Dogs graduate from K9 training with Texas DPS

The graduation at DPS headquarters featured three of the six new dogs that completed a two-month training program. Loko, Kelsey and Netti arrived for the ceremony after silver K-9 pins were presented to their handlers, Troopers Clayton Blacksher, Luke Garza and Matt Walts.

The canine teams join 42 others to find illegal drugs but the mission is not limited to traffic stops.

"A lot of times they'll be called to do search warrants. Especially for our CID folks. So it can be residences, it could be apartment buildings, it could be parking lots with cars, it could be post offices, checking packages, so it could be an array of things,” said Capt. Griffin.

The dogs clearly stay busy. According to state records, in 2015 and 2016 DPS K-9 teams seized more than 22,000 pounds of marijuana as well as hundreds of pounds of cocaine, heroin, meth, hash. They have also found $16-million in cash.

Dogs like these can be expensive, if purchased through a private group. But the dogs that graduated in this class came from TSA and the military.

DPS will accept dogs that are donated and will also use mix-breeds.

"So they have different personalities, we do like to see the aggression, what we call aggression, it’s not towards people, its aggression to what it is they are looking for, in this case its narcotics the odor of narcotics, we like to see that excitement- to them it’s a game,” said Capt. Griffin.

But make no mistake - this is a working partnership.

"They are not pets, they are not to be treated as pets, these are working dogs. When they go home in the evenings after their shift, they get kenneled, obviously they get well taken care of and fed, but they don’t mingle with family, they dont mingle with other pets, they are not treated the same as a true pet, they are strictly a working dog,” said Capt. Griffin.

Along with the group at Friday’s graduation party three other dogs also completed training. They're replacing K-9s that are retiring. Another dog form the class is staying in school for additional training. 2 dogs did wash out-and will be provided with forever homes.

State troopers also have dogs that have been trained to find explosives.

There are 7 teams and they are based here in Austin.