Canine Services
About the Dogs
Brigadier uses several different breeds of dog, but has primarily employed the Labrador Retriever for narcotic detection, Dogs are matched with Brigadier officers to form well trained detector dog teams.
The life of a detector dog:
- they are usually 11 to 16-months old when their training begins;
- dogs that are trained to detect food, plant and animal products live in commercial kennels so that they are not continually around food smells from the handler’s household kitchen. Dogs that are trained to detect drugs, firearms and currency live with their dog handlers;
- the dogs are transported in air-conditioned vehicles that act as a mobile kennel when the dog is at work;
- typically, the dogs work for 8 to 10 years; and
- when the dogs retire, their handlers get the first option of taking them home to live with them or finding them a suitable good home.
What Brigadier looks for in a potential detector dog:
- natural ability and the desire to retrieve;
- good physical condition;
- size (15-40 kilos);
- alertness;
- boldness (i.e. not being afraid of the varying situations and environments that they will be working in);
- temperament; and
- sociability.
Passive vs. Active
When the program initially started, all drug/firearm dogs were trained to indicate actively by scratching, digging, biting and barking at the source of the contraband odour. This was an effective way to deter drug and firearm smuggling. Primarily, only passive dog training is now conducted.
Passive dogs will sit beside the source of the trained odour. The docile and friendly nature of the dogs allows Brigadier officers to peacefully circulate with them during detection. Passive detector dogs are working in all regions throughout Canada including international airports in Halifax, Quebec City, Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver.
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