Sad You Can’t Pet Airport Security Dogs? TSA Has A Consolation Prize

09.12.2023 - 00:25 / forbes.com

If you’re a dog lover, you’ve probably, at some point while standing in line at airport security, wished that you could pet the dogs roving the lines or pat them on the head and tell them they’re very good boys and girls who are working hard.

Alas, no petting is allowed, as the dogs’ harnesses caution. The 1,000 or so dogs that work at airports nationwide are quite busy helping to keep airports safe, trained to detect the scent of explosives or explosive materials.

But, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does have a consolation prize: You can download a free 2024 TSA Canine Calendar featuring some of the top dogs. The best part? The free printable calendar includes fun facts about the dogs, including their favorite types of treats and what they like to do when they clock out of work.

For instance, Csimbok, a German Shorthaired Pointer who works at Jacksonville International Airport, is a lovable goofball whose name in Hungarian means twigs and buds. Another fun fact? His tongue is longer than his tail!

Gini-Gina, a Belgian Malinois who works at LaGuardia, spends her down time sunning in the backyard, but she also likes romping around in the snow.

“She considers herself a queen of the outdoors and loves the chase birds,” the caption says of the January calendar gal.

And then there’s Benito (Ben for short), who sports a beard, and enjoys his work-life balance in Puerto Rico. “This goofy pup likes to take strolls through Old San Juan. He loves to feel the Caribbean breeze flowing through his wiry mane,” according to the calendar.

June’s cutie is Lubo-Lugo, a smiley Golden Retriever who works at Los Angeles International. In his next career, his handler says, he’d like to take to the big screen like his favorite actor Buddy, from "Air Bud."

Duke-LeDuc, a Labrador Retriever also at LAX, loves karaoke and Kari, a Belgian Malinois at Bangor International Airport in Maine, is rewarded with Ritz crackers filled with bits of peanut butter.

Learn the stories of even more dogs with the printable calendar that’s a part of a tradition that honors the agency's canines. This year’s calendar features 15 winners and includes dapper photos of the dogs.

As part of its security operations, TSA trains about 300 canines a year. The dogs work with handlers and each recruit spends 16 weeks in training at the TSA Canine Training Center, located at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio.

During their training, they meet their handlers, socialize to adapt to busy transportation environments, and learn their craft of detecting a variety of explosive odors before reporting to their duty stations.

Here’s a list of the dogs that are featured in this year’s calendar and the airports where they work: