Optimizing K9 Performance and Recovery

Optimizing K9 Performance and Recovery - The Key Role Nutrition Plays In Fueling Your K9 Partner for Mental and Physical Performance and Healing and Recovery.

Wednesday
,
Aug 27, 2025
2:30 pm
-
4:30 pm
Instructor(s):
Eric Byrd
View full class scheduleRegister for HITS 2026
Eric Byrd presenting Optimizing K9 Performance and Recovery at HITS.
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Class overview

Optimizing K9 Performance and Recovery - The Key Role Nutrition Plays In Fueling Your K9 Partner for Mental and Physical Performance and Healing and Recovery.

This session explains:

  • How nutrition fuels performance and recovery in working K9s
  • Practical feeding guidance handlers can apply immediately
  • Supporting stamina across long training and operational weeks
  • Bridging conference learning to everyday unit routines
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About the instructor

Eric Byrd

Eric Byrd, is the National Channel Manager for Kinetic Performance Dog Food with a focus on Police/Military K9 teams across the country. Eric has been working closely with K9 teams for the past 8 years and has grown and developed relationships with multiple agencies and teams. Eric is an avid Quail Hunter and has been training English Pointers for 20+ years. He started his pursuit of dog food nutrition after experiencing issues in his kennel that were hard to explain (low energy, decreased stamina, long recovery periods and messy kennels). In his pursuit of answers to these issues, Eric discovered Kinetic Performance Dog Food after many discussions with manufacturers across the Pet Food industry. Immediately his kennel saw the results of what superior dog food nutrition can do and the many benefits the dogs experienced when the calorie/nutrient rich nutritional profile was being fed.

Eric then joined the Kinetic Team in 2021 and has traveled the country giving canine nutritional classes and seminars to Police K9 teams, Military K9 teams, and Bird Dog Field Trialers. His personal approach and experiences with dogs and their food weave together a nutritional class experience, that is both fun and informative giving each handler a better understanding about the Pet Food Industry and the ingredients they put into their K9’s.

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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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