North Dakota Highway Patrol Welcomes Bloodhound Puppy Beau

Beau joins a team of bloodhounds used for difficult search and rescue cases across the upper Midwest.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The North Dakota Highway Patrol has welcomed a new 12-week-old bloodhound puppy named Beau to join their team of specialized search dogs. Bloodhounds have an incredible sense of smell and are used to track missing children, people with dementia, and criminal suspects. The agency relies on these low-tech but highly effective canines in addition to drones and aircraft for search operations.

Why it matters

Bloodhounds remain an invaluable tool for law enforcement, with their ability to pick up faint scents and trail people over long distances. As technology advances, these dogs still play a crucial role in search and rescue efforts that drones and helicopters cannot fully replace. The North Dakota Highway Patrol's bloodhound program has assisted agencies across the region, demonstrating the value of these specialized canines.

The details

Beau, the newest bloodhound recruit, is currently undergoing basic training like potty and kennel training, as well as socializing him to different environments. He won't be ready for full certification and trailing until around 9 months old. The Highway Patrol has been using bloodhounds for about 14 years, moving away from dual-purpose dogs to focus on singular-purpose drug dogs and trailing dogs. Their bloodhounds have assisted in cases as far as Montana, South Dakota, and Utah.

  • Beau, a 12-week-old bloodhound puppy, recently joined the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
  • The Highway Patrol began using bloodhounds for search and rescue about 14 years ago.

The players

Beau

A 12-week-old bloodhound puppy who is the newest recruit for the North Dakota Highway Patrol's specialized search dog team.

Trooper Dustin Pattengale

Beau's handler, responsible for the puppy's early training and socialization.

Trooper Steven Mayer

Handles Bleu, one of the Highway Patrol's veteran bloodhounds.

Danny Jones

Executive director of the U.S. Police Canine Association, who notes the widespread use of bloodhounds by law enforcement across the country.

Sgt. Scott Warner

An Omaha Police officer who helped bring the department's first bloodhound, Willow, onto the force last year.

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What they’re saying

“These dogs are just specifically bred to search for people.”

— Trooper Steven Mayer, Bloodhound handler (wbal.com)

“To actually get a direction and start moving in a direction, you're going to need a dog on the ground to start that trail, and that's the difference between the technology and actually having a dog such as a bloodhound on the ground.”

— Danny Jones, Executive director, U.S. Police Canine Association (wbal.com)

“He is a very energetic young pup. He's pretty relaxed for the most part, most days, but he is eager. He likes to work. He likes to sniff.”

— Trooper Dustin Pattengale, Beau's handler (wbal.com)

What’s next

The North Dakota Highway Patrol plans to continue training Beau over the next several months until he is ready for full certification and deployment on search and rescue missions.

The takeaway

Bloodhounds remain an invaluable tool for law enforcement, with their unparalleled sense of smell and ability to track people over long distances. As technology advances, these specialized canines still play a crucial role that drones and helicopters cannot fully replace, making them an essential part of search and rescue operations.