AUSTRALIAN Federal Police firearm and explosive detection dogs sniffed out explosives at the Banora Point Upgrade site office yesterday.

As media arrived, the dogs and their handlers were scouring the site for hidden explosive devices, however there was no need to be alarmed.

The AFP canine handlers were making use of blasting materials at the site as training for their clever canines.

AFP Aviation investigations and support officer Gayle Judd said the team were thrilled the RTA were able to give them a real world training ground.

“One of our handlers drove past the signs that told motorists of controlled blasting over the last few weeks,” Ms Judd said.

“When we found out we got in contact with the RTA who were more than happy to make this happen.”

“We are pleased to be able to help the police with this important training exercise,” an RTA spokesman said.

AFP canine handler Senior Constable Lyndon Bellis said the training session was about exposing the dogs to explosives they wouldn’t otherwise have come into contact with.

The squad are based at the Gold Coast airport where they search people and their luggage.

The labrador breed is used in this capacity “because of asthetics” Sen Const Bellis said.

“They have to get up close to people and this way when the public see them they’re not alarmed.”

“Labradors are the sort of dog people see and go ‘Awwww how cute’,” he said.

The dogs now go into intensive training, and need to be highly-focused to sniff out supsicious items day in, day out.

“Labradors are the sort of dog people see and go aw how cute” dog handler Sen Const Lyndon Bellis.