Barni, a five-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, has won the prestigious TSA’s 2024 Cutest Dog of the Year title, earning his place as a crowd favorite in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) annual contest.
Barni's victory not only highlights his lovable demeanor, but also the critical role he plays in ensuring the safety of travelers at San Francisco International Airport.
Barni beat 87 other applicants in a nationwide social media competition on Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Facebook.
The competition culminated in a public vote, with Barni being chosen as the winner from four finalists, each representing the TSA's best explosives detection experts.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske praised the competition, saying, “Our explosive detection dogs and their handlers are an essential part of TSA's multi-layered security approach. I look forward to this competition every year, and the friendly competition between airports and then with the public is a great way to recognize their work in securing our transportation systems and keeping travelers safe.”
Barni's day job is anything but glamorous; he works tirelessly alongside his handler Michelle Cogel, providing explosives detection as a critical layer of security at San Francisco International Airport. While at the airport Barni is focused on his work, tracking down potential threats with remarkable efficiency, at home he is known for his playful personality, especially when chasing squirrels or fetching sticks.
Barni's dedication to his work will be recognized on a larger scale when he graces the cover of the 2025 TSA Canine Calendar, to be released in December. This calendar is designed to commemorate the critical role TSA canine teams play in protecting the nation's transportation systems.
The TSA employs more than 1,000 canine teams nationwide, all trained to detect explosives and prevent threats from entering the transportation network. These dogs are highly trained and work through large crowds to track down the source of the explosive odor, even when the source is mobile. Handlers are trained to detect subtle changes in their dogs' behavior when they detect an odor, making these teams an important part of TSA's security operations.
As the winner of this year's competition, Barni has shone a spotlight on the invaluable work that TSA's canine teams do every day.
Congratulations also to the other finalists:
- Carlo is a 3-year-old male Vizsla from Kansas City International Airport (MCI). His favorite treats are Greenies and rawhide chew bones, and he loves to play in his yard while lounging by the pool waiting for birds, squirrels, and the occasional rabbit to chase. Carlo's favorite treat is a red Kong, but he also enjoys playing fetch with balls of all kinds. He has been providing security at his airport for 18 months now, and isn't expected to retire until 2033.
- badger is a 5-year-old male Belgian Malinois from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). He is a fun-loving, hardworking dog whose favorite reward is salmon bites. This sweet dog is not your typical Malinois. Badger is very calm and super friendly and just wants to work and run.
- Little Bird is a 3-year-old yellow Lab/Vizsla from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE). She has been on the dog team for almost a year. Birdie loves her squeak ball, wiggles her whole rear end, and works hard. Her favorite part of being on inspection is searching vehicles and airplanes. She is full of energy, enjoys working all day, and loves keeping her bright smile with the occasional greenie. Birdie finds record keeping boring, so when it's time for her handler to record, she takes a nap accompanied by loud snoring so that when she gets home, she still has the energy for an evening walk.
