Paws and passports: A detector dog’s tale at Junior School PFA breakfast

Our girls in the Junior School were in for a treat this morning when Dave, a seasoned Detector Dog Trainer with the Aviation Security Service, visited their special family breakfast event hosted by the PFA. With 20 years of experience training detector dog teams, Dave has a deep passion for public safety and ensuring his teams are always at their best.

During his talk, Dave gave fascinating insights into the world of detector dogs, explaining the rigorous training process and the careful selection of puppies destined for this important work. He also shared stories from the field and surprised the audience with a display of confiscated airport items—some expected, others more surprising. Among them? Oven cleaner. It was a stark reminder of the strange and sometimes dangerous things people attempt to bring on flights.

However, the highlight of the morning was the introduction of Pace, a beautiful black Labrador puppy just beginning his journey in detector dog training. The children were captivated, and many were left dreaming of bringing foster puppies home.

A huge thank you to Dave and his family, Kim and Alice, for providing a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes world of the airport and the vital role detector dogs play in keeping us safe.