Behavior Fundamentals

This presentation defines the five fundamentals of animal training: stimuli, reinforcement, aversives, extinction, and generalization.

Thursday
,
Aug 28, 2025
5:00 pm
-
7:00 pm
Instructor(s):
Lily Strassberg
View full class scheduleRegister for HITS 2026
Lily Strassberg presenting Behavior Fundamentals at HITS.
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Class overview

This presentation defines the five fundamentals of animal training: stimuli, reinforcement, aversives, extinction, and generalization. It also covers a simple way to understand classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and marker signals. 

This session explains:

  • a simple way to understand classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and marker signals.
  • This presentation defines the five fundamentals of animal training: stimuli, reinforcement, aversives, extinction, and generalization.
  • It also covers a simple way to understand classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and marker signals.
Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.
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About the instructor

Lily Strassberg

Lily is a trainer at Grassroots K9 where she raises and develops started malinois and labradors for single and dual purpose work for police departments in the US and Canada, and trains pet obedience in a board and train format. Previously, Lily worked for Ford K9, raising and training narcotic, firearm, explosive, and bed bug detection dogs and handlers, and at the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF), puppy raising and assisting in the training of live find and human remains disaster search dogs. While at SDF, she also managed the Fit to Work conditioning program for the dogs in training.

Lily received her masters in Cognitive and Behavioral Science from Auburn University. She holds two bachelor of science degrees in Animal Behavior and Psychology with a Neuroscience focus. Lily has worked in Duke’s Canine Cognition and Auburn’s Comparative Cognition laboratories conducting assessments on populations of explosive detection dogs at a variety of ages to examine predictive profiles of performance. Lily has interned with Simon Prins in the Netherlands, Mike Nezbeth in Canada, and teaches canine cognition and detection fundamentals seminars in the US, Canada, and Europe.

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What past attendees say

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Go to HITS. It's a great class. Great conference. This is the third one that I've been to. I try and go every time. They change up the classes. It's offered for detection and apprehension or patrol canines. All the classes are great. You should definitely check it out. I'm going to try and come back next year.

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Greg Edlund
Broward Sheriff Office

Hi, this is Brian Laas. I'm from Arvada, Colorado. This is about my second or third time with HITS, and I've enjoyed it greatly. I like the vast amount of instructors' backgrounds, so even though I've come once or twice before, I'm always gaining a lot of knowledge. This is a great seminar for both the new and the old handlers. I think you can't go wrong coming here. It's a good time and well-spent money for your department.

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Brian Laas
Arvada Police Department

Hi, my name is Neil with U.S. Park Police. This is the first time I ever attend HITS and it's great training. A lot of different courses that definitely benefit my career. I've been a handler for 14 years now. I'm still learning and I recommend people to come down here and learn something.

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Neil
US Park Police

Been to hits a couple times, keeps getting better every time. This year it's been amazing, a lot of people, a lot of great classes, great camaraderie between all the agencies here. It's a good time, I highly recommend it.

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Unknown Attendee

Hi, Mark with BCBK9 here at HITS 2017, lets you know what a success it was. Tons of handlers, tons of great classes. We're really glad that we drove all the way out from Missouri and we're looking forward to 2018 being in DC and we hope to see you all there.

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Mark
BCB K9

Yeah, this is my first time it hits. It was a great time. Actually, I've been to a lot of conferences before. This is definitely the best.

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Attendee
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Secure your seat at HITS 2026

Legal defensibility is not theoretical. It is tested in court.

This class helps handlers and agencies prepare before that moment arrives.

Register for HITS 2026
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Explore other HITS classes

The Drug Canine Legal Update is one part of a broader HITS program designed to strengthen deployment judgment, detection reliability, and operational decision-making in the field. Additional sessions expand that learning across tracking, behavior, detection science, and tactical leadership.

View full class schedule
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