K-9 nutrition instructor in a blue polo presenting dietary information to handlers during a HITS conference seminar
German Shepherd K-9 sitting alert in front of a vendor booth display at the HITS conference expo hall

2025 HITS K9 Training Conference

A national gathering of law-enforcement K9 handlers, supervisors, instructors, and vendors committed to safer deployment, stronger courtroom defensibility, and higher professional standards across modern K9 work.

August 25–28, 2025
Dallas, Texas — Hyatt Regency Dallas
View the upcoming conferenceJoin the email list
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Inside the 2025 HITS K9 conference

The Dallas event brought together K9 professionals from across agencies and regions with a shared goal: to prepare for safer, more effective K9 deployments in the real world. Attendees included handlers, supervisors, and administrators working toward stronger operational readiness and long-term capability across their programs.

K-9 handler in a working dogs crest t-shirt reviewing registration materials at the HITS conference check-in table
Young Belgian Malinois puppy with chain collar lying calmly on a patterned carpet at a K-9 training conference
K-9 handler in a conference seminar session writing detailed training notes at his desk
Group of five K-9 professionals posing together under the Welcome to HITS banner in the conference lobby
K-9 training instructor presenting selection criteria methods to a packed audience of handlers at a professional conference seminar
K-9 training professional smiling while connecting with fellow handlers at the HITS conference vendor expo hall
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A national gathering of K9 agencies

Law-enforcement and military organizations from across the country sent personnel to train, learn, and connect at HITS Dallas.
Annamaet Petfoods logo
Israeli Special Tactics logo
KATS K9 logo
Pacific Coast K9 logo
Canine Tactical Operations logo
The 6th King logo
Georgia K9 NTC logo
Sheldahl logo
Echelon K9 logo
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What attendees said about HITS Dallas 2025

Feedback from past participants reflects the real-world value of national-scale K9 education and collaboration.

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Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

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Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

Attendee
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.
K-9 handlers listening intently during a training seminar session at the HITS conference

Advancing professional standards in K9 deployment

HITS K9 exists to improve real-world K9 deployment, strengthen safety in the field, and support the professionals responsible for these critical roles.

Through conferences, regional events, and ongoing education, HITS helps agencies build capability that lasts beyond a single training experience.

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Dallas 2025 by the numbers

100
Attendes
222
Speakers and instructors
1323
Training sessions
54354
Vendors and exhibitors
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Featured speakers and classes from 2025

Instruction in Dallas included legal insight, operational training, behavioral science, and deployment strategy from nationally recognized professionals.

Ted Daus

President
,
HITS K9
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See speaker

Ted Daus

President
,
HITS K9
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros.
See speaker

Ted Daus

President
,
HITS K9
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros.
See speaker

Ted Daus

President
,
HITS K9
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See speaker
See more 2025 classes

Andrew Weiman

Retired Trainer
,
PACKTRACK
With more than 33 years of police experience involving various assignments in specialty drug investigation unit in south Florida, Detective Weiman has become a leading expert in the field.
See speaker

Armando Avallone

Lead Chemist
,
U.S. CBP
Armando Avallone, M.
See speaker

Eric Byrd

National Channel Manager
,
Kinetic Performance Dog Food
Eric Byrd, is the National Channel Manager for Kinetic Performance Dog Food with a focus on Police/Military K9 teams across the country.
See speaker

Gary Aulis

Owner, Head Trainer
,
Scenturion K9 Consulting
Gary Aulis retired from the Fontana Police Department (Southern California) in 2017 and has more than 30 years of law enforcement canine experience.
See speaker

Gary Hadden

Interdiction K9 Officer
,
IMPD
Officer Gary Hadden is currently a Criminal Interdiction Unit K9 handler and Trainer for the Indianapolis Metro Police Department and is also a Task Force Officer for Homeland Security Investigations.
See speaker

Ian Donavan

National Channel Manager
,
Kinetic Performance Dog Food
Ian Donovan is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces Operator and MPC Handler.
See speaker

Jeff Meyer

Owner
,
The Police K9 Training Podcast with Jeff Meyer
Jeff Meyer retired in 2023 after a distinguished career spanning more than 33 years with the Denver Police Department.
See speaker

Jerry McClellan

Trainer
,
Sentinel K9
Sgt.
See speaker

Katylynn Sloan

Research Division
,
U.S. Secret Service
Dr.
See speaker

Lance LoRusso

Attorney
,
Blue Line Lawyer Institute, LoRusso Law Firm
Lance LoRusso is an attorney and staunch advocate for law enforcement and all first responders in the legal system and the media.
See speaker

Lily Strassberg

K9 Trainer & Instructor
,
DiagNose Israel
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…
See speaker

Mark Kaufmann

Forensic Science Lecturer
,
FIU
Mark Kaufmann is the owner and operator of Function First K9 based in Tacoma, WA.
See speaker

Nathan Hall

Speaker
,
Texas Tech
Dr.
See speaker

Ricky Farley

President
,
Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officers Training Center
Ricky Farley owns and operates Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officer's Training Center, Inc.
See speaker

Thomas Schuppe

Owner/Director
,
K9 Vision Systems
Thomas is a former member of the GIGN.
See speaker

William Lewinski

Owner
,
Force Science
See speaker

Ted Daus

Owner
,
HITS T&C
Counsel of record in U.S. Supreme Court K-9 cases and longtime Broward County prosecutor. National lecturer on canine law and search-and-seizure with decades of courtroom experience.
See speaker

Dr. Kenneth Furton

Executive Director
,
Global Forensic and Justice Center
Provost Emeritus and Distinguished University Professor; Executive Director of the Global Forensic and Justice Center and a world-leading scholar in detection-dog science.
See speaker

Jonathan McGrath, PhD

Technical Advisor
,
U.S. Customs & Border Protection
Technical Advisor for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Laboratories; manages the national canine training-aid program and federal forensic science initiatives.
See speaker

Mike Lilley

Owner
,
MLK9
Mike Lilley is a professional K9 trainer with extensive experience in law enforcement, working dogs, and operational deployments.
See speaker

Michael Nezbeth

Founder
,
Grassroots K9
Michael Nezbeth is the Founder and Training Director of Grassroots K9, an internationally recognized canine training company specializing in law enforcement and working dog development.
See speaker

Zach Pfannenstiel

CEO
,
Echelon K9
Zach brings over 18 years of law enforcement experience, including more than 12 years in canine operations.
See speaker

Carlos Ramirez

Founder
,
CRK9
Carlos Ramirez is a K9 trainer with experience in animal psychology and behavior.
See speaker

Erik Good

Head K9 Trainer
,
Fort Lauderdale PD
K-9 handler and head trainer for Fort Lauderdale PD with 18+ years of specialized K-9 experience in patrol, EOD, and muzzle fighting training.
See speaker

Justin Rigney

Founder
,
K9 Services Unlimited
Founder of K9 Services Unlimited with 25+ years training police and pet dogs in reactivity, impulse control, and operational K9 work.
See speaker

Don Blair

Owner
,
Canine Intelligence Academy
Veteran K9 trainer specializing in detection fieldwork, point-to-point, and quartering exercises for operational detection teams.
See speaker

Ronnie Manganiello

President
,
FLECA
South Florida K-9 handler, head trainer, and president of the Florida Law Enforcement Canine Association (FLECA).
See speaker

Shay Maimoni

Founder
,
Israeli Special Tactics K9
Founder and lead trainer at Israeli Special Tactics K9, specializing in muzzle fighting, drive engineering, and counter-terrorism K9 development.
See speaker
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.Light beige paper texture background with subtle fibers and creases.

How HITS is experienced in practice

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname
Position
,
Company name

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

Attendee
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.

Continue your training with HITS K9

The Dallas conference was one chapter in an ongoing national effort to elevate K9 deployment standards and strengthen professional readiness across agencies.

If you weren’t there (or if you’re ready to build on what you learned) the next HITS conference continues that mission with new instructors, new perspectives, and new opportunities to strengthen your unit.

View the upcoming conference
Join the email list
Conference speaker addressing a packed room of K-9 handlers and trainers from the podium at HITS