Genetically Engineered Dogs Enter Service

Genetically engineered dogs designed for military service are in development with $200 million in initial funding. Warhound, a new company from Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm and Anduril’s Palmer Luckey, has emerged from stealth to build a new type of working dog for the U.S. military, law enforcement, and emergency response teams. The funding round, which includes investors like Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and the CIA-backed In-Q-Tel, values the company at $1.2 billion.

The project aims to solve a critical supply issue for the U.S. military. According to Warhound's launch announcement, over 80% of the military's working dogs are sourced from Europe, and fewer than half of those are deemed fit for service. This reliance on foreign nations for highly trained animals is a growing problem, as the supply of capable working dogs continues to dwindle.

Warhound plans to address this by engineering dogs with 'characteristics suited to demanding missions.' Lamm explained that many dogs fail training due to inherited health issues like poor eyesight, cancer, hip dysplasia, or muscle atrophy. To combat this, his team is taking cell lines from top-performing breeds, specifically the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd, to create a biobank. From there, they will edit the dogs' genes to enhance traits for health, longevity, and performance.

The project will also integrate Anduril’s technology to support the dogs and their handlers. Anduril will provide hardware and software, such as protective vests and goggles, to improve situational awareness. For example, Lamm described bulletproof vests equipped with data sensors that can send information back to handlers, providing a clearer picture of the situation on the ground.

The plan for creating these dogs involves cloning. The first batch of dogs is about to be cloned and incubated by Viagen, another Colossal-owned company, with births anticipated early next year. The company expects these dogs to be ready for service within two years. Warhound does not yet know how much it will charge for the dogs but plans to sell them to first responders, the Department of Defense, and police forces.

The company is working with the American Humane Society to help certify its training program for the new dogs. The society also hopes that when these military dogs retire, they can be placed into its Military Working Dog Reunification Program or another program that provides homes for retired military dogs. Regarding civilian safety, Lamm stated each dog will be trained and managed by whoever buys it.

When reached for comment, the American Humane Society said, “We applaud Warhound and Colossal for inviting the country’s first national humane organization, which is grounded in science and ethics, to have a seat at the table. We look forward to working with them to help ensure the animals in their care are treated humanely.”