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Dogs often work at airports these days. The kind of dog used for sniffing out food or drugs in people's luggage is one who is keen to eat, and thinks the whole thing is a game. Often beagles are used for this work. They are trained to sniff at luggage and at the people who pass through the airport. |
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When they find the smell of food, or the smell of drugs, they sit down, to show their handler that they have found something. Then they get a reward - which is usually a play with their favourite toy. These kinds of dogs are often used in mail rooms as well. They can be looking for food stuffs, prohibited drugs, or sometimes for explosives, which have a very distinctive smell. When this spaniel finds something, the box will be opened to see what is inside. |
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Some sniffer dogs lead very dangerous lives. This German Shepherd has been trained to sniff out land mines, which are explosives buried in the ground. If someone steps on them (even a dog), the mine will explode, killing or maiming everyone close by. This dog is working in Angola, where many land mines still remain in the ground, meaning farmers cannot go back to their land, and noone can walk around. Such dogs save many lives. |
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Here in New Zealand, specially trained dogs are sent to look for kiwi in the bush. These dogs know how to smell out kiwi, but because dogs can chase and kill birds, they wear muzzles while they are working. |