His first exposure to working police dogs came during his time at the Police Academy, when he had the chance to observe K9 officers from St. Louis Police training.  In 1987 he attended the St Louis Police K9 School himself and certified his first police dog.  The City of Frontenac purchased a police dog from trainer Bob Frisby in 2001.  This was Charly Ipel, a bi-color German Shepherd imported from Czechoslovakia, and the beginning of Ben's fascination with the dogs and their training.  One of Charly's pups, Velka Cerna Branch, was retained for breeding and is now a companion to Rob Wideman, one of Ben's partners in Lone Wolff K9.   Ben lost Charly in 2015 and now has a new stud, a dark sable Czech import named Dyson Benax, a certified Police K9.  Dyson is DM clear and OFA certified.   Ben is a past member of the National Police Canine Association, and has been a member of North American Police Work Dog Association since 2001.