The Iowa State University Police Department welcomes a new addition to the force: Zak, a 2-year-old Belgian Shepherd trained in explosives detection.

Zak joined Officer Solomon Farner in March for a five-week training session. The two started their first day of duty together March 22. Zak’s the first dog at ISU PD trained for law enforcement duties. He was first working with police K-9, providing a new layer of security to campus events, operations and life.

Zak’s special nose is working in every room he enters, which adds up during eight- to 10-hour shifts with his handler, Farner.

How Zak made his way to Iowa State

Zak was born in Poland and trained at Pacesetter K-9 in Austin Texas. Farner described Zak as an extremely talented, hardworking and loyal dog.

“He’s very, very loyal, I would say,” said Farner. “I’ll have him off leash in buildings that are empty and he won’t go more than 30 feet without having to stop, look back and make sure I’m coming.”

Despite his serious job, Zak is known to be an energetic and playful personality when off the clock.

“Obviously he works really hard and he’s very talented and his abilities are really crazy, but he’s still just a dog,” Farner said. “He still likes to play, tug and get pet. He’s just a little more expensive, though.”

While he is not a therapy dog and cannot be touched or petted while working, his friendly demeanor and calm energy make him the perfect fit for Iowa State University’s campus.

Zak’s life before Iowa State, ISU PD before Zak

Previous to Zak, the department relied on outside units for explosives detection, which came with its own limitations.

“When I got to Iowa State, I made it known to everybody that I wanted a canine at some point,” Iowa State Police Chief Michael Newton told the Ames Voice. “We have presidential candidates, we have actually sitting presidents and vice presidents that come to the institution. So I knew that Zak, who also does tracking, would be important for us and the surrounding community.”

Zak was trained in Texas and was certified in explosives detection before coming to Iowa State. Farner then completed handler training, learning how to work alongside Zak and recognize subtle behavioral changes that signal potential threats.

Zak’s first field assignment was working along security at the recent Luke Combs concert. He swept key areas including the concourse, stage and backstage spaces.

“That was a big day for him,” said Farner. “Zak did not alert to any pyrotechnics.”

Why Zak?

The Iowa State police department deliberately sought out an explosives dog due to the university’s high volume of large events, visiting officials and crowded venues, where extra preventative measures are vital.

To find the right fit, the department worked alongside Pacesetter, a Texas-based company that specializes in supplying dogs to university police departments.

Zak’s size, drive and work ethic were the reasons the department chose him.

“We wanted that dog with that great temperament and mindset,” Newton said. “I’ve heard horror stories of other departments having the wrong dog and so temperament was critically important to us.”

While Zak’s explosives training was essential for the job, an equal emphasis was placed on finding a dog that suited a campus setting.