The US military relies on roughly 1,600 working dogs for bomb detection, patrol, and search missions. However, more than 80% of these dogs come from European breeders, and fewer than half actually pass the training process. A Texas startup called Warhound just raised $200M to solve this supply problem through gene editing.
As per the startup website:
For generations, working dogs have protected America’s police officers, firefighters, search-and-rescue teams, and warfighters. Warhound is developing technology to advance their health, safety, and performance, combining licensed technology from Colossal Biosciences and Anduril. Animal welfare is central to that mission, with American Humane certification supporting our commitment to the care and well-being of every dog.
Warhound plans to use gene-editing technology from Colossal Biosciences to upgrade breeds like Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds. Specifically, the company wants to eliminate health problems like hip dysplasia that cut service lives short. In addition, it aims to boost speed, agility, and scent detection through targeted genetic changes. The team may also add wolf-derived genes to sharpen bomb detection abilities even further. Colossal is currently known for its de-extinction efforts to bring back animals like the dodo and the mammoth.
“The idea is, if we make the dog safer, make it healthier, make it perform better, it’s going to perform better in the line of duty,” Colossal Biosciences’ Ben Lamm told media.
He added that Anduril’s additions will make the dogs safer and healthier beyond their genetics, “on top of the dog, not in the dog.” He believes the enhancements will also better protect the dogs’ human handlers.
The startup also partnered with Anduril, a defense technology firm, to fit the dogs with protective gear. This includes armored vests with data sensors and eye and ear protection. However, all this equipment sits on top of the dogs rather than inside them. As a result, handlers can receive real-time mission data while their dogs work in the field.
Currently, the heavy reliance on foreign breeders creates a supply bottleneck that limits how quickly any military can scale its dog programs. Therefore, Warhound wants to build a domestic cloning and breeding pipeline instead. The company will clone dogs through ViaGen, a cloning business that Colossal owns.
First, the team collects blood samples from top-performing service dogs. Then, it applies gene edits before the cloning process begins. The first puppies should arrive in early 2027, and dogs could enter active service about two years after that.
The American Humane Society will certify the training program as well. Furthermore, the organization will help place retired dogs with former handlers or arrange adoptions after service.
“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,” American Humane Society said about the startup efforts.
Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences and Palmer Luckey of Anduril developed the concept together. David Spirk, a former military intelligence analyst, leads the company as CEO. Notably, Warhound already carries a $1.2B valuation from investors like Sequoia Capital, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and the CIA-backed venture firm In-Q-Tel.