Building a Training Aid "Tool Box" for Fentanyl (and other Emerging Drug Threats)

The K9 community has been focused on Fentanyl detection for a long time but has limited training aid options. But what is the most appropriate training aid for Fentanyl, and how is odor availability affected by purity, age, cutting agents.

Tuesday
,
Aug 26, 2025
2:30 pm
-
4:30 pm
Instructor(s):
Jonathan McGrath, PhD
View full class scheduleRegister for HITS 2026
Jonathan McGrath presenting Building a Training Aid "Tool Box" for Fentanyl (and other Emerging Drug Threats) at HITS.
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Class overview

The K9 community has been focused on Fentanyl detection for a long time but has limited training aid options. But what is the most appropriate training aid for Fentanyl, and how is odor availability affected by purity, age, cutting agents, and clandestine “cooking” methods? This class will discuss the lessons-learned from U.S. Customs and Border Protection advancements for K9 Fentanyl detection strategies and provide ideas for both training and operations.
 
While CBP first trained K9s on Fentanyl in 2017, CBP’s Laboratories and K9 Academy and Operations programs collaborated over the last several years to develop the most representative training aid materials for fentanyl detection and verify their effectiveness in K9 trials, to include a Pseudo Fentanyl alternative training aid. This collaboration also established a pilot program for the detection of Fentanyl Precursors and other Emerging Drug Threats. These activities built successful workflows for K9 handlers to “reach back” to laboratory chemists to better understand K9 alert behavior to odors produced by materials encountered in the operational environment.
 
If you train your dog on Fentanyl or plan to in the future (or know that your dog has already become scent associated to Fentanyl!), then this is a talk that you don’t want to miss.

This session explains:

  • The K9 community has been focused on Fentanyl detection for a long time but has limited training aid options.
  • But what is the most appropriate training aid for Fentanyl, and how is odor availability affected by purity, age, cutting agents, and clandestine
  • discuss the lessons-learned from U.S.
  • Customs and Border Protection advancements for K9 Fentanyl detection strategies and provide ideas for both training and operations.
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

Jonathan McGrath, PhD

Jonathan McGrath, PhD, MSFS serves as Technical Advisor for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Laboratories and Scientific Services (LSS) Southwest Regional Science Center located in Houston, TX. In this role he manages the LSS Canine Training Aid Program, oversees comprehensive field laboratory scientific programs, evaluates delivery of services, and develops and implements recommendations for improvements. He is also detailed to the Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences where he continues to support national level forensic science priorities and research activities. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Forensic Science Committee and affiliate member of the NIST OSAC Dogs and Sensors subcommittee. Prior to re-joining CBP in 2022, he served as a senior policy analyst at NIJ (2015-2022), and forensic scientist and Science Officer for CBP LSS in Houston, TX and Washington, DC (2007-2015) where he supported CBP’s trade, forensic, and WMD operations programs.

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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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