2023 WCCC Champion Justin Wolfshlag and K-9 Suzi photographed during the advance odor validation event.
2023 WCCC Champion Justin Wolfshlag and K-9 Suzi photographed during the advanced odor validation event.

Federal law enforcement agencies competed in the 2023 Windy City Canine Challenge (WCCC) that held a portion of its planned events at SeatGeek Stadium on Monday, September 11. The competition was supposed to be held outdoors around the stadium, but due to heavy rain the obstacle courses were successfully moved into the Bridgeview Dome. The following events were held at SeatGeek Stadium: Handler Knowledge Assessment, Advanced K9 Agility Course, Advanced Obedience, Advanced Odor Validation, and Advanced K9 First-Aid.

Teams competed at other Chicagoland locations throughout the week, and the competition came to a conclusion on Friday September 15th at the O’Hare International Airport where Justin Wolfshlag and K-9 Suzi from Chicago (Midway) were awarded first place.

The Windy City Canine Challenge, founded in 2020 by Sean Shiplett, a Canine Training Instructor based out of Chicago, provides a comprehensive competition testing the various skills of handlers and their canine partners. The goal of the WCCC is to encourage canine teams to sharpen their skills, to provide valuable training experiences in real world settings, and to provide networking opportunities for law enforcement officials.

Certified Veterinary Technician Anjali Antani demonstrates checking K-9 vitals inside an ambulance.
Certified Veterinary Technician Anjali Antani demonstrates checking K-9 vitals inside an ambulance.