These working airport dogs don’t look for drugs or explosives

 

 Airport travel can be extremely stressful. Long waits to board planes, flight delays, security checks, fear of terrorists and for some, fear of flying.

But a new canine program called the Snuggle Squad is helping ease the stress at Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Canada.

The Snuggle Squad is composed of 30 volunteer handlers and their dogs who roam the airport terminal and offer companionship to travelers. Labrador and Golden Retrievers are the preferred breeds because they seem non-threatening.

 

After the success of the pilot program, the dog squad will be a permanent fixture in the airport terminal.

At first people thought the dogs were airport sniffer dogs searching for contraband. But when they realized what the dogs’ jobs were, the reaction was very positive. The people all want pictures and selfies. They want doggie kisses.

Each dog and handler is carefully selected to meet strict security criteria. Each team also completed a two-hour training course. Then they visit the airport with their dog to assess their comfort level in the actual setting.

The handler/dog teams let passengers approach the dog, but never go to them in case they have allergies or are afraid of dogs.

Airport passengers as well as workers at the terminal give the Snuggle Squad a big  thumbs-up.

 

And for serious working dogs at airports…

The Transportation Security Administration is replacing pointy ear dogs with floppy eared ones to put the public more at ease.

According to TSA Administrator David Pekoske, "We find the passenger acceptance of floppy ear dogs is just better. It presents just a little bit less of a concern…doesn’t scare children."

Dogs retire daily due to age but TSA is using this as an opportunity to acquire more floppy ear dogs, which are classified as sporting or hunting breeds.

Over the past 12 months, 80 percent of the dogs TSA purchased from vendors were sporting breeds. TSA uses five types of sporting breeds: Labrador Retrievers, German Short-Haired Pointers, Wirehaired Pointers, Vizslas, and Golden Retrievers.

 

Comments

[Pamela]

Honey would LOVE to be an airport therapy dog. She had her eye on being a Walmart Greeter but I think this would suit her better. :)

[Comedy Plus]

What a great idea and I agree about the floppy eared dogs being more approachable than the pointy eared dogs. Brilliant.

Have a fabulous day, Jan. ♥

[Catscue Catmom]

I've met one of these dogs, they are awesomely sweet!

[Foley Monster, Pocket and River Song]

There is no one I would like to see more when I get off a plane than a dog

[Jodi Stone]

There were an airport dog in the book I just reviewed. In this case, Murfy was a Newfoundland! Can you imagine?

[Linda Brown]

I am so happy there is so much understanding about the relationship between people and the comfort of dogs!

[Monika, Sam & Elsa]

We have CATS at DIA (Canine Airport Therapy Squad). So cool and so welcome in this day of stressful traveling.

[The Hipster Kitties]

Charlee: "Aww, this sounds like a very good idea for the airport! But we think they should use vizslas, too."
Chaplin: "Yes, nothing says 'non-threatening' like a little red dog with a tail wagging a hundred miles an hour!"

[Marnia Williams]

hello
nice blog, The relationship between Dog and Human are awesomely sweet!