Australian Customs Detector Dog Program: A Biosecurity Success Story

The Australian Customs Detector Dog Program is a highly successful initiative that plays a vital role in protecting the country's biosecurity.

These highly trained dogs are able to detect a wide range of threats, including prohibited and restricted items, as well as pests and diseases.

The program relies on the expertise of experienced dog handlers who work closely with the dogs to develop their skills and abilities.

The dogs are trained to detect a variety of scents, including those of prohibited foods, plants, and animals, as well as explosives and narcotics.

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The Australian Customs Detector Dog Program is a national program with a clear division of labor. The program is divided into two main sub-sections: Operations and Breeding and Training.

The Operations sub-section is responsible for seven regional operational units across the country, located in major cities such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

These regional units are the backbone of the program, working tirelessly to detect and prevent the importation of prohibited goods.

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In 1969, Australian Customs Service had only two detector dogs, which were sourced from animal shelters and people with unwanted pets.

The Detector Dog Program grew rapidly throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but by the early 1990s, it was facing difficulties in sourcing high-quality dogs.

The solution was the development of the Customs detector dog breeding program, which aimed to produce a reliable and high-quality supply of dogs.

Research by Mr John Vanderloo identified the Labrador breed as the best fit for the program due to their focus, versatility, and strong hunt and retrieve drives.

A three-year study conducted with the University of Melbourne and the Royal Guide Dogs Associations of Australia identified the required genetics for breeding and the best environmental influences for development of detector dogs.

In early 1993, a three-year pilot-breeding program commenced using Labradors purchased from the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia and leading Labrador breeders.

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Today, the Australian Customs detector dog breeding program is the only source for Australian Customs detector dogs and is one of only a handful of specialized Detector Dog Breeding Programs in the world.

Since 1993, Australian Customs has bred more than 1,000 puppies, most of which have been successfully deployed throughout Australia and overseas as operational detector dogs.

Expand your knowledge: National Detector Dog Training Center

The program's key features include a comprehensive curriculum that covers the basics of programming, data structures, and software engineering. This curriculum is designed to equip students with a solid foundation in programming principles.

One of the program's main objectives is to provide students with hands-on experience through a series of coding projects and exercises. These projects are designed to help students apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems.

The program also places a strong emphasis on collaboration and teamwork, with students working in groups to complete projects and participate in coding challenges. This approach helps students develop essential skills like communication, problem-solving, and time management.

Upon completion of the program, students will have a well-rounded understanding of programming concepts and be equipped to pursue a career in software development.

The Australian Border Force Detector Dog Program is a national program with a rich history of protecting Australia's borders. It's been 50 years since the program began with two Labrador Retrievers, Captain and Lady, in Sydney in 1969.

The program has grown significantly over the years, with more than 60 detector dog teams across the country now dedicated to detecting drugs, firearms, explosives, currency, and tobacco. These teams have completed over 24,000 targeted operations in support of ABF priorities in 2018.

Detector dogs are an essential part of the program, and their capabilities continue to evolve to meet emerging threats at the border. In the 2018-2019 financial year alone, the program had over 800 illicit narcotic detections, detected over seven million dollars of undeclared currency, and interdicted over four tonnes of tobacco products.

The National Detector Dog Program Facility in Melbourne is a world-class facility that can house up to 200 dogs and provides the ABF with all their operational detector dogs. This facility is a testament to the program's commitment to excellence and its dedication to breeding and training world-class detector dogs.

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The ABF's Detector Dog Program has provided hundreds of detector dogs for domestic and international law enforcement agencies, including the AFP, Corrective Services, Japan Customs, and Singapore Police. The program's success is a result of the hard work and dedication of all the ABF and Customs staff who have contributed to its development over the years.

Detector dogs are an integral part of the Australian Border Force's (ABF) Detector Dog Program, which has been protecting Australia's borders for 50 years.

The Detector Dog Program has grown from modest beginnings with two Labrador Retrievers in Sydney in 1969 to over 60 detector dog teams across the nation.

Detector dogs are trained to detect a range of items, including drugs, firearms, explosives, currency, and tobacco. In the 2018-2019 financial year alone, detector dog teams detected over 800 illicit narcotic detections and interdicted over four tonnes of tobacco products in the air and sea cargo environments.

Detector dog teams have completed over 24,000 targeted operations in support of ABF priorities in 2018. These operations included the mass screening of passengers, cargo, postal items, and arriving vessels and aircraft.

The Detector Dog Program has provided hundreds of detector dogs for domestic and international law enforcement agencies, including the Australian Federal Police and Japan Customs.