Border Guard’s Lbu Cunto to defend national championship title in Vaasa

The Border Guard employs around 3,000 personnel, with a typical career span for those in military positions averaging about 30 years. However, there is a dedicated group of a couple of hundred employees whose careers tend to last about 9 to 10 years. The organization has approximately 200 service dogs, assisting in border control tasks, inspections of vessels, maritime rescue missions, and managing border situations. Career options include roles for patrol dogs, specially trained dogs, and standby team dogs.

One standout in the canine unit is Lbu Cunto, a Labrador Retriever who is the reigning national champion in drug detection. Cunto, aged five, works alongside his handler Timo Nieminen and will defend his title at the service dog championship in Vaasa next week. Having been trained since a puppy, Cunto started his service career at the age of two. Nieminen describes Cunto as immensely tenacious, courageous, and eager to please, which requires the handler to maintain control over the dog’s natural enthusiasm.

The team conducts inspections, including boarding vessels, necessitating the handler’s ability to calm Cunto for both safety and efficiency. Nieminen has also enjoyed success with previous dogs, including Ceppo, who won the national championship and was named service dog of the year in 2016 by the Finnish Kennel Club. Ceppo has since retired from active duty.

During competitions, service dogs are judged on obedience as well as area, warehouse, apartment, luggage, and vehicle searches, with teams from various government agencies participating.