Officials with the Transportation Security Administration say they are hoping to employ more dogs with floppy ears for airport screenings, because pointy-eared canines scare children. TSA administrator David Pekoske revealed the plan to the Washington Examiner recently, saying that the agency has made a “conscious effort” to use floppy-eared dogs. He said: “We find the passenger acceptance of floppy ear dogs is just better. It presents just a little bit less of a concern. Doesn’t scare children.”
… However, a TSA assistant administrator for strategic communication and public affairs says that the agency isn’t totally banning or phasing out dogs with cone-shaped ears. Instead, they are hoping to transition to using floppy-eared dogs over the next few years.