13 detection dogs sniffing a gleaming metal detector with terminals and security checkpoints nearby.

TSA Releases 2026 Canine Calendar Showcasing 13 Airport Dogs

At a Glance

  • TSA unveiled its 2026 Canine Calendar featuring 13 dogs
  • Dogs chosen from 97 teams nationwide
  • Over 1,000 explosive-detection canines patrol U.S. airports

Why it matters: These dogs keep travelers safe and bring a smile to airport visitors.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration released its 2026 canine calendar on Wednesday, spotlighting 13 of the more than 1,000 explosive-detection dogs that patrol airports nationwide.

Calendar Highlights

Each month showcases a pup’s photo and fun facts, from Denver’s 10-year-old Labrador Alex, who will soon retire, to Anchorage’s German shorthaired pointer Rosco, who loves sniffing flowers.

  • Rosco – Anchorage, flower sniffer
  • Alex – Denver, retiring soon
  • Steeler – Pittsburgh, winner of the 2025 TSA Cutest Canine Contest

Training and Reach

TSA runs the world’s largest explosive-detection program, training about 300 canines each year through a 16-week intensive curriculum.

Dog Airport Note
Alex Denver International Airport (DEN) 10-year-old, retiring soon
Bingo San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)
Chica Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Csipi-Simjee Orlando International Airport (MCO) Hyphenated name honors 9/11 victim
Cypress Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV)
Erika Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Haver John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
Laki Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Rony Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Rosco Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC)
Rosh Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Steeler Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) 2025 Cutest Canine Contest winner
Xaro St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)

The calendar is free to download from the TSA website, but travelers are warned that the dogs, though celebrity-like, remain vigilant in the airport environment.

Key Takeaways

Canine team performing detection drills with handler and TSA logo on equipment
  • The 2026 Canine Calendar showcases 13 award-winning dogs.
  • TSA trains 300 canines each year through a 16-week program.
  • The calendar is available for free download from the TSA website.

With their noses on the job and their faces in the spotlight, these canines remind us that security can also be heartwarming.

Author

  • My name is Ryan J. Thompson, and I cover weather, climate, and environmental news in Fort Worth and the surrounding region.

    Ryan J. Thompson covers transportation and infrastructure for newsoffortworth.com, reporting on how highways, transit, and major projects shape Fort Worth’s growth. A UNT journalism graduate, he’s known for investigative reporting that explains who decides, who pays, and who benefits from infrastructure plans.

Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *