About Pups for Peace

Frequently Asked Questions About Pups for Peace

Q:  How much does a dog cost?

A:  Typically $10,000 after we include the purchase price, food, transportation, kennels, equipment, trainers, and veterinary care.  Currently there is great demand for these dogs because of the increase in international terrorist attacks.  Consequently, the price for dogs continues to rise. 

Q:  What breed of dog is used?

A:  The majority of bomb-sniffing dogs are German Shepherds, Belgian Shepherds/Belgian Malinois, and Labrador Retrievers.  They are chosen because they have exceptional hunting skills in their bloodlines. The tenacity, intelligence and mental stability needed for excellent hunting dogs are some of the same skills needed for bomb-detection dogs.

Q:  Do all dogs of the breeds mentioned above qualify?

A:  Unfortunately, no.  The dog must fit a particular psychological profile:
* Exhibits a high energy level
* Loves to play with toys
* Has an obsessive-compulsive desire to seek out an object in order to receive a toy as a reward
* Shows the stamina to stay focused for an extended period of time, since the activity of sniffing out explosives is physically and mentally tiring.

In addition, the dog must be able to screen out distractions, including food.  At the same time, he must be able to stay calm once the explosives have been identified.  PFP dogs are trained to sit and stare at the location of their "find" until given permission to move.  They are not "attack dogs."

Q:  Where do the dogs come from?

A:  The worldwide law-enforcement community has, over the years, identified specialty dog suppliers all over the world.  Currently we import our dogs from Europe.  However, if we raise enough funds, we can begin to breed them ourselves in Israel.

Q:  Why don't you go to animal shelters for the dogs?

A:  We do but unfortunately it is rare to find the precise qualifications for a bomb-sniffing dog in shelters -- but not impossible.  The problem is that we cannot fly all over the country or the world to test each dog to determine if he is qualified.  It is more efficient to purchase dogs from trusted breeders.

Q:  How long does it take to train a dog?  Are the handlers trained at the same time?

A:  It usually takes between 4 and 6 months to train a dog.  For the first 2-3 months the dog works with an instructor to learn the behavior necessary to detect explosives.  He is trained to find a number of different types of explosives.  The dog is then "handler-ready."  The handlers join their dogs for 2-3 months of bonding into a cohesive explosives-detection team.  They are trained as a team until they are deployed together.

Q:  What skills are required of a good handler?

A:  The requirements for an explosive-detection dog handler are very different from that of a regular dog trainer.  Being a good handler requires very specific knowledge of security and explosives.  Most of our handlers have a background in the military, law enforcement, and/or security.  They must have the ability to "read" their dog -- to be sensitive to it -- and to communicate with it.  They also need to have excellent "people skills" since they will be dealing with the public.

Q:  Can the smell of explosives be masked by perfume or some other strong smell that will fool the dog?

A:  A dog's nose functions more effectively than any machine.  If a single gram of cocaine is hidden in 10 pounds of coffee, then placed in a paper bag, and then hidden in a metal cabinet, the dog can smell the metal of the cabinet, the paper of the bag, the coffee, and then the single gram of cocaine.  A strong "decoy" smell will not mask the scent for a trained dog.

Q:  Have any of the Pups for Peace dogs been successful in identifying explosives? 

A:  Yes, the dogs have been successful.  However, for security reasons, we cannot say how many operations they foiled.  However, there are two recent articles on our web page that discuss their success.  One is called, "To Sniff And Protect" which was published in the Jerusalem Post.  The other article entitled, "These Israeli 'Agents' Have A Nose For Explosives" appeared in the Christian Science Monitor.

Q:  Are the dogs at risk?

A:  The dogs are deployed at high-risk sites.  Most importantly, their work is to prevent explosives from being detonated and to save lives.  We do everything we can to keep them happy and in good health.  However, they are at as much risk as their handlers. 

Q:  What will become of a dog that is no longer useful for detecting explosives?

A:  Our dogs are extremely precious to us.  We rely on them to save lives, and love them for the work they do.  The dogs' handlers entrust their lives to their dogs and, understandably, grow quite attached to them.  On average, a dog's period of service is 6 - 7 years. Then the dog lives out his life with his handler or is adopted into a private home.  Even those dogs that don't quite measure up in training are given away to loving families.

Q:  Doesn't Israel already have plenty of bomb-sniffing dogs?

A:  Israel does have bomb-sniffing dogs in its military and police, as do most other developed nations.  However, no country has ever before been subjected to the onslaught of homicide bombings that Israeli civilians have experienced in the last few years.  Therefore, both the demand and the expense are high.  Also, army dogs typically scout borders and checkpoints whereas Pups for Peace dogs are deployed within Israel's interior at shopping malls, markets, on trains & buses, and at public transportation sites.  PFP is a rapid response, grassroots effort to address this shortage.

Q:  How much of the money that is donated to Pups for Peace goes to fundraising and/or administrative costs?

A:  Pups for Peace's objective is to forward 90% of the funds raised to the procurement, care, feeding, transportation, and training of our dogs.  In 2002 we were able to do that.  In 2003, while our fundraising expenses were low (5% of revenues), our general and administrative expenses were higher than in the previous year (14% of revenues) because of the one-time expense of moving all of PFP dogs and equipment (12 tons worth) to Israel.  Now that we are settled in Israel and have no training operations in the U.S., we expect that number to decline.  We will provide additional information after our 2004 financial statement is released.

Q:  I'm interested in volunteering.  What can I do?

A:  The actual training of explosive-detection dogs is a very specialized field.  The trainer must understand explosives, policing, and security.  Unfortunately, the knowledge of training house pets is very different from that required to train our dogs.  While we appreciate all offers for volunteer help, our primary need is to raise money so that we can continue to purchase and train dogs. You will find creative ways to fund-raise for Pups for Peace on our website www.pupsforpeace.org on the page called, "Who We Are & How You Can Help."

 Q:  Who names the dogs?

A:  Typically the person, family, synagogue, federation, country club, JCC or other organization that raises $10,000, names their dog.  Currently we have dogs named Heidi, Rubin, Yael, Moshe Herzl, Mira, Boomer, Roni, and many others.

IF WE CAN ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.