SHANNON Airport is celebrating best boy Brody as part of International Dog Day today (Tuesday, August 26).
Two-year-old “sprocker” (springer spaniel crossed with cocker spaniel) Brody is one of Revenue’s canine crimefighters based at the airport.
Brody is a key member of Ireland’s team of 26 detector dogs who were instrumental in the seizure of drugs, tobacco products, and cash worth over €100million in 2024, Shannon Airport said.
Alan Foley, national detector dog programme manager at Revenue, said that “Brody can screen a person, a bag, or even an entire area in minutes. This allows us to keep legitimate travel moving while swiftly identifying those who shouldn’t slip through.”
Before starting a search, Brody begins with a “free run” of the area to get familiar with the environment. Once he’s ready, he heads back to his handler Wendy to signal that it’s time for the focused, methodical inspection he is trained for.
Like most dogs, Brody’s training started with a simple ball – which became a reward for identifying target scents, helping shape his instincts through focused training, followed by eight weeks of bonding and honing his skills with handler Wendy.
The relationship between Brody and Wendy makes for a unique partnership. Not only do they work side by side at Shannon Airport, they also live together, alongside his retired predecessor, Harley.
From detection to downtime, Brody’s journey is one of devotion, skill, and a whole lot of heart, an airport representative said. As he walks through Shannon Airport, tail in the air, not only does he do an excellent detection job, he also brings a smile to the faces of passengers and staff alike.
