CBP continues to diversify canine detection capabilities needed to combat terrorism, intercept narcotics and other contraband while helping to facilitate and process legitimate trade and travel. Providing optimal defense at and between our borders, CBP has the largest number of working dog teams of any federal law enforcement agency. Canine teams are assigned to over 73 ports of entry and 69 Border Patrol stations throughout the United States.

Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte

Dogs are trained to be comfortable working and identifying threats in all areas of vehicles, including the trunk.

CBP's Canine Enforcement Program has expanded to meet the diverse and demanding challenges facing our country today. CBP’s Canine Officers use specially trained detector dogs to combat terrorist threats as well as interdict contraband and concealed persons at our nation's borders, land ports, seaports, international airports and international mail facilities. To meet these threats, the CBP canine program has developed training courses as well as trained and deployed canine teams in an array of specialized detection capabilities. This includes:

• Chemical Detector Dogs - These dogs are trained to detect chemical odors used in producing weapons of mass destruction that could be smuggled into the United States.
• Explosive Detector Dogs - These dogs are trained to detect explosive odors-that could be concealed in cargo, vehicles, aircraft, luggage and on passengers.
• Currency Detector Dogs - Currency teams are trained to detect the odor of undeclared U.S. Currency being smuggled out of our country to circumvent required monetary reporting requirements.
• Agriculture Detector Dogs - These canines can detect fruits, vegetables, meats or other prohibited items that may carry animal, pests, or plant diseases that could possibly harm U.S. agriculture resources.
• Concealed Human/Narcotic Detector Dogs - These dogs are used to detect concealed persons attempting to enter the United States illegally, as well as narcotics.
• BORSTAR Canines - Border Patrol Search, Trauma and Rescue Teams are highly specialized units capable of responding to emergency search and rescue situations in the United States. The dogs are trained to search off leash and perform a recall-re-find indication, which has the dog return to the handler after finding missing persons and leading the handler to the location.
• Narcotics Detector Dogs - These dogs are used in the interdiction and detection of narcotics, such as marijuana, hashish, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamine.

Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte

A simple white towel, a source of play and reward, often is the key bond between the trainer/handler and the detector dog.

The canine enforcement program is responsible for a significant proportion of narcotic seizures made by CBP at ports of entry, checkpoints and between official ports of entry, accounting for more than 11,600 narcotic seizures totaling over 1,804,196 pounds of narcotics in fiscal year 2004. The canine enforcement program was also responsible for detecting 40,296 concealed humans and seizure of U.S. currency worth $33 million during the year. Canines helped prevent over 68,512 Quarantine Material Interceptions of plant products and over 17,956 Quarantine Material Interceptions of animal products with a combined weight of 6,552 pounds during this period.

Three training facilities support the CBP canine force. The Canine Enforcement Training Center, in Front Royal, Va., was established in 1974. The National Canine Facility, in El Paso, Texas, was established in 1991 and USDA’s National Detector Dog Training Center in Orlando, Fla., was established in 1997. In addition to CBP’s border security mission, the CBP Canine Enforcement Program also conducts training for other federal, state, local, and foreign law enforcement agencies. The program also provides, on a case-by-case basis, assistance to state and local law enforcement entities.

The predominant canine chosen for the program are from the sports breeds. A variety of dogs are used including Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers, Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd Dogs, Dutch Shepherds, English Beagles and mixed breeds. The most important factor in selecting detector dogs for training is not the breed, but their personality and enthusiasm for retrieving and pleasing their master.

The majority of dogs selected for the program are obtained from vendors, animal shelters, humane societies and rescue leagues. However, in September 1998, a breeding program was established to provide additional detector dogs to the program. Currently, CBP has produced over 142 puppies in 22 litters. This program relies on the local community to raise the puppies in foster homes.

At U.S. borders and checkpoints, dogs screen a vehicle in seconds and do a thorough exam in minutes. Even a cursory search by an officer or agent would require at least 20 minutes. These dogs are also able to check packages in a fraction of the time needed by mail examiners, saving time and resources.