The CIA trains explosive detection canines, aka bomb dogs, to sniff out potentially deadly situations. But sometimes a puppy has other ideas.
Every year, the CIA picks new recruits and puts them through six weeks of imprint training, where they get paired with human partners, another 10-weeks of advanced training, national certification tests and, if all goes successfully, graduation day in November.
Most people have no idea that the CIA has its own K9 Corps.
K9 officers serve as the first line of defense against explosive threats to Agency personnel and buildings at Headquarters and abroad. Additionally, they are on-call 24/7 to assist local law enforcement and other federal government agencies search for explosives.
Pending graduation, these new puppies will join CIA’s K9 Corp and play a large part in keeping everyone at the CIA safe.
When Lulu the smallest dog in the class, a 1½-year-old female black lab from Susquehanna Service Dogs was first brought in, staff noticed right away her potential foibles, according to the CIA news site.
She’s hyper and silly when she plays, but has an easygoing sweetness and is extremely sensitive to her surroundings and what is being asked of her.
Lulu was being trained for Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia.
But then something happened:
We’re sad to announce that a few weeks into training, Lulu began to show signs that she wasn’t interested in detecting explosive odors. pic.twitter.com/c6lxHPfC09
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
All dogs, like humans, have good & bad days when learning something new.
Same for our pups, though it usually lasts just a day or two. pic.twitter.com/z9lQa2uKX4— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
There are a million reasons why a dog has a bad day & our trainers must become doggy psychologists to figure out what will help pups. pic.twitter.com/iaeRpGiSUR
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
Sometimes a pup is bored & needs extra playtime, sometimes they need a little break, or it’s a minor medical condition like a food allergy. pic.twitter.com/pPaBPohhqB
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
Lulu wasn’t interested in searching for explosives.
Even when motivated w food & play, she was clearly no longer enjoying herself. pic.twitter.com/puvhDk1tRX— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
Our trainers’ top concern is physical & mental well-being of K9s.
They made difficult decision & did what’s best for Lulu: stop her training pic.twitter.com/Ss9y9LpE9q— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
When a pup is removed or retires from our K9 program, the handler & their family is given the chance to adopt them & many do. pic.twitter.com/EMfua7zhbT
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
Lulu was adopted by her handler & now enjoys her days playing w his kids & a new friend, & sniffing out rabbits & squirrels in the backyard. pic.twitter.com/WOImM75P1D
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
We’ll miss Lulu, but it was right decision for her & we wish her all the best in her new life!https://t.co/nPZl6YWNKb pic.twitter.com/Mbcr9C7wUY
— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017
