Two home-grown biosecurity beagle puppies are destined to be patrolling New Zealand's borders. But first they need the nation to help name them.

The pair, a boy and a girl, are part of a litter of six new puppies for the Ministry for Primary Industries.

The only catch is the names have to begin with 'F”, as the puppies are part of 'F-litter” – the latest beagle litter to be produced under MPI's detector dog breeding programme.

Working Auckland biosecurity detector dog Aria gave birth to the pups in May. Watchman, another MPI working dog, is the proud father.

The puppies will shortly leave MPI to go to foster homes to help prepare them for their training ahead. If all goes to plan, they will return to MPI and start formal training in May next year.

MPI is looking for a girl's name and a boy's name for the new puppies.

MPI has been breeding beagles for 20 years as biosecurity detector dogs. During this time it has produced more than 30 litters, says detection technology manager Brett Hickman.

'Our MPI-bred beagles have proven themselves as excellent biosecurity detector dogs.

'They are ideally suited to working at airports and ports to sniff out food, plants other items that could pose biosecurity risk to New Zealand.”

Entries close midnight this Friday. MPI will then take all the names, and a judging panel will decide the winners.

For further details and to put forward your puppy names click here.

Competition Rules:

Puppies are from our "F" litter, so all names must begin with the letter "F". Shorter is better. Nothing offensive. One male name, one female name. Only one entry per person please.