The National Canine Division (NCD) is a component of the National Center for Explosives Training and Research and is located at ATF’s Canine Training Center in Front Royal, Virginia. The NCD consists of two sections: the Canine Academy Branch and the Canine Operations Branch.
The Canine Academy Branch and its staff are responsible for evaluating, selecting and training canines, as well as training new and current handlers. Ensuring ATF and its partners are prepared for a variety of operations, canines and their handlers can be trained in several disciplines, including accelerant detection, explosives detection, and the advanced Search Enhanced Evidence K-9 (S.E.E.K.) specialty.
The Canine Operations Branch is responsible for conducting in-service and advanced training, annual canine team evaluations and certifications, National Odor Recognition Testing (NORT), homemade explosives training, Regional Canine Operations Training, special projects, and research and development.
NCD personnel possess extensive canine training and operations experience developed through prior service in law enforcement as well as the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
Detection canines, alongside their special agent partners, have enhanced ATF’s ability to support a variety of high-risk law enforcement operations. ATF canine teams assist in bomb, arson, explosives and firearm investigations, while also carrying out traditional “search and sweep” responsibilities to protect the public.
A One-of-a-Kind Facility in Front Royal, VA
In October 1999, the ATF National Canine Program moved into a newly constructed, world-class facility, including an administrative and training building, veterinary clinic, and 100-dog capacity kennel. This 24,000 square-foot campus, designated the National Canine Training Center (NCTC), is located approximately 70 miles from Washington, D.C. on 250 acres in Front Royal, Virginia.
In addition to the indoor training space, the NCTC campus has large passenger and commercial vehicle search areas, modular training buildings, simulated vehicle checkpoints, various terrain features for outdoor area and buried cache searches, and multiple fenced exercise and physical agility areas for canines in training.
Visitors from state, federal, and international law enforcement organizations have drawn inspiration from the NCTC’s design to help in the planning and development of their own facilities.
Pioneering Leadership
In 1995, Grace Reisling became ATF’s first special agent canine handler. Reisling partnered with ATF’s first explosives detection canine, a Labrador retriever named Charlie, and played a key role in the bureau’s development of federal law enforcement canine handling.
This pilot program, directed by Richard Strobel and Robert Noll, ultimately led to the establishment of ATF’s National Canine Program.
2026 ATF National Canine Division Planner
We are thankful for ATF’s National Canine Division for their dedication to training law enforcement K-9s for agencies across the country.
ATF’s explosive detection K-9 teams work tirelessly to keep communities safe, and we are recognizing their hard work with a free 2026 ATF National Canine Division Planner. It features some of our beautiful, intelligent K-9s!
