Reno-Tahoe Airport Prepares Busy Travel with K9 Unit

With the Reno-Tahoe International Airport expecting an increase in travelers this summer, security is all hands on deck, and all paws.

The airport has three K9s available 24/7 that are focused on sniffing out explosives, including Dingo the 5-year-old German short-hair pointer.

Like all other K9s, before being sent out into the field, Dingo had to go through a twelve-week training program. During training instructors observe handlers and then pair them with a dog with a personality that compliments them.

In Dingo’s case, he is paired with Reno-Tahoe Airport Police Officer Matthew Leitz.

“He goes home with me every day, he plays with the kids, he plays with the other dogs, he’s just like another old family dog for me. But then when we come here for work, he’s one heck of a worker. He wants to work, he always wants to work, makes my job a lot easier just wanting to work and get rewarded,” says Leitz.

Once put to work, handlers continue to train their dogs every day to build their relationship.

Lietz says if he notices a change in Dingo’s behavior while working, he removes the dog in case he may have found something and leaves it to the rest of security to resolve the issue.

“It could be something serious or maybe just an unattended bag,” said Ricardo Duarte, Chief of Reno-Tahoe Airport Police. “Anything suspicious we escalate it to a higher level depending on what the handler and the K9 identify.”

Airport police say there’s no need to feel concerned when seeing their K9s sniffing around the airport.

“TSA has more than 1,000 explosive detection canines working at airports and other transportation facilities across the country,” said Lorie Dankers, spokesperson for TSA Nevada.

“Our K9 teams are just an extra layer of security. It’s not uncommon for anybody to see them here regularly, that’s what they are here for. They are just working dogs. You will see them working, you will see them just walking around the terminals, it is not something to be afraid of,” adds Duarte.

Airport police want to remind everyone that these dogs are not to be pet or fed when you see them working.