A Successful Six Months for Sniffer Dogs at Vienna Airport

A Successful Six Months for Sniffer Dogs at Vienna Airport

A sniffer German Shepherd at Vienna Airport. Photo: BMF/Zoll

 

In the first half of 2024, sniffer dogs at Vienna Airport uncovered over 100,000 contraband cigarettes, 129 kilograms of tobacco, 1,250 cigars, more than half a million euros in cash, and around 50 kilos of drugs, officials have announced.

From January to June, the customs service dogs undertook more than 600 missions, resulting in over 550 arrests, the Ministry of Finance revealed on Monday.

Currently, there are 26 service dogs working for customs, with five still in training. Before deployment, the dogs undergo a comprehensive training programme. Each service dog learns to detect various items, including drugs, tobacco products, and cash. They can also identify contraband animals and wildlife as part of international conservation efforts.

Species protection sniffer dogs are conditioned to recognise up to 20 different scents.

The majority of the service dogs are German and Belgian Shepherds, although German Shorthaired Pointers and a Labrador are also employed.

All service dogs are trained to indicate scents ‘passively’. This means the dog approaches the source of the odour with its nose and remains there. After about ten years of service, these dedicated ‘sniffers’ typically retire, often spending their golden years with their handlers.

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