7 Best Dog Breeds for Bomb Detection You Should Know

Dogs have been working alongside humans for several decades. There is one dog trait incomparable to humans or any human intervention, i.e., their sense of smell. This innate instinct makes dogs suitable for explosive detection and police work.

Do You Know? Dogs have 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses while humans have only six million.

According to the American Kennel Club, sporting dogs are the most commonly used bomb detection dogs. These dogs are less intimidating, and their keen sense of smell combined with their natural hunting ability helps them in search and rescue operations.

The dogs that have not received any training for explosives or drug detection are called “green dogs.” Green dogs are presented to the government for sale at around 12 months of age. However, they have to be prepared for government evaluation through socialization.

Here are the 7 best dog breeds for bomb detection.

Best Dogs for Bomb Detection

1. German Shepherd

Breed Profile

• Height: 22 to 26 inches

• Weight: 50 to 90 pounds

• Life Expectancy: 7 to 10 years

The classic German Shepherds make our list of best explosive detection dogs due to their love for work and high intelligence. Their devotion and courage allow them to excel at bomb detection and search and rescue missions.

They are loyal, ferocious, and smart, and it would be disrespectful not to put them to work. GSDs’ ability to sniff bombs from far off creates a safe passage for the detection dogs. These detection dogs have an athletic build and can cover a large space for a short duration.

Their high trainability, physical, and behavioral traits make them well-suited to detect explosives. German Shepherds are athletic dogs who require plenty of exercise for physical and mental stimulation. Activity can include walks, off-lead exercise, and play sessions.

2. Belgian Malinois

Breed Profile

• Height: 22 to 26 inches

• Weight: 40 to 80 pounds

• Life Expectancy: 14 to 16 years

The famous herding dogs, Belgian Malinois, are known for their alertness and fast reflexes. Belgian Malinois is one of the smartest dog breeds that quickly learns new skills. They are eager to please their handlers and are one of the military-preferred breeds.

Belgian Malinois resemble German Shepherds a lot in appearance, but they are smaller in size, which makes them easier to transport. Additionally, their excellent scent detection abilities enable them to excel at tracking, obedience, and search missions.

One of the best detection dogs, the Belgian Malinois is highly energetic and requires more than 40 minutes of exercise every day, says PetMD. With pointy ears and dark mahogany fur, these medium to large-sized dogs excel at activities like herding, tracking, and agility.

3. Bloodhound

Breed Profile

• Height: 23 to 27 inches

• Weight: 80 to 110 pounds

• Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Bloodhound is a large-sized scent hound, hailing from Europe. Bloodhounds were originally bred to hunt wild boar, deer, and rabbits, and for tracking people. Their long head, floppy ears, and large nose enable them to detect scent particles like no other breed.

The skin folds of these wrinkly dogs can also trap scents. Bloodhounds are known for having the strongest shoulders and muscular legs.

Do You Know? Bloodhounds boast the strongest sense of smell among all canine breeds. They can track several days old scents from 130 miles away. Bloodhounds were used during the Covid-19 pandemic to identify Covid patients.

Bloodhounds are not highly energetic, but still require regular exercise to stay mentally and physically fit. According to WebMD, they are pack animals and enjoy the company of other dogs. Bloodhounds make shy but loving pets.

4. Dachshund

Breed Profile

• Height: 5 to 9 inches

• Weight: 11 to 32 pounds

• Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years

Dachshund, also known as wiener dog, sausage dog, or badger dog, hails from Germany. This energetic and lovable canine was bred as a hunting companion. It assisted hunters by detecting scents, chasing, and flushing out badgers and other animals.

Due to this historical background, Dachshunds make excellent military dogs. Their amazing sense of smell enables them to detect land mines. They have also been used as medical detection dogs. They are cute, but not built for aesthetic purposes.

They possess a gene that stunts growth in leg cartilage. Their short legs allow them to crawl into burrows. Despite their small size, they have a protective streak. PDSA describes Dachshunds as affectionate and playful little fellows.

5. Beagle

Breed Profile

• Height: 12 to 15 inches (under 12 inches)

• Weight: Under 30 pounds

• Life Expectancy: 10 to 15 years

Beagles are even-tempered dogs having a friendly disposition. These hunting dogs have a strong sense of smell and eagerness to track the source. Just like Bloodhounds, their floppy ears help waft the scent up whilst hunting.

These ears reach the end of their noses and allow them to catch more scent particles. Beagles excel as drug dogs and even help detect bedbugs. At airports, they are used to detect contraband and food in luggage to prevent parasites and diseases from crossing the borders.

Beagle is a low-maintenance and healthy breed known for their outgoing nature, lively personality, and intelligence. Beagles are energetic dogs who require one hour of exercise every day. They like accompanying you on walks, hikes, or runs.

6. German Shorthaired Pointer

Breed Profile

• Height: 21 to 25 inches

• Weight: 45 to 70 pounds

• Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Another excellent hunting dog breed, the German Shorthaired Pointer, can sniff out and locate wild animals. These working dogs like activities involving mental stimulation, thereby making them wonderful explosive, and drug detection dogs.

German Shorthaired Pointers have high energy levels—they need to work to channel their energy in a non-destructive manner. They are avid swimmers having webbed feet. Due to this, they excel at water rescue missions.

Their keen sense allows them to detect a particular object among multiple smells in a large field. They excel in law enforcement for detecting illegal substances. The GSP got its name “pointer” due to its ability to follow its nose and point in the direction of a hidden scent.

7. Golden Retriever

Breed Profile

• Height: 21.5 to 24 inches

• Weight: 55 to 75 pounds

• Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

Having a less intimidating appearance than other detection dogs, Golden Retrievers are playful fellows having a kind and gentle demeanor. Goldies are one of the most popular dogs in America and do great around kids and other pets.

Their versatility, obedience, and intelligence make them easy to train for military work. Golden Retrievers are loyal companions that are always eager to please. They are capable of easily learning new detection skills.

Goldies detect scents in the air rather than on the ground, making these dogs helpful in finding people even if their traces are missing on the ground. They also help law enforcement agencies in conducting drug raids and locating missing criminals.

Conclusion

Various dog breeds are used for bomb detection due to their excellent sniffing abilities and high intelligence. If you are planning to adopt any such dog, one of the breeds mentioned in this article might be the right fit for you.