People carry perfumes, deodorant and even smelly clothes when they come back from other countries. But with his keen sense of smell, Max can pick up the banned items over all the other smells. If Max finds the smell of prohibited agricultural items, he sits down right next to the bag. As soon as he does, Bartnik reaches into a pouch to give the dog a treat. They smell for food and get rewarded with little treats as a reward.
Beagles love to eat.
When Max points out a bag, Bartnik asks the owners if they have brought back any plants, vegetables, fruits or meats from another country. If they say yes, Bartnik will get the item out of their baggage and it will be marked for destruction. If they say no, Bartnik looks through the bag to make sure. If it turns out the person lied about not having a banned item, the penalties can be heavy. Some of the things Max and Bartnik find might seem very different to American eyes, though they could be delicacies in a traveler's home culture.