Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump praised drug-detecting dogs at the US-Mexico border at the Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit Wednesday, calling working canines "the greatest equipment in the world."

"Dogs, a certain type of German Shepherd in particular, dogs do a better job than $400 million worth of equipment. Can you believe that? Only the dog lovers would understand that, right?" Trump told the crowd.

Trump said that during a briefing from Border Patrol, he asked how $500 million of equipment at ports of entry compared to working dogs.

"They said, 'Sir, honestly, the dogs are better.' I said, 'You gotta be kidding.' It's incredible," Trump said. "We also have a lot of dogs and they're great dogs and we cherish them."

The Trump family has broken with tradition -- by not having a pet at the White House -- making them the first pet-free first family since before Thomas Jefferson, who kept a mockingbird and a couple of bear cubs.

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