Bomb sniffing dogs are super stars of anti-terrorism efforts at Super Bowl 44

Darel takes a break to pose for publicity photo  Courtesy ATF

All the  technology, the intelligence gathering gadgets, the James Bond-like tools, nothing law enforcement will ever develop can compare to the natural crime fighting gifts of a dog.

Teams of trained dogs are running interference to prevent any would be terrorists or criminal lunatics from planting explosives in or near the Sun Life Stadium in Miami this Super Bowl Sunday.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) says in a press release the best K-9 explosive detection teams from across the country have been working in Miami for several weeks and will continue working throughout the big game.

ATF is just one of  50 law enforcement agencies teamed together for Super Bowl security this year and the dogs the agency has brought in are considered "the best of the best," says Special Agent in Charge, Hugo Barrera.

The ATF only uses Labrador Retrievers in its K-9 program. Besides their exceptional sniffing abilities, the labs are not as intimidating when agents bring the animals into large crowds.  The Guiding Eyes for the Blind, the Guide Dog Foundation and Canine Companions for Independence supply the dogs to the agency. 

The dogs and their handlers undergo an initial 10 week training course at a facility in Front Royal, Virginia, according to the ATF.  Training is ongoing throughout the dogs' crime-fighting careers. Besides explosive materials, the dogs are also trained to sniff out firearms and ammunition.

Below is a photo array and some information on the ATF K-9 teams involved in this year's Super Bowl security effort.