Lop-eared dogs are less intimidating and are more popular with airport passengers. This is the conclusion reached by the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as published by The New York Times .
After conducting a survey of users of the Washington Dulles International Airport, the agency found that these dogs are better received by children and passengers. For this reason, from 2019 they will begin to give priority to these dogs and they will be more visible within North American airports.
Lop-eared breeds used for explosives detection include the Golden Retriever, Labrador, and the German Shorthaired Pointer. These dogs make up 70% of the body of police dogs. “They are good dogs for all ages, as they are not scary,” explains Chris Shelton, the head of Dog Training at TSA, according to an article published in Animal’s Health .
However, although lop-eared dogs seem friendlier, it should not be thought that pointy-eared dogs are aggressive just because of their appearance. In fact, they are very obedient and fully trained to guard airports, which is why they will continue to perform their police dog duties. TSA spokesman James Gregory also states that these dogs have undergone strict training, so they can detect odors at customs and even interact with people.
In addition, training the dog together with that of its companion costs between approximately $ 26,000 and $ 42,000 , which is why the animal should not be petted while working, regardless of its breed or appearance.
Scientific basis
According to Lee Alan Dugatkin, a biologist at the University of Louisville, that lop-eared dogs appear friendlier has a scientific basis. According to this researcher, animals that have been domesticated by humans have certain physical characteristics, such as drooping ears. “It is the appearance that people usually associate as a friendly trait,” emphasizes the researcher in Animal’s Health .
However, other experts are totally against this discrimination and point out that an animal should not be judged solely on its physical appearance , since pointy-eared dogs can be as affectionate as lop-eared dogs.
