Warhound aims to clone working dogs

A start-up named Warhound is preparing to clone and genetically enhance working dogs to improve their health, safety, and performance alongside military personnel, police officers, and firefighters. The company is backed by Palmer Luckey, co-founder of the defense technology company Anduril, and Ben Lamm, co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, known for projects aimed at reviving extinct animals.

Genetic improvements and cloning process

Warhound plans to locally produce genetically enhanced working dogs equipped with technologies providing "increased vigilance and better protection on the field," according to a press release. The company aims to select the best military and police dogs to collect their cells and freeze them, allowing for cloning and the elimination of deleterious alleles that can lead to diseases or malformations.

Technology integration for dogs

Warhound also plans to use EagleEye technology from Anduril, launched in October 2025, which includes modular systems based on AI such as glasses, helmets, or visors, aimed at increasing the survival capability and perception of soldiers. Palmer Luckey stated that "Man's best friend deserves the best human technology." The dogs will also have eye and hearing protection.

Addressing supply chain issues

The project aims to solve a major problem in the United States, where the military sources its supply of working dogs from European countries, a dependence that is problematic as the supply chain is declining. This is compounded by the intensive program to which the dogs are subjected before deployment.

Training and well-being improvements

According to Warhound, after a rigorous acquisition and training process of about three years, less than half of the dogs acquired are finally deemed fit for service, requiring the United States to recruit and train about 200 dogs to deploy 100. The project also aims to improve the well-being of the animals by reducing training dropouts and minimizing unnecessary training. Warhound hopes to "ensure a reliable supply of military dogs."

Funding and strategic partnerships

The start-up has raised 200 million dollars from investors such as In-Q-Tel, a venture capital company created by the CIA that invests in start-ups whose technologies are directly applicable to intelligence and national security operations.