Super sniffer dogs to greet travelers to New Zealand

Border control authorities in New Zealand say they've created a new breed of "super dog" to sniff out unwelcome items on visitors to New Zealand.

Officials at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said Monday they hoped the new breed of detector dog would be put to use enforcing New Zealand's strict biosecurity laws, which prohibit travellers bringing food, animal and plant products into the country.

Sniffers dogs routinely run their noses over luggage as travelers wait to clear entry procedures at the country's ports and airports.

Until now, the MPI has used beagles and harrier hounds for the work, but last month an MPI detector beagle produced a litter of six pups after mating with an MPI harrier.

"It's the first time anyone in the world has crossed a beagle and a harrier for detection work and we have very high expectations for this super-breed," MPI detection technology manager Brett Hickman said in a statement.

"The idea is to combine the height of the harrier with the proven biosecurity qualities of the beagles we have been breeding for nearly 20 years. The result could be the perfect sniffing machine to keep unwanted pests out of New Zealand."

The new dogs would be about the size of a labrador.

"Their extra height will make it easier for them to sniff backpacks carried by travellers or airport baggage stacked on trolleys," said Hickman.

MPI has employed beagles in the role since 1996, and it started using harriers last year. Endit