Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

Will Work for Dog Food

By Jeffrey A. Cohen
April 1, 2007
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner and CBP Border Patrol Agent Clay Thomas receive the Paws to Recognize tribute to working dogs for “Jacko,” a concealed human and narcotics detector dog.


Forever, dogs have provided guard and detection services. Popular with government and military operations, about 6 percent of private security use so-called K-9 teams, according to recent Security Magazine research. And use is increasing. Studies show a barking dog is the best home security strategy.

And while high technology homeland security solutions grab headlines, explosive detection K-9 teams remain the gold standard among all deployed explosive detection systems because the sensitivity of a trained dog’s nose is superior to virtually all current generation devices. The dog’s detection limit sensitivity is estimated to be between a few parts per billion to 500 parts per trillion. Just as important, the canine’s nose is capable of locating explosives spatially, which permits rapid searches of large areas.

Canines are able to distinguish the presence of explosives in complex environments and are significantly less susceptible to scent masking problems. By way of example, radiation portal monitoring devices can be set off by containerized products that give off ionizing radiation, such as kitty litter, bananas, potting soil, broccoli and bagged concrete; trained K-9s wouldn’t sit on such items.

Training of a detection dog, or to a lesser extent a security patrol dog, is an expensive investment but it can create a significant payoff.

PUBLIC RELATIONS PLUS

A K-9 team is also good for public relations, both as a powerful symbol of public safety and a strong deterrent to the bad guys. A canine team can do the work of as many as four officers with portable explosive detection devices or ETDs and is superior to every other technology for the detection of explosives. The soon-to-be-rolled out TWIC (The Transportation Security Administration’s $70 million contract to deploy the Transportation Worker’s Identification Card) may be a deterrent to terrorist’s intent on bringing explosives into seaports and airports.

Although a canine will never ask its handler for a raise, there are some challenges involved with them. Cost is one problem, especially if you opt to deploy well-trained teams with dogs from top detection bloodlines. We invested over $26,000 per team for tuition, detector dog, room and board, travel and handler wages to train our K-9 teams and procure top detector dogs at the Auburn University Canine Detection Training Center, which trains K-9 teams for the U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Protective Service, numerous law enforcement agencies and SecureTrans, LLC.

Our annual costs for dog food, veterinarian care and handler mileage exceed $4,000 per team, excluding handler salary and benefits. While some critics point out that detector dogs become quickly fatigued, after using them through a full Alaskan cruise season at the Port of Seattle, as well as on other critical infrastructure assignments during the year, we don’t feel that this a significant problem.

Dogs are highly persistent and consistently eager to work and have only required a break period to rest and play for up to 30 minutes about every one or two hours. But cruise ship passenger and baggage screening experience demonstrates that human checkpoint x-ray machine operators actually need to be rotated away from their positions after only about 20 minutes of staring intently at their screens. There is also the human element—distractions, conversations with peers, etc. But when they are working, detection dogs remain focused on the job, and a good handler concentrates intently on his or her four-legged pal.

NOT FOR SOME JOBS

From an administrative standpoint, it’s true that it is more complicated to manage and schedule K-9 coverage than to do the same for ETDs, because K-9 coverage is so mobile—its virtue and its challenge. That is countered by scheduling teams for a minimum of four hours (including breaks) at any one client site, and by furnishing our handlers with a Nextel phone and a pager.

A further thought: Detector dog teams are not particularly useful for in-line checked baggage screening applications, because the lines are designed to operate speedily and several teams would be necessary to keep the line moving when a dog exhibits fatigue and needs to be rested. However, they are a suitable alternative to having an ETD operator rub bags with swabs to detect explosive residues, because they can sniff the baggage much faster than the ETD system and its operator can work. Their throughput is much faster.

Actually, this author doesn’t believe that detecting trace amounts of explosives is a useful enterprise. As security professionals, our great concern should be with explosives in quantities sufficient to make a bomb. K-9s are particularly good at this task, as it is the essence of their training and is what they most enjoy doing.

Most training starts with a puppy and they have great noses.

SIDEBAR: A Final Word on Comparative Costs

According to the GAO, the TSA deployed a total of 6,246 ETD machines in 2006 at a procurement cost of $40,000-$50,000 each (approximately $281,000,000) with annual maintenance costs averaging $10,300 per machine (approximately $64,000,000). This cost does not include the TSA operator expense.

The annual cost of fielding a K-9 team (approximately $56,000) appears to be higher than that because of the compensation of the handler, until one factors in the operator cost.

Of course, cost is not the primary concern when the objective is to establish the best possible threat assessments. That’s why TSA has developed a multi-faceted security program involving electronic instruments, K-9 teams, human stress recognition training and a variety of other methodologies.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Jeffrey A. Cohen is president and founder of SecureTrans, which operates canine teams, security officer contingents and electronic security. He heads an expanding network of contract security providers in the Pacific Northwest. At the cruise terminals, SecureTrans protects cargo terminals and screens passengers, ships’ supplies and baggage and provides similar services at area trucking terminals, shopping centers and construction projects.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Security Enterprise Services
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Columns
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Logical Security
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Sureview screen
    Sponsored bySureView Systems

    The Evolution of Automation in the Command Center

  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

Popular Stories

Rendered computer with keyboard

16B Login Credentials Exposed in World’s Largest Data Breach

Verizon on phone screen

61M Records Listed for Sale Online, Allegedly Belong to Verizon

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Security’s 2025 Women in Security

Red spiderweb

From Retail to Insurance, Scattered Spider Changes Targets

blurry multicolored text on black screen

PowerSchool Education Technology Company Announces Data Breach

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

What do zebras, school groups and high-tech surveillance have in common? They're all part of a day’s work for the security team at the Toledo Zoo.

August 7, 2025

Threats to the Energy Sector: Implications for Corporate and National Security

The energy sector has found itself in the crosshairs of virtually every bad actor on the global stage.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Adjusting remote work polices in the future will prepare companies for next wave of threats

    Adjusting remote work polices in the future will prepare companies for next wave of threats

    See More
  • McGruff the Crime Dog: New Products for Community Involvement

    See More
  • ID Management: But Will 'Interoperable' Work?

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Photonic-Sensing.gif

    Photonic Sensing: Principles and Applications for Safety and Security Monitoring

  • security culture.webp

    Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

  • 150 things.jpg

    The Handbook for School Safety and Security

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing