Detector Dog Recruitment
Does your dog have what it takes?
The New Zealand Customs Service is looking for the elite of the dog world.
Customs detector dogs enjoy an active, stimulating and important lifestyle protecting New Zealand’s borders by detecting illegal drugs and explosives.
If you think that your dog might have what it takes to become a drug or explosives detector dog, the following criteria will let you know if your dog is suitable.
Is this your dog?
- Fit and healthy
- Does not show any aggressive behaviour around humans or other dogs
- Has a very high retrieve drive, and wants to constantly play with a toy or ball in any environment
- Medium height (very large or small breeds cannot be considered due to the operational environment the dogs will be required to work in)
- Between six months and two years old
- Is not perceived as a protective or guard dog – eg Rottweilers and Dobermans are unsuitable breeds
If your dog meets these criteria, then the following is an exercise you can also try to see if your dog would be suitable.
Detector dog exercise
This is a basic exercise that detector dog handlers or trainers undertake to see if a dog has a high hunting/retrieve drive, which is required to make a good detector dog.
- Go to a local park that the dog has never been to before with a ball or a favourite retrieve article for the dog.
- Throw the ball for the dog to retrieve. Does the dog want to play the retrieve game, or does the new environment distract the dog? Does the dog drop the article and go away to do other things? Customs is looking for a dog that wants to retrieve all the time, no matter where the game is being played.
- Now throw the ball so that the dog does not see where it lands. Does the dog hunt for the retrieve article and not give up, or does the dog just give up on searching for the article and go away to do other things? Customs is looking for a dog that searches with its nose, and doesn't give up until it has found it.
If you have tried the exercises above and your dog has performed well, then your dog may make a good detector dog.
If required, Customs will discuss payment for dogs, as long as the dog is found to be suitable to enter into training.
If you would like to find out more, please send an e-mail to david.huff@customs.govt.nz. Customs will then arrange for a trainer or handler to visit you in your region to assess the dog further.