For Safety’s Sake

Bara started her work at about a year of age. The program uses a variety of dogs including German shepherds, Belgian malinois, Labrador retrievers and vizlas.

A typical workday for Bara consists of a 10-hour shift. On an average day there will be five to six calls to check a plane, an unattended bag, an unattended vehicle or other site. Like any hard worker after a few hours on the job, Bara gets a coffee break. For her it is usually a time to play; Bara particularly likes to play tug of war with her Kong.

Then it is time to clean the cruiser, get a bath and train a little. Frequent and consistent training is an important part of the job. Two of the 4 days of the work week are dedicated to training. Training is at the work site. All bomb dogs are “passive response” workers. That means when they get the scent of an explosive they go to the site and sit in front of it, and wait for their reward. Rewards can be toys or food depending on the individual preference of the dog.

Bomb dogs like Bara occasionally get to go to events out of the airport to check for explosives. They will be called on to check concert and sporting event sites and other sites where dignitaries may be present. Dogs like Bara are very dedicated workers, and they truly enjoy their jobs. Their handlers have to put their trust in these four-footed partners. They know their canine partners well and take excellent care of them. This means regularly scheduled veterinary visits, good diets, lots of brushing and exercise.

To remain a working bomb sniffer, Bara and her handler must pass a yearly exam. To maintain certification a team must have a passing rate that meets FAA standards. It is an important job and these dogs take their work seriously. Next time you are at an airport, remember that Bara and other dogs just like her are hard at work trying to keep everyone safe.

Article written by: Dr. Mary Anna Labato
Photo courtesy of R. Dyer