Pittsburgh Pup Brings Home the Title of Cutest Canine

A round of a-paws to Steeler, Pittsburgh International Airport’s very own explosives detection pup, who just won TSA’s 2025 Cutest Canine.

Steeler, a 2 1/2-year-old black Labrador retriever, earned this honor by besting TSA dogs from all over the country, with voting held on the TSA’s social media platforms. Over 12,000 total votes were cast on X, Facebook, and Instagram, with Steeler prevailing by about 500 votes.

TSA held a nationwide contest on social media where the public voted for the agency’s “cutest canine” from among four agency finalists, each representing a different region of the nation. TSA canine handlers from airports across the country initially nominated 97 dogs. Then employees voted online to narrow the field to the final four canines.

Steeler defeated Erika, a German shepherd from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in the semifinals. He then went on to beat Alex, a 9-year-old Labrador/golden retriever mix, from Denver International Airport in the finals.

Steeler isn’t just a cute, lovable pup. He works hard patrolling alongside his handler, Mark Smith, to help keep PIT travelers safe. He has one year of service under his belt (or, in this case, collar), but the TSA says he’s making a strong impression at the Pittsburgh airport.

Gerardo Spero, TSA federal security director for Pennsylvania and Delaware, said that working canines like Steeler aren’t just a sight for sore eyes — they’re a key part of the airport’s “layered approach” toward traveler security thanks to their keen sense of smell, which is vastly superior to a human’s.

“We really could not operate as efficiently as we do without them,” he said. “Steeler here proves that you can be very dedicated and hardworking and still be really, really cute.”

TSA employs canines like Steeler in its security operations nationwide. These explosive detection canine teams work nimbly through large groups of moving people to detect the source of an explosive’s odor. Canine teams train regularly, and handlers learn to read subtle changes in their canine’s behavior, including when they detect the scent of an explosive. If a dog alerts its handler to the presence of an explosive’s odor, the handler follows an established procedure to resolve the alarm with minimal impact to the screening lane.

Smith said Steeler can detect fewer than 10 grams of explosives. It doesn’t matter if they are hidden in bags, and even with other odors trying to mask them.

Born on Super Bowl Sunday, 2023, Steeler and his litter were all named after NFL teams. Smith said it was pure chance that he ended up at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Steeler isn’t PIT’s only explosive canine dog. PIT’s TSA team also has a German shorthaired pointer and a yellow Labrador retriever. All three were trained at the TSA national Canine Training Center in San Antonio.

Off hours, Steeler lives with Smith, and he’s just like a regular dog. He loves to run around, fetching balls, playing with a tug rope and eating jumbo hot dogs.

In addition to a blue ribbon and public adulation, Steeler will be gracing the cover of TSA’s 2026 Canine Calendar, which is set to be released in December.