TSA utilizes a variety of large breed dogs. You may see sporting breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers and German Shorthaired Pointers available for adoption. Occasionally there will be German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois.
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Nearly all the dogs used in Federal service at TSA, FBI, BATF, ICE, CBP, USDA - APHIS etc are all provided by the Army Military Working Dog Program kennels at Joint Base Lackland-San Antonio. Depending on how many specialties the dog is trained in, the cost is estimated at anywhere from $20k to $40…
Drug ScreeningsDogs can find all sorts of narcotics, like marijuana, opium, cocaine, and heroin. These drug dogs always work in conjunction with a handler. They walk through security checkpoints sniffing the air around passengers and their luggage.
Beagles and beagle mixes are the preferred breed of dog at the airport because of their keen sense of smell, non-threatening size, high food drive, and gentle disposition with the public.
Intensive trainingTSA canines are single purpose dogs trained to detect explosives. “What our dogs do is some of the hardest training, some of the hardest testing,” said Smith. “We test every year, and then we're also tested at our own airport. That's because our dogs are passenger screening canines.
At the airport, TSA's use of explosive detection canines significantly enhances the efficiency of the security screening process, serving as an added layer of security. Away from the airport, the dogs can work in a variety of locations and use their keen sense of smell to augment existing security efforts.
The first use of TSA handled explosives detection canines was in March of 2008 to screen air cargo. In 2011, TSA expanded its canine program to screen passengers. As a reminder to travelers, TSA explosives detection canines are on duty while with their handlers at the airport and must not be petted.
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) — A Kentucky teacher was bitten by a TSA trained dog while walking past it at the Nashville airport last year. On March 28, 2022, Kelly Jones was about to leave for a trip to Europe with a few other adults and some students from a Marshall County School.
MORE THAN 1,000 DOGS ON THE JOBTSA itself staffs 372 dog teams, mostly for airports. TSA also covers the $24,000 average cost to buy and train each dog, and its handler, to provide 675 dogs for state and local law enforcement agencies.