AKC Detection Dog Task Force

Homegrown terrorism and mass shootings have sadly become everyday news in the United States. As a result, the demand for explosives detection dogs as a deterrent against such crimes is on the increase with one major problem: there are not enough dogs to meet the growing need.

The US Government purchases 80 to 90% its working dogs from Europe, but there are fewer dogs available from overseas as those countries face their own rising terrorism threats.

The AKC Board of Directors established the AKC Detection Dog Task Force (DDTF) in 2016 to help with this national security issue. The Task Force has interviewed key stakeholders involved in explosives detection including people from academia, government, military, policing, training and breeding. Subsequently, the AKC has launched several initiatives focused on Government Relations, Networking/Education and Breeder Outreach.

Three Areas of Emphasis:

Government Relations – There are many obstacles that stand in the way of U.S. breeders being able to easily sell dogs to the government for detection work, including low market price for top working and field line puppies and complicated government vendor contracts that make it difficult for individual breeders. The AKC Government Relations team, led by Vice President Sheila Goffe, has made strides in bringing these issues to the attention of lawmakers.

AKC Government Relations provided recommendations in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2810) to support using and developing additional sources for high quality domestically-bred working dogs. HR 2810 also requires the Department of Defense to provide reports on specific aspects of military working dog evaluation, procurement and breeding programs.  This includes comparative costs of foreign versus domestically-bred dogs, availability of domestically-bred dogs, and non-classified requirements for “green” (minimally-trained) dogs.

Goffe also was invited to testify on the issue before a Senate committee in October 2017, where she expressed the dire need for these dogs to protect the country.

Networking/Education – 2024 AKC National Detection Dog Conference was held in July 2024 in Wilmington, OH. The 2024 theme was Detection Dogs: Past, Present & Future. The conference included speakers that operate on the cutting edge of canine detection research, training, breeding and handling. The conference looked at the crucial role of working dogs in protecting public safety; current trends and context; and explore opportunities for breeders, researchers, industry leaders, and trainers to work together to address the shortage of U.S. bred detection canines and to improve future operations.

Breeder Outreach – AKC breeders serve as a dependable source of prospective detection dogs for law enforcement and government agencies, particularly for explosives detection. The program trains breeders to raise working dogs effectively, creating a sustainable and scalable pipeline beyond initial AKC support. Education includes a mix of online and in-person sessions, personalized guidance, regular teleconferences, and digital outreach, resulting in increased engagement in phase two. Participants receive clear training protocols, flowcharts for progress tracking, and are encouraged to maintain monthly logs, with one-on-one support provided by subject matter experts.