Warhound, a Texas-based defense startup, has secured $200 million in funding to develop genetically modified working dogs. The company is a joint project involving Ben Lamm, co-founder of Colossal Biosciences, and Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril. While Luckey helped conceive the startup, he holds no equity and maintains no ongoing role in the firm.
The startup aims to reduce US reliance on European sources, which currently provide 80 percent of military dogs. According to company data, less than half of imported dogs pass the three-year acquisition and training process. Warhound intends to use Colossal’s expertise in genetics and cloning to breed animals with improved health, speed, agility, and olfactory capabilities.
Anduril will provide cybernetic enhancements, including ear and eye protection, alongside EagleEye military technology for field awareness. The project focuses on breeds like German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois to create a new category of working dogs. The American Humane Society will assist in certifying training programs for these animals.
David Spirk, a Marine veteran and intelligence specialist, has been appointed as the CEO of Warhound. The company plans to deploy these dogs for elite roles within the US military, law enforcement, and emergency response teams. The primary stated objective is to improve the success rate of training and ensure the safety of service members and first responders.
