Sofitel Also Says Goodbye to Its Trusted K9 Team

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila officially closed its doors over the weekend, following an official statement released on May 10 that "the hotel has announced that it will close and cease operations starting July 1, 2024." Patrons said goodbye to its famous F&B outlet, Spiral, by dining for one last time; employees posted stories of nostalgia on their social media; and cats in their Whiskers Shelter were adopted off to nice families. The K9 Sofitel Team "bid adieu with a heavy heart as well," according to a post by Bulacan-based Sniffer K9 Security Solutions and Training Center Inc.

"As Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila closes its doors to its patrons [at the] end of business day today, June 30, 2024, our K9 Sofitel Team will bid adieu with a heavy heart as well. We served  Sofitel, the hotel which is [a] sought-after venue for high-end events, extravagant weddings, stylish business meetings, and even government events,  for almost five years. Sofitel is one of our pioneer clients, and as we bid adieu, our hands are to heaven, full of hope that Sofitel will rise again and redeem its glory. Thy will be done, our Dear Almighty God," Sniffer Canine said online.

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In an exchange with Esquire Philippines, Sniffer K9 President and CEO Atty. Rebecca S. Francisco said that they have deployed five K9 teams at Sofitel from February 16, 2020, to June 30, 2024. The dogs on duty have ages ranging from three to five years old. She added that the teams will be assigned to the next Sniffer K9 project.

Sniffer Canine also provides security dogs at Okada Manila, Grand West Hotel, Kingsford Hotel, Conrad Hotel, Winford Hotel, Citadines Cebu, Cebu Port Authority, Meralco Ortigas Center, Power Plant Mall in Makati, Quezon City Hall, Korean Embassy, Go Group (onboard vessels and warehouses), Solaire Resort in Parañaque, and Solaire Resort North in Quezon City. They hold training and refresher courses for those renewing their canine handler license.

K9 Dogs at Hotels Like Sofitel

Dogs have long been valued for their keen senses and instincts, making them indispensable in various security settings, including hotels.

The breeds most commonly used for hotel security include Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, German Shorthaired Pointers, and Labradors. Each breed brings its own set of strengths to the security team. Pointy-eared dogs like German Shepherds and Belgian Malinoiss provide a visual deterrent due to their imposing appearance. In contrast, floppy-eared dogs such as Labradors and Springer Spaniels offer a more approachable demeanor while maintaining high detection and apprehension capabilities.

The training process for these dogs is rigorous and begins when they are around six months old. It takes between 16 to 22 weeks to prepare a dog for service on hotel and casino floors. These environments can be loud and dynamic, requiring the dogs to be extremely capable of handling sudden changes in noise and activity levels.

UPDATED (July 8, 2024): This article has been edited to add an interview with Sniffer K9.