Since 1995, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) — a prominent international NGO specializing in humanitarian mine action and disarmament — has employed mine detection dogs (MDDs) in its operations. After encountering initial difficulties in achieving optimal results with procured dogs, NPA responded by establishing its own global training center. This facility focuses on breeding, training, and supporting MDDs for both its own initiatives and those of its partners. Despite substantial expertise and resources across the sector, effectively deploying MDDs continues to pose challenges, particularly in maintaining high detection accuracy while striving for operational efficiency. MDD performance is influenced by multiple factors, most notably the proficiency of dog handlers and the quality of leadership overseeing operations — from animal health to performance monitoring. Surprisingly, elements such as cultural perceptions of dogs or local living conditions have little bearing on the success of these programs. Instead, outcomes are largely determined by well-coordinated planning, strategic personnel selection, and strong communication across all involved parties, even those not directly connected to canine operations. This webinar explores NPA’s deployment of MDDs across more than 20 countries, incorporating insights from recent evaluations. The analysis highlights key lessons for optimizing MDD use and brings attention to often-overlooked challenges that can emerge throughout the lifecycle of such programs.