Tag: security

Dogs at Work: Mall Security Dogs

Posted on December 30, 2020 - 2:00 pm by
A dog on a leash sitting on the floor in a store.

If your idea of shopping center security is the bumbling, Segway-riding Paul Blart of the movie Mall Cop, think again. Many malls now have sophisticated, integrated security plans, which may include trained dogs and handlers.

Depending on the needs of the mall, security dogs may simply provide surveillance and crowd control, so shoppers and retailers can feel safe. Trained dogs add an extra visual and psychological deterrent against trouble.

But some malls also train dogs to put their keen sense of smell to work, detecting substances such as explosives, drugs and firearms. It’s all in a day’s work for mall security dogs.

Not a job for toy poodles

Mall security dogs not only have to look intimidating, they need to have the right temperament and a strong drive to guard, bark or attack on command. That’s why trainers typically rely on the intelligent and alert dogs of the working group, such as German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch shepherds, Dobermans and Rottweilers.

Training starts early

The foundation of any security-dog training program is socialization and obedience training as puppies. Socialization is necessary to help dogs feel comfortable around people, other dogs and crowds. And basic obedience training is a must before moving on to advanced guard training with controlled aggression.

Dogs are usually paired with a handler for guard training. The dog will learn to recognize a threat and attack on command, but equally important, they need to learn how to let go on command and transition from an aggressive to a calm demeanor.

Most detection training is done by teaching the dog to recognize and track a particular scent. Each time the dog successfully identifies the item, they are given positive reinforcement in the form of praise and treats or toys. But training doesn’t stop once the dog and handler are certified; learning must continue on an ongoing basis to keep security dogs responsive to commands.

On patrol at the largest mall in North America

How do you provide security across 5.6 million square feet of retail space? For the Mall of America in Minnesota, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, mall security dogs are just part of the answer. Dogs can be on the job day or night, 7 days a week, patrolling inside the mall or in the parking areas outside. They sniff at any unattended items, trash cans and vehicles.

The mall also boasts one of the five largest K-9 explosive detection units in the United States. Occasionally, the unit is asked to sweep big events in locations outside of the mall.

People are discouraged from petting the dogs when they’re working, so they can concentrate at the job at hand. But when the work day is over, the dogs go home with their handlers so they have a life outside of work.

In addition to canine security and detection dogs, the Mall of America also relies on hundreds of cameras located throughout the mall, undercover officers and social media monitoring to identify any conversations relating to the mall, to name just a few security strategies. It’s all in place to help keep shoppers, retailers and our economy in motion.

Dogs at Work: TSA Dogs Tackle Security Before Takeoff

Posted on June 27, 2019 - 3:00 pm by
Two German Shepherd Dogs Working with TSA Agents at the Airport

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dogs can’t prevent turbulence during your flight, but they can help you fly through security a little faster.

Trained to sniff out a range of explosives at airports and other transportation hubs, these dogs can screen passengers — without touching them — faster than traditional methods. And that helps loosen airport bottlenecks.

A nose for explosives

A good explosive detection dog starts with an extraordinary sense of smell. Easily found, considering that the average dog can detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water (enough to fill two Olympic-sized pools), according to the book Inside of a Dog by Alexandra Horowitz, a dog cognition researcher at Barnard College.

But the dogs also need a high-energy drive to hunt (usually for a reward). That’s why the TSA generally focuses on hunting or working breeds, including German shepherds, Belgian malinois, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, German short-haired pointers, wirehaired pointers and Vizslas.

While slightly less important, another canine trait the TSA values is floppy ears. The rationale is that dogs with ears that fold gently over their heads may be less intimidating (and less likely to scare children travelers) than dogs with straight-up ears.

It takes two

Even with a sensitive sense of smell and a strong hunting drive, dogs need a trained handler on the other end of the leash. Transportation security inspectors make up about 35 percent of the handlers, but the majority are local and state law enforcement officers.

The dogs actually live with the handlers, so they are truly a team on and off the job.

Training in real-life environments

Passenger-screening dogs and their handlers go through an intensive 12-week course at the Canine Training Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Texas.

The 25,000-square-foot facility includes 13 full-scale “sets” constructed to look like actual scenes where the dogs will eventually work, including an airport gate area, a security checkpoint, a baggage claim area and an aircraft interior where dogs can clamber on seats to sniff overhead bins. The facility even employs people to play the role of passengers.

Using positive-reinforcement techniques, the dogs are rewarded with treats, chew toys or praise each time they detect the scent of an explosive. This helps them focus on the relevant scents and keeps them motivated to keep searching. Dog teams are also trained at other locations in the geographic area, such as the San Antonio International Airport and the local bus station.

About 83 percent of dogs in the program pass the training. The remainder are adopted out through a special TSA program, but currently there’s a long waiting list, so unfortunately, the organization can’t accept any more applications for the time being.

A lifetime of training

Of course, the training doesn’t stop after graduation.  The teams first go back to the location they’ll be stationed to allow the dog to acclimate to the sights, sounds and distractions of the environment.

Handlers also keep training the dogs on a weekly basis. The dogs need to be rewarded for finding the correct scent periodically to keep them interested and disciplined. Teams must also be recertified every year, when they may learn new scents, depending on emerging intelligence data.

Although it may be tempting to pet these dogs when you see them in the airport, please don’t. They need to focus on the important job of keeping you safe, without distraction.

Eventually, these hard-working dogs do get to enjoy a laid-back retirement. Some of these dogs may be available for adoption, but since the handlers and trainers get first dibs, they’re generally welcomed into the houses they already know as home.