Not many airport patrollers work for tennis balls. But that is Argo’s favorite payment for a job well done.
The Labrador retriever spends most of his waking hours sniffing for potential explosives at the Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) in Maryland.
Transportation Security Specialist Jonathan Lilly is his handler. The two have been a team for seven years. They’re gearing up for the hustle and bustle of the holiday travel season.
“Even at nine years old, he’s still like a puppy. He still wants to work,” Lilly says.
During a demonstration, Argo is presented with a decoy. That involves a person wearing a backpack containing something that smells like possible explosives.
The decoy joins others passengers and walks casually toward the security line at BWI. Argo reacts to the scent by dropping his nose to the ground. He wags his tail faster. Then he pulls his handler toward the target.
Lilly gives the canine his favorite toy, a tennis ball on a string. Argo celebrates by flinging the ball around. Lilly rewards him further with a quick game of tug-of-war. Argo responds with more enthusiastic wagging.
“It never ceases to amaze me what he can do,” Lilly says. “He’s just so good at it.”
TSA dogs are trained to detect air currents trailing behind people, like the wake created by a boat, officials say. These pups’ sense of smell is so good that they can identify individual components of an item. While humans might recognize the aroma of pizza, dogs might smell the cheese, sauce, and crust separately.
The agency’s explosive detection dogs train at the National TSA Canine Training Center in San Antonio, Texas. That’s where Argo was assigned to Lilly. The two completed a 16-week program before starting their assignment at BWI. They still undergo frequent training and testing to keep Argo at the top of his game.
“That way we can make sure he’s staying proficient in what he’s doing. But also to try to advance,” Lilly says.
Lilly believes he and Argo made a good team from day one, but their bond has only become stronger over the years. Lilly is so attached to Argo that he plans to keep his furry companion as a pet when Argo retires. That is likely years away.
What does Argo do when he isn’t working? Lilly says the pooch is laid back and takes lots of naps.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. — Psalm 121:8
