Intel dogs

The CIA’s top 10 dog-training tips

If you’re a pet lover, this article is for you. The CIA recruits its pups through a program that pairs handlers with puppies. After a lengthy basic training program, the pups go through a rigorous 10-week course with a CIA handler. If the dog and handler form a strong bond, the officer takes the pup home with him/her to live. The CIA will actually come out to your house and build a facility to safely house the new dog. Plus you get a badass unmarked SUV to transport the newest member of your family back and forth to work.

K-9 officers are an important part of the Security Protective Service (SPS), which ensures the CIA and its employees are kept safe. The trainers, all SPS officers themselves, work with a select group of dogs and handlers to teach them the ins and outs of explosives detection. Dogs have a remarkable ability to sniff out over 19,000 explosive scents, making them ideal for this job. Here are 10 training tips provided by the CIA’s K-9 unit that you can apply to working with your favorite pet.