CIA Bomb-Sniffing Dropout Puppy Prefers To Smell The Roses

Lori Ennis
by Lori Ennis
The CIA tweeted about a bomb-sniffing dog dropout named Lulu, who’s now a viral sensation – even the Department of Defense is in on the fun!


The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) uses canine members all the time in various situations and missions. Most are German Shepherds, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, and are ‘recruited’ from ‘Puppies Behind Bars,’ a program that allows inmates to train puppies for service.


Related: Military Bomb-Sniffing Dog Joins Handler for Well-Deserved Retirement


The program Lulu the Labrador Retriever was in is not for the week. It’s a 10-week intensive course that teaches dogs how to sniff out explosives. According to the CIA, puppies typically display puppy-like behavior for a day or two, but most stay the course and pass the course at the end.


Pupdate:


Sometimes, even after testing, our pups make it clear being an explosive detection K9 isn’t for them https://t.co/nPZl6YWNKb pic.twitter.com/07TXRCH7bp


— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017


But not Lulu. Lulu, according to the CIA’s uncharacteristically sweet tweets, was just not destined for the life of a secret agent, and they detailed her drop-out process in a series of some adorable pictures.


All dogs, like humans, have good & bad days when learning something new.


Same for our pups, though it usually lasts just a day or two. pic.twitter.com/z9lQa2uKX4


— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017


As they did, they shared with the world the process that these amazing dogs go through, and how they help America out as part of the K-9 Corps. They also shared that they harbored no ill-will toward sweet Lulu, saying that it’s of the utmost importance that the K-9 Corps dogs enjoy what they are doing. Even the best-trained and tested pups must love the work that they do, and even though Lulu was competent, she just showed she preferred sniffing roses as opposed to sniffing explosive odor.


We’re sad to announce that a few weeks into training, Lulu began to show signs that she wasn’t interested in detecting explosive odors. pic.twitter.com/c6lxHPfC09


— CIA (@CIA) October 18, 2017


The interwebs went wild, offering her homes and even giving some, ahem constructive criticism to the CIA, and of course, some adoration for the most adorable puppy dropout ever.


Related: Super Sniffer Dog Helps Eradicate Invasive Ant Species


Even the U.S. Department of Defense wished Lulu well, encouraging her to ‘Live her best life,’ and we join them in that.


Live your best life, Lulu! 🐶🐕


— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) October 20, 2017


Seems she will, as her handler has adopted the pup, and now she gets to hang with his new trainee, Harry, as he goes through the program.


ICYMI


Lulu is no longer in training, but was adopted by handler & is now living her best life in retirement. https://t.co/nPZl6YFclB pic.twitter.com/mR7h8HizGY


— CIA (@CIA) October 22, 2017


Except at the end of the day? She’s not on call. Smart girl!


ICYMI:


Lulu is no longer training, but was adopted by her handler & currently living her best life in retirement. https://t.co/nPZl6YWNKb pic.twitter.com/V3yRv5Tna9


— CIA (@CIA) October 19, 2017

Lori Ennis
Lori Ennis

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