According to some reports, travelers may see more floppy-eared dogs working at the airport than pointy-eared ones.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the floppy-eared pups will be sniffing out explosives in public areas, according to Transportation Security Administration Administrator David Pekoske.
TSA trains seven breeds of dogs,German short-haired pointers, wire-haired pointers, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and Vizslas, which have floppy ears, and German shepherds and Belgian Malinois, which have pointy ears.
"We've made a conscious effort in TSA ... to use floppy ear dogs," Pekoske told the Washington Examiner during a tour of operations at Washington Dulles International Airport. "We find the passenger acceptance of floppy-ear dogs is just better. It presents just a little bit less of a concern. Doesn't scare children."
TSA could not respond to requests for more comment on the dogs because of the partial government shutdown.