Most dogs leave their mark through the joy of a smile or a laugh. But this extraordinary dog has done so much more, dedicating her life to keeping LSU safe and secure while spreading happiness along the way.
The LSU Police Department proudly relies on four hardworking K-9s, with the standout being Laika, a 10-year-old female Belgian Malinois. With over a decade of service, two consecutive “Top Dog” awards from the U.S. Police Canine Association and countless bomb sweeps under her belt, Laika has become a symbol of safety, loyalty and joy for the LSUPD.
As both an explosives detection expert and a beloved companion to her handler Lt. Tim Shows, Laika exemplifies the bond between K-9s and their handlers.
“When I first saw her, her energy and drive really impressed me. Initially, we were kind of unsure of each other, as most are with a new dog. But I started throwing the ball, we started playing and bonding and we really became a team. One thing about Laika is she is always so excited to play,” Shows said.
Since joining the LSUPD at just 10 months old, Laika has been integral to campus safety. Trained in detecting odors associated with explosives, her precision and drive have been tested and proven in many situations. She’s conducted tens of thousands of pre-event sweeps at LSU’s iconic sporting events and other large gatherings, ensuring the safety of students, staff and visitors.
Yet, her work extends beyond threat detection. Laika has become a community ambassador, visiting local schools and participating in outreach programs that help to inspire the joy only a dog can bring across Baton Rouge and the LSU community.
Laika’s success stems from her rigorous training and natural aptitude. After being selected from the U.S. Canine School in Kaplan, Louisiana, she underwent intensive schooling alongside Shows. The duo trained together for six weeks, bonding while mastering complex techniques to detect explosives.
Her skills were honed through ongoing exercises and real-world applications, with Laika earning accolades like the National Odor Recognition Test certification. Her ability to locate explosive materials with pinpoint accuracy has made her an invaluable asset during major events, including LSU football games and graduation.
“She’s been doing it for over 10 years now,” Shows said. “She really knows her odors. She loves training, she loves searching. She has a lot of fun with it. She’s got amazingly better over the last several years of training. We’ve been a great combination.”
One example of Laika’s expertise came during a pre-game sweep when she alerted officers to a suspicious cabinet in a private suite. Inside, they discovered a bag of fireworks – a common but prohibited item in Tiger Stadium. While the fireworks posed no immediate danger, the incident proved Laika’s sharp ability to identify odors and reinforced her reliability in high-stakes scenarios.
During an Alabama game weekend, Laika and Shows cleared the entire stadium and surrounding areas following a bomb threat from a disgruntled Alabama student, playing a vital role in ensuring public safety. These moments solidified Laika’s reputation as an expert in her field and a dog the LSUPD can trust.
While her career is built on serious work, Laika approaches her duties with unrelenting enthusiasm and playfulness. For her, detecting an odor associated with explosives is like winning a game: her reward is her favorite toy and she relishes the moment with puppy-like energy.

Despite being a decade into her career, Laika’s playful spirit remains unchanged. Shows carefully monitors her activity, ensuring she doesn’t overexert herself in her old age, but her determination to work and play never wavers.
“Whenever she gets a correct alert and she gets that toy, she’ll throw her head back and prance around, jumping up and down,” Shows said. “She’s like, ‘Look at me, I got my toy.’ She’ll be so proud of herself. She really is an amazing dog.”
Laika’s accomplishments in the USPCA certification tests are a testament to her skill and discipline. These rigorous evaluations involve finding explosives in challenging scenarios, such as searching vehicles and rooms under the scrutiny of multiple judges. Competing against other exceptional dogs, Laika’s consistent top performance sets her apart. Her expertise has improved with experience, making her an elite member of LSUPD’s K-9 unit.
The bond between Laika and Shows is inseparable. During their 10 years together, they’ve navigated challenges and celebrated triumphs as a team. Early in her career, Laika’s excitement sometimes led to barking during alerts – a behavior that could have been dangerous in certain scenarios.
Through patience and training, Shows refined her responses while maintaining her enthusiasm. This partnership, built on trust and mutual respect, has made them an unstoppable duo.
“We’ve had a few quirks we’ve had to work through,” Shows said. “During testing, if we’re searching and we find an explosive, she’ll sit and she gets so excited, ready to get her toy, she knows there is an explosive there. She used to just start barking real loud, ready to get her toy, but if this was in a real-world explosive situation, like if an explosive has a pressure plate, then that barking could set it off. So that was something we had to fix. You don’t want to correct her too hard . . . I just had to work with her to get her to stop barking. If she lets out a little bark, then we know there’s something there.”
Beyond her professional achievements, Laika holds a special place in the hearts of those who know her. Her visits to schools and freshmen orientations at LSU are met with excitement, as she represents not only law enforcement excellence but also the joy and comfort dogs bring to people’s lives. Her presence also boosts morale at LSUPD, inspiring younger officers to aspire to the prestigious K-9 division.
As Laika approaches retirement, she leaves behind a remarkable legacy as the longest-serving K-9 in LSUPD history. Her impact on LSU’s safety and her role as an ambassador for law enforcement will be remembered even after she transitions to life as a full-time pet.
Shows, who considers Laika part of his family, plans to keep her at home, where she can enjoy her well-earned rest. For now though, Laika continues to bring her energy, expertise and joy to every task, proving that even after a decade of service, LSU’s top dog is as dedicated as ever.
“It’s definitely going to be very sad when that date comes that we have to retire Laika,” Shows said. “I am confident that she has had an amazing career and that she’s loved her time working. When she does retire, she can forever be that stay-at-home pet that we love. She’ll come home and stay with me and my family.”