The CBP Border Patrol traditionally has trained their canines to locate illegal drugs and hidden people at checkpoints between the established ports of entry. Now the OFO canine program is also deploying dogs that can detect people being smuggled at land border crossings and at seaports.

"The detection capability of these animals is exemplary," said Jayson Ahern, assistant commissioner for field operations. "They can screen a vehicle in seconds and perform a thorough exam in minutes, saving CBP time, money and resources."

These canines and their handlers go through a 12-week training regimen. The first five weeks are dedicated to training the dogs to give a passive response by sitting when they detect the presence of narcotics. The rest of the course is dedicated to training the canines to also find concealed humans. Because they are trained to find humans, the passive response is used to reduce accidental injuries that passengers would be subjected to biting and scratching positive response detector dogs had been trained in. The dogs also are trained to ignore a visible person, such as a driver or passenger, but to alert to someone who is concealed or hiding.

There are currently 44 concealed human canine teams in the field. There are more than 40 teams currently in training and 20 more scheduled for training by the end of this year.

Border Patrol welcomes new students
On the night of October 21 a litter of puppies was born at the Border Patrol National Canine Facility located in El Paso, Texas. Seven puppies—one male and six females—were born to “Moja,” a Belgian Malinois purchased in Europe.

The Belgian Malinois is a European herding breed that is used extensively by the Border Patrol. This is the first litter to be born and raised in the new breeding and whelping facility opened in 2005.

Moja was in the process of selection for the BP canine program when it was discovered that she was pregnant. The BP staff has no information on the sire of the litter so this litter cannot be part of the breeding program. The puppies are considered “obtained from other sources.” With puppies acquired from sources other than the breeding program, their names start from the other end of the alphabet. Two puppies purchased directly from Europe were named Zowie and Zuni. Moja’s puppies, the "Y" litter, are named: Yanni, Yaz, York, Yukon, Yuma, Yoda and Yancy.

When the puppies reach four weeks of age they will undergo a month of training and testing. At eight weeks of age the puppies will be placed with Border Patrol canine instructors in field stations throughout the country. These instructors will raise the puppies in a working environment. At 8-12 months of age the puppies will be returned to the canine facility for testing, training and placement with a Border Patrol handler.

Photo Credit: James Tourtellotte Puppies from the April 2nd litter New puppies arrive at Front Royal, Virginia “V” litter August 10, 2006, seven puppies—four females and three males—were born at the Canine Enforcement Training Center in Front Royal, Va. The mother is “Marcy,” black Labrador retriever from the “M” litter and trained as a CBP chemical detector dog. She is stationed at the Training Center in Virginia. The father is Master Hunter (MH) ‘Logo Fifty Five,’ a yellow Labrador retriever from Fredericksburg. “W” litter On March 4, eight puppies made their appearance at the Canine Enforcement Training Center in Front Royal. This is Marcy’s second litter. The sire of this litter is MH Raven's Smokin Cinder. “X” litter On April 2nd, CBP canine Jackpot delivered 11 puppies, 8 males and 3 females. The father is Grand Master Hunting Retriever Silverbrook's ‘Amazing Sparkle Boy.’