sniffer dog

American  

[snif-er dawg, dog] / ˈsnɪf ər ˌdɔg, ˌdɒg /

Sometimes sniff dog

noun

1. a dog trained to find illegal drugs or explosives by smell.

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sniffer dog British  

noun

1. a police dog trained to detect drugs or explosives by smell

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Etymology

Origin of sniffer dog

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

PD Bert had served with Cleveland Police as a sniffer dog for three-and-a-half years, tasked with detecting drugs, cash and firearms.

From BBC

In the snippets of information shared with the media, Guardia Civil press officers referred to specialist sniffer dog teams from Madrid, helicopter crews and drones scouring the rough terrain.

From BBC

Police said Friday that the coast guard, police and fire department were involved in the search, with a helicopter, drones and a police sniffer dog deployed.

From Seattle Times

Every busload of passengers is screened meticulously using a sniffer dog before it can pass.

From BBC

It's like training a sniffer dog, she explains: you give it a smell of the contraband, in this analogy the cancer cells, for it to be able to hunt them down later.

From BBC