K9 MYTHBUSTERS: Advancing Science & Standards

This talk will demonstrate how new scientific discoveries are dispelling common K9 odor myths and how new national standards incorporating these discoveries are intending to advance K9 teams and how you can get involved to improve the.

Wednesday
,
Aug 26, 2026
4:00 pm
-
6:00 pm
Instructor(s):
Dr. Kenneth Furton
View full class scheduleRegister for HITS 2026
Dr Kenneth Furton presenting K9 MYTHBUSTERS: Advancing Science & Standards at HITS.
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Class overview

This talk will demonstrate how new scientific discoveries are dispelling common K9 odor myths and how new national standards incorporating these discoveries are intending to advance K9 teams and how you can get involved to improve the process. There are significant risks as well as emerging opportunities as new science and new standards are developed and released that will impact detection teams. The most current contentious areas will be highlighted, demonstrated and an opportunity provided for discussion including the following areas: Sensitivity vs. selectivity; Impact of drugs on money; Impact of new sensors and robotic platforms; Real vs. mimic vs. sorbent; Minimum number of training targets (generalization and extinction training); Calibrating K9s; How odor moves (quickly); How long does odor remain (residual); Impact of human scent; How national standards are being developed and deployed and how this WILL impact how you train, maintain, certify and testify. Some specific examples of current studies include the the ability of dogs to differentiate hemp from marijuana, the ideal training aids for locating of mass storage devices and an opportunity will be provided for other recent studies to be presented and discussed. Finally the impact of new national standards being developed and published on a monthly basis will be discussed and attendees are invited to get involved through becoming members of the International Commission on Detector Dogs (ICODD.org).

This session explains:

  • demonstrate how new scientific discoveries are dispelling common K9 odor myths and how new national standards incorporating these discoveries are
  • There are significant risks as well as emerging opportunities as new science and new standards are developed and released that will impact detection
  • The most current contentious areas will be highlighted, demonstrated and an opportunity provided for discussion including the following areas
  • selectivity; Impact of drugs on money; Impact of new sensors and robotic platforms; Real vs.
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

Dr. Kenneth Furton

Dr. Kenneth G. Furton is Provost Emeritus and Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Executive Director of the Global Forensic and Justice Center. He is a world-leading scholar in olfaction and dogs and sensors research since 1994. He has supervised the research of more than 160 students and received more than $20 million in grants. He has 34 patents, 761 presentations, 3 books and 341 peer-reviewed publications He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. In 1998 he developed one of the first scientifically validated canine trainer and detection team certification programs in the US that has evaluated over 2000 teams. He was the founding chair of the Scientific Working Group on Dog and Orthogonal Detector Guidelines (SWGDOG) in 2004, the founding chair of the Organization for Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) Dogs and Sensor subcommittee in 2014, the founding chair of the Dog and Sensors Consensus Body of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board (ASB) in 2016 and the founding Director of the International Commission on Detector Dogs (ICODD) since 2025. His dogs and sensors research has researched the detection of live and deceased humans, drugs, currency, accelerants, explosives, mass storage devices, invasive species, corrosion and medical conditions. He has testified as an expert witness in dozens of civil and criminal trials.

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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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