Measuring Success with Detection Dogs

What does success really look like—certificates, competitions, or results?

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Detection dogs are used across the world in law enforcement, customs, and private security. But how do we define success for these dogs and their handlers? Is it a certificate, a trophy, a perfect video—or something else entirely?

It’s a question I’ve been thinking about a lot recently. When I look at the work I do with my own operational detection dogs—and reflect on the many teams I’ve seen during seminars and training overseas—it’s clear that success doesn’t look the same to everyone.

Success in the detection dog world is measured in many different ways, depending on who you ask. Here are just a few examples from across the industry:

• Some measure success by operational finds.

• Some by competition results.

• Others by certifications.

• And some, increasingly, by social media engagement.

Let’s take a closer look at each.

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Customs Competitions: Performance Over Operational Impact?

In Europe, some Customs dog units define success by how well their dogs perform in detection dog competitions. It’s an extremely competitive environment.

As a judge at the 2024 Customs Detection Dog Championships, I saw firsthand just how seriously these events are taken. In my view, some countries seem to value competition performance more than operational results—whether that’s detecting drugs, tobacco, or cash in the real world.

There’s also a heavy emphasis on obedience—not just basic control, but highly technical routines practiced daily. In some cases, handlers spend more time on obedience than detection work.

Much of their success is measured by the quality of the trained final response (TFR). I’ve seen dogs give a perfect indication—because so much training effort has gone into it—but those same dogs often lacked stamina or struggled in actual search scenarios.

To me, that’s a focus on performance and presentation, rather than operational impact.

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Certification Without Operational Proof

In the UK private sector, success is often linked to achieving a NCTAS-P qualification—a relatively new certification issued by a police dog school, viewed as the standard for accrediting explosive detection dogs.

It’s a professional milestone, no doubt. But what does it really prove?

The vast majority of explosive detection dogs in the UK—both private and police—will never make an operational find. Their only finds are during training, no matter how realistic the scenarios may be.

So, are they successful? Maybe in a controlled environment. But operationally? We just don’t know.

And that’s where we risk confusing qualification with capability. A certificate proves that a dog met certain criteria in a test—but it doesn’t guarantee performance when it really matters. If our only measure of success is a piece of paper, we’re missing the bigger picture.

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Operational Results: My Definition of Success

This is where I draw the line with my own dogs.

None of the detection dogs I’ve worked over the past 13 years have had paper qualifications or licenses to say they’re fit to operate. But they’ve consistently delivered where it counts—in real-world operations.

My dogs have located millions of pounds worth of illegal tobacco and played a role in seizing millions more in criminal cash. They’ve uncovered hidden compartments, shipping containers, stash houses, and vehicles packed with illicit goods.

These were not training setups. They were the real thing.

No certificate can replicate the unpredictability of live operations. My dogs work in chaotic, unfamiliar environments. They adapt quickly, problem-solve under pressure, and keep going when conditions are tough. It’s not always polished. The trained final response doesn’t always look perfect. But it gets results.

And that, to me, is the most meaningful measure of success.

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The Social Media Illusion

Social media is everywhere, and in the detection dog world, it’s changing how some people define success.

I see it on my own Instagram and Facebook feeds—trainers and handlers measuring their success by how many views, likes, and shares their videos get. For some, showcasing a perfect TFR has become the goal.

But is that real success?

There’s no doubt that these dogs look sharp on camera. But what we often don’t see is how they perform outside of the frame. A dog giving a flawless TFR after sniffing a brick wall for a minute might make for a great video—but that’s not my definition of operational excellence.

And to be clear, I’m not criticising the use of the brick wall. It’s a tool I use myself during training. But I don’t believe it should be the yardstick for measuring success.

True success doesn’t always go viral. It’s messy. It’s unpredictable. But it happens where it matters—on the job.

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Conclusion: What Really Counts

The detection dog world is full of different opinions, approaches, and standards—and with that comes a wide range of ways people define success. For some, it’s passing a test or earning a certificate. For others, it’s winning competitions or going viral with a slick training video.

All of those things have their place. But none of them, in my view, matter more than one simple thing: results.

My dogs don’t hold licenses. They don’t have certificates. They don’t compete or chase social media fame. But they find things. They help law enforcement seize goods, shut down criminal operations, and make a real-world impact.

That’s what I train for. That’s what I care about. And that’s how I define success.

So however you choose to measure success with your detection dog—whether through certification, competition, or camera-ready moments—just make sure your definition is rooted in something real.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how it looks.

It’s about whether your dog can get the job done when it counts.