A new breed of biosecurity sniffer dogs will have the charm of a beagle and the height of a harrier.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) hopes the cross-breed will become the perfect sniffing machine.
MPI detection technology manager Brett Hickman said it was the first time a beagle and a harrier had been crossed for detection work.
MPI's detector beagle, Clara, and harrier hound, Morley, had six puppies about two weeks ago.
The beagle-harrier puppies, which are at Auckland's breeding centre, will start their 12-week training with their dog handlers in about a year.
The ministry has bred beagles for nearly 20 years. It wanted to combine their biosecurity qualities with the height of a harrier, with the puppies expected to reach the size of a labrador.
Mr Hickman said it could be the "perfect sniffing machine".
The best dogs had a good nose and drive, he said.
The two-week-old puppies will start training in about a year. Photo: Ministry for Primary Industries
"[The dog's] ultimate goal - what it wants to do - is go out and find the goods.
"They need to be good around people."
Harriers had similar attributes to beagles.
"The number one beagle out there is Snoopy, everyone knows Snoopy.
"We don't want people to come up patting them but the [important] thing is they're not a scary dog."
The public could make puppy name submissions on MPI's Facebook page, then children at Starship Hospital would vote for their favourites.
Mr Hickman said the dogs would work at mail centres, airports and on cruise ships.
If the cross-breed dogs were a success they could be used again in the future.