North Dakota Highway Patrol Welcomes K-9 Beau

New bloodhound puppy will assist with tracking and finding missing people

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The North Dakota Highway Patrol has welcomed a new K-9 officer, a 9.5-week-old bloodhound named Beau, who will be trained over the next year to assist with tracking and finding missing and endangered people. Trooper Dustin Pattengale, Beau's handler, says this is his first time working with a bloodhound and they are both learning together.

Why it matters

The addition of K-9 Beau to the North Dakota Highway Patrol's team will provide valuable resources for search and rescue operations, helping to locate missing and endangered individuals more quickly. Bloodhounds are known for their exceptional tracking abilities, making them an asset in these critical situations.

The details

K-9 Beau is the fourth bloodhound the North Dakota Highway Patrol has added to its team. Trooper Dustin Pattengale, Beau's handler, says he has some experience with hound dogs, but this is his first time working with a bloodhound. Over the next year, Pattengale will be training Beau to prepare him for his role in assisting with tracking and finding missing and endangered people.

  • K-9 Beau is a 9.5-week-old bloodhound from Texas.
  • Trooper Dustin Pattengale and K-9 Beau will be training together over the next year.

The players

K-9 Beau

A 9.5-week-old bloodhound puppy who has joined the North Dakota Highway Patrol to assist with tracking and finding missing and endangered people.

Trooper Dustin Pattengale

The handler for K-9 Beau, who will be training the puppy over the next year to prepare him for his role with the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

North Dakota Highway Patrol

The law enforcement agency that has welcomed K-9 Beau to its team, adding him as the fourth bloodhound to assist with search and rescue operations.

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What they’re saying

“My family has had dogs before, I had daschunds. So, I'm a little familiar with the hound group, but I have not had a bloodhound before and I have not been part of this before. So, a lot of this is very new to me as well. So, he's learning and I'm learning all at the same time.”

— Trooper Dustin Pattengale, K-9 Handler (KFGO/KVRR)

What’s next

Over the next year, Trooper Dustin Pattengale and K-9 Beau will be training together to prepare the bloodhound puppy for his role in assisting the North Dakota Highway Patrol with tracking and finding missing and endangered people.

The takeaway

The addition of K-9 Beau to the North Dakota Highway Patrol's team will provide valuable resources for search and rescue operations, helping to locate missing and endangered individuals more quickly. Bloodhounds are known for their exceptional tracking abilities, making them an asset in these critical situations.