Introduction to the Quarantine Detector Dog and the National Quarantine Detector Dog Center (NQDDC)

Plant Quarantine Division, APHIA

2026

In 2001, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ, which was reorganized as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) in 2023), began planning to utilize the keen sense of smell of quarantine detector dogs to assist quarantine personnel in detecting plant and animal products in baggage. Using detector dog will strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of plant and animal quarantine and reduce the risk of introducing of pests and diseases.

At the initial stage of the Detector Dog Program, BAPHIQ commissioned the Detector Dog Training Center of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA APHIS) to provide training for three quarantine detector dogs and their handlers. Upon returning to Taiwan in 2002, they joined the ranks of quarantine operations. To date, APHIA has deployed 56 detector dog teams across the Keelung, Taoyuan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung Branches to conduct inspection of the baggage of arriving passengers, imported postal parcels, and cargo at the border.

To enhance the detection performance of quarantine detector dogs and to improve canine welfare, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIA) is establishing the National Quarantine Detector Dog Center (NQDDC), which is scheduled to commence operations in the first quarter of 2027.

Located in Taoyuan City, the NQDDC encompasses a total area of 7,360 square meters and consists of two main sections: the Training and Administration Building and the Kennel Area, as described below:

1. Training and Administration Building (as shown in the figure): This building houses training rooms and office space for quarantine detector dog personnel. It also features Taiwan's first dog-friendly access ramp, allowing dogs to move between floors without climbing stairs.
2. Kennel Area: The kennel area includes three standard kennel buildings to house and for quarantine detector dogs assigned to APHIA's Taoyuan Branch to rest and one isolation kennel building for newly selected candidate dogs undergoing evaluation. This arrangement ensures the separate management of candidate dogs and operational quarantine detector dogs.
3. Adjacent to the kennels are a canine fitness area and a semi-outdoor exercise yard, providing facilities for physical conditioning, muscle-strengthening exercises, and stress relief.

The NQDDC is committed to developing science-based breeding, training, and operational practices to further enhance the effectiveness of quarantine detector dog teams in border inspections. It also aims to become an international center for quarantine detector dog breeding, training, and technical exchange. APHIA sincerely welcomes countries that employ detector dogs for border biosecurity operations to contact us and explore opportunities for future collaboration.