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May 2008

Detector Dog Service

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) uses a variety of methods to prevent contraband goods from entering Canada. One of the most reliable is the use of specially trained detector dogs. The Detector Dog Service (DDS) is an essential part of Canada's border management system.

DDS Quick Facts

• 72 teams across Canada (one dog and one officer per team)
• Dogs detect contraband or regulated materials, from narcotics to plants and animals
• Program has been in service since 1978
• Dogs work 8–10 years

The Detector Dog Service

The DDS plays an important role in finding prohibited or regulated goods:

• It significantly increases opportunities to intercept narcotics, firearms, currency and food, plant and animal products;
• It deters smugglers while increasing the public's awareness of the CBSA's innovative enforcement approaches;
• It helps CBSA officers conduct examinations and eliminates labour-intensive searches; and
• It improves service to the travelling public by reducing the time needed to screen or examine passengers, luggage and commercial shipments in a less intrusive manner.

In addition, detector dog teams assist other law-enforcement agencies in their execution of search warrants for drugs, firearms and currency.

Detector Dog Teams

There are 72 detector dog teams strategically located at points of entry across the county, serving both traveller and commercial operations. The teams work in all modes of travel (air, highway, marine and rail) and in postal and courier centers. Each team consists of one dog and one matched officer/handler.

Teams work as a pair to ensure that contraband items are not smuggled into Canada by searching packages, mail, luggage, vehicles and containers at border points of entry. Contraband items give off specific odours and the dogs indicate the presence of these odours to their partner officer.

The teams receive intensive training at the CBSA’s National Institute of Learning Excellence in Rigaud, Quebec. At the Centre, the dogs are trained to recognize the specific scents of the narcotics, firearms, currency or food, plant and animal products that they will be used to detect. The teams also become familiar with the circumstances and situations under which they will work.

CBSA officers and their detector dogs also conduct demonstrations at schools and for community service groups. During these demonstrations, handlers provide general information on drugs and firearms, currency and food, plant and animal products and demonstrate their dog's trained abilities. This service is aimed at educating young people and the general public while providing information about the CBSA's role as a law-enforcement agency.

About the Dogs

Dogs have very acute senses of smell. This not only allows them to detect the presence of prohibited or regulated substances but, more importantly, to pinpoint the location of the substance. Also, the docile and friendly nature of the dogs allows detector dog teams to peacefully circulate among arriving travellers.

The CBSA uses several different breeds — primarily the Labrador retriever for drug, firearm and currency detection, and the beagle for food, plant and animal detection. Typically, the dogs work for 8 to 10 years.

DDS History

The CBSA's DDS has been in operation since 1978. At that time, there was a need to provide front-line officers with a more effective method of detecting and interdicting narcotics and firearms.

The program's reach has extended in recent years, with dogs being used to detect items other than drugs and firearms. In 2003, a currency detector dog pilot project was launched to help CBSA officers carry out their authorities under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. Currency detector dog teams have now become part of the DDS.

In January 2005, the DDS integrated food, plant and animal detector dog teams from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. 

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