We think that you will see that Mountain is a teacher at heart and a wealth of knowledge. ENJOY!Mountain was born in Rio de Janeiro Brazil in 1985 and immigrated to the US when he was 4. His younger years were spent in Florida and eventually moved to Vermont his 8th grade year. Upon graduating, he took an athletic scholarship to compete in track and field at Lynchburg college, in Virginia. He did 2 years of premed before feeling a need to take break from his studies. Mountain enlisted in the marine corps in 2005 and served until almost 2016. He did 5 tours, 4 conducting combat operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Oman, and other various places around the HOA(horn of Africa) and the Middle East. On his 4th deployment (1st to Afghan) he was part of the TEDD program, and where he got his start with dogs. On his second deployment to Afghanistan he conducted operational planning for the AO and the utilization of special assists, one of which were the labs. Mountain finished his time in Quantico Va as a foreign weapons instructor, teaching DOS, DEA, FBI, SEALs, and MARSOC operators how to utilize and implement a host of foreign weapons. Upon his final promotion, he became the rifle program manager for the Marine Corps. Immediately after his EAS, he dove head first back into dogs. He mentored and studied under some not so great guys, and some great ones. He spent the next few years traveling around the country and attending every class and seminar he could. He eventually started working contracts as an explosives detection handler, and soon after training EDD’s for the company, and eventually working a pilot program for the DoD for US Special Operations. It was an advanced Mountain K9 course. In the constant pursuit of knowledge, and chasing his passion for dogs, today Mountain finds himself instructing for Spikes K9’s “Spikes School.”  He provides tracking courses for agencies around the country, at no cost to the departments.  He assists his good friend Armin Winkler with the conduct of handler courses and education for different Tier 1 and 2 assets from the US and abroad.  He was an assistant instructor at this year's ATK9 conference and gave lectures at HITS, ranging from behavioral science applied in training, laser directionals, and special operations tactical K9 integration. Currently Mountain lives in Virginia with his amazing wife Ashley, and 3 children: Elijah, Jack, and Tuesday. They’re expecting their fourth at the end of the month! Mountain owns and operates Para Bellum K9, which offers education and assistance to units around the country for LEO and Military K9’s. He is a certifying judge for American Working Dogs, and was a speaker at this year’s HITS conference and assisted the Decoy training at ATK9. We are pleased to have Hold The Line K9 Conference htlk9.com as a sponsor of the The Working Dog Depot Podcast. Joe Lutkowski and his staff are currently securing vendors and presenters for the 2024 conference. The Hold The Line K9 Conference will be in a brand new location. The dates and location are April 9, 10, and 11 in Myrtle Beach South Carolina. There's nothing finer than to be in Carolina in the Spring time. Additional information will be forthcoming. www.htlk9.com Please welcome our newest sponsor Ray Allen Manufacturing. Go to the most trusted name in industry for all of your k9 related equipment. For a 10% discount use the WDD10 discount code. We are taking reservations for the Pro Series. If you want Rich and Howard to come to your location we can make it happen. They have come together to provide workshops on any K9 related topic you like. Open to law enforcement and civilian attendees. Contact Howard at hjyk91@gmail.com or 704-473-9885.