Bolt from DFW wins TSA's 2026 Cutest Canine Contest

By Atlas Watchline Staff · News · August 26, 2026

TSA said Bolt, a 3-year-old German shorthaired pointer from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, won its 2026 Cutest Canine Contest.

Bolt, a 3-year-old German shorthaired pointer from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, won the Transportation Security Administration’s 2026 Cutest Canine Contest, the agency said Tuesday.

TSA said the contest was held on social media and drew votes from the traveling public. Employee online voting first narrowed 85 nominated dogs to four finalists representing different regions of the country, and Bolt emerged as the national winner. TSA said Bolt is the third German shorthaired pointer to win the contest in the past four years.

TSA Administrator David P. Cummins said the contest recognizes canine teams and the bond between dogs and handlers. He also said explosives detection canine teams are one of TSA’s most visible security layers and help detect threats, deter attacks, and give travelers confidence in the agency’s work.

Bolt’s handler, Daphne Wang, described him as intense, hardworking, full of personality, energetic, and excited to go to work, according to TSA’s announcement.

The agency also pointed to the broader history of its canine program. TSA said it trains canine teams at its national Canine Training Center in San Antonio. The National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program began in 1972 under the Federal Aviation Administration as a partnership with state and local law enforcement, then moved to TSA after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

TSA said its first TSA-led explosives detection canine teams were used to screen air cargo in March 2008, and the program expanded to screen passengers in 2011. The agency also said canine teams work through large groups of moving people to detect the source of an explosive’s odor, with handlers trained to read subtle changes in behavior and follow a set procedure if a dog alerts.

TSA said canine teams should not be petted while on duty at airports. It also said the 2026 Canine Calendar is available on its website.

TSA said it will announce how the public can download the free 2027 TSA Canine Calendar, which will feature 12 contestants from the 2026 contest, including Bolt.

Sources

• PR Newswire / TSA release

Editorial note: This article was prepared with AI assistance and includes source attribution for reader review.

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