Best Detection Dogs

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Sniffer dogs are heroes when it comes to detecting drugs or explosives. A contest to pick the best sniffer dog in Korea was held to bring together the most capable and trustworthy working dogs from all over the country.

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This is a drug-sniffing dog from Incheon Customs. Ten suitcases are placed in a row and the dog smells each one. Then it sits down in front of one suitcase. The suitcase contained methamphetamine. Next up was the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's bomb-detecting dog. One of these ten soldiers is carrying an explosive. The dog starts smelling for a bomb and finds the suspect in just 10 seconds.

[Soundbite] "The dog is signaling that this man is suspicious."

A bomb is found on the soldier that the dog picked out. This is a detection dog belonging to U.S. Forces in Korea. When someone acts suspiciously, it immediately launches an attack. These dogs use their exceptional sense of smell, tens of thousands of times better than humans', to detect drugs and bombs. They undergo intense training to work in various fields. Some 30 best detection dogs from local military units, police, customs offices, and American forces in Korea are taking part in this biennial three-day event to show off their skills.

[Soundbite] Kim Yung-moon(Commissioner, Korea Customs Service) : "The contest is expected to help share the latest detection and training techniques, and show the public how hard these drug and bomb-sniffing dogs work."

A competition for students from eight universities was held concurrently. The dogs easily go through the obstacles. It was followed by a relay race. The final winner of this year's competition will be determined on Friday.