How Long Does Police Dog Training Take
The amount of training police dogs require may vary depending on their job and jurisdiction, but typically the minimum that police dog training requires is eight months. In general, a dog is considered ready to be an active part of the police force after a minimum of eight months of training. However, specialty fieldwork can extend their training longer than a year.
In hindsight, training a German Shepherd to be a K-9 police unit does not take long. However, complex roles like explosives sniffing or cadaver sniffing may increase the time it takes to train.
Learning time varies for each task, dog, and trainer. Police often choose German Shepherds because they have no difficulty picking up on things the first time around, no matter their temperament.
Because K-9 pairs are already required to meet monthly training quotas, it can be beneficial to complete specialized training during this time. Officers can select which training is most beneficial to them, or their department may assign them a specialty based on necessity.
In many cases, narcotics and explosives detection are highly recommended additions. Not all dogs get additional certifications. However, it does make them more useful in the field. Certifications like explosives or narcotics detection make an officer and their unit more valuable.
Which Is Smarter German Shepherd Or Belgian Malinois
Tough question.The German Shepherds is a more responsive dog, but the Malinois is the potentially smarter of two their breeds. The Malinois can think through complex problems quicker, according to specialists in that breed. It takes determination and training for both of these breeds be successful in service work or competitions though, they are each quite different breeds with strengths and weaknesses to learn about..
Why Are Pit Bulls Not Used As Police Dogs
The American Pit Bull Terrier has been bred for hundreds of years to be non-aggressive toward humans and to bite-and-hold when they do attack something. That is not what we want in a police dog. In a police dog, we want a dog that is somewhat suspicious or aggressive toward humans under the right circumstances.
Read Also: How Long Should You Walk A German Shepherd
Do Police Use Labs As Police Dogs
They sure do! Their specialty is finding bombs and drugs.
Many police dogs that are chosen are male and remain unneutered to maintain their aggressive behavior, however there are female police dogs which are used for rescue, tracking, and locating bombs and drugs.
Belgian Malinois are most commonly used because of their availability.
Dutch Shepherd
Will A German Shepherd Naturally Protect You
The German Shepherd has a natural protective instinct that does not waver. His deep desire to protect his owner and family is unmatched, and the GSD is even known to put his life in danger to save others. In addition to naturally protecting their human family, German Shepherds are known to protect the home as well.
Don’t Miss: Who Would Win In A Fight German Shepherd Or Pitbull
Are Labradors Good For All Types Of Police Work
Labrador retrievers are well known as Americas favorite dog and are a good fit for some kinds of police work as well, but they do not do well with any kind of bite work.
Labradors love people and never meet a stranger. Its just not in their nature to show the kind of aggression that is required for a dog to do well in bite work.
This Is What Makes The German Shepherds Good Police Dogs
This breed is intelligent, athletic, and versatile. German Shepherds can perform many different and challenging tasks for their handlers as well as stay focused for as long as it is necessary. They have good stamina and can perform their duties for long periods of time. Regarding term and permanent, these dogs are bred with nerves of steel and with the ability to stay calm in tense situations.
Also Check: What Foods Can German Shepherds Not Eat
Why German Shepherds Are Used As K9 Police Dogs
GSDs are famous for being incredibly intelligent, agile, quick, and stealthy. They have high endurance levels and laser-like focus, which allows them to fulfill long shifts alongside their K9 officer. With their height and stature, these dogs are well suited to follow after suspects. Jumping, crawling, and running are some of their best skills, which are crucial for police work.
In addition to their physical abilities, German Shepherds are mentally strong as well. Police dogs are trained to follow dozens of commands. With the right K9 police dog training methods, GSDs are ready to serve police departments within two years of their birth. They can sense danger and react accordingly. Their protective nature and loyalty allows them to complete acts of courage that are vital for success during a K9 officers shift. GSDs can be trained to be general officers or use their sensitive noses to track the scent of drugs, bombs, and individuals.
Recommended Reading:How Much Do German Shepherds Weigh Full Grown
Why Is The German Shepherd Used As A Police Dog
The main reason that officers use German Shepherds as police dogs is because of their intelligence. German Shepherds can retain knowledge much quicker than other breeds. Furthermore, the German Shepherd has excessive energy, and they are eager to please their companions.
Whether they are learning a new specialty technique or in the field completing police work, German Shepherds aim to make their partners proud.
German Shepherds have many applications in the field, like their optimal tracking abilities. This breed is fast, with a faster running speed than humans and a sharp bite that can rip chunks from human flesh.
From the wrong breeder, the German Shepherd can be unpredictable. However, police officers purchase their dogs from trusted breeders and train their German Shepherds to obey precise commands. The strict and obedient behavior of these dogs makes them the perfect contender for enforcing the law.
Read Also: Can A Rottweiler Beat A Pitbull
Reason : Rottweilers Are Built Differently
If you own a Rottweiler, you know that they are large doggos. A fully-grown male can weigh up to 130 pounds!
When theyre in good shape, Rotts are very muscular. Their big frames and heavy bone structure means they arent able to run quite as fast as German Shepherds Rottweilers typically max out at about 25 miles per hour, while German Shepherds can run as fast as 30 miles per hour.
Also because of their large size, they may not be quite as agileor have the same enduranceas other police dogs on the force.
Rotts also rank high on the list of dogs with the most powerful bites. As police dogs, this could potentially be a problem if theyre given the command to take down a suspect. A bite from a Rottweiler could inflict significantly more damage than intended.
Do Police Use Male Or Female German Shepherds
Police use both male and female German shepherd dogs.No quota is set for the type of dog, though more females are used nowadays due to their better temperament. Historically males were favoured as they had a calmer demeanor, but there are nuances to determining which is best for any given situation some people feel more threatened by an aggressive dogs actions than others, so training the dog adequately is the key..
You May Like: What Age Do German Shepherds Calm Down
Are German Shepherds More Aggressive Than Rottweilers
German Shepherd dog vs Rottweiler temperament However, both breeds are often wary of strangers if not thoroughly socialized, and have been known to become aggressive even with their own families. One study has shown that 15% of dogs with severe aggression are German Shepherds and around 5% by Rottweilers.
How Are Police Dogs Assigned To Officers
The process of assigning a particular GSD to a police officer takes a reasonable amount of time. It also involves much scrutiny because the police officer to whom the GSD is being assigned will be checked for his responsibility, communication skills, reliability, and agility.
This is because GSDs are very agile dogs they are not weapons nor pets and would need similar breeds of handlers to control and optimize them. So, as much as possible, the GSDs personality traits should match that of their handlers.
As when the dog is finally assigned to an officer, he would work with the officer daily and live at the officers home with his family.
The police officer who wishes to have a GSD partner must first complete his police academy training and run a year or two with the patrol unit before transferring to the k-9 team. After that, he would be eligible to get a GSD.
Recommended Reading: Pitbull Fight German Shepherd
Why Are German Shepherds So Aggressive
German Shepherds are commonly considered aggressive dogs because of their natural instinct to protect. They will be more inclined to attack first if the other animal or human has shown signs of aggression first. Other reasons that can increase aggression include being poorly trained, an undue fear of strangers, feeling unsafe in ones environment, too early introduction to the company of other animals, improper socialization with humans or animals, mistreatment or abuse by humans..
What Breed Are Drug Dogs
Drug dogs are members of the hunting and sporting group of breeds. There is no single breed that does not produce some excellent drug and bomb detection canines.Using canine noses, handlers train these versatile animals to sniff out an array of illicit substances including methamphetamine, marijuana, opiates and cocaine. With more than 40 million people in America suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, its more important than ever to get help for the addict and get their life on track before they harm themselves or someone else. Seek professional help today with DrugRehabCenter.com!.
You May Like: Do German Shepherds Need Haircuts
Why Do Police Use German Shepherds
When you take a look at the dogs who work with police and other law enforcement authorities, you will figure out that they are mostly German Shepherds. After seeing this, you will start wondering why do police use German Shepherds. This is not something that you can only find in your country, but applicable in all parts of the world as well. You can even see dogs doing their job at the public events, airports, and other similar places. They keep on sniffing for explosives and drugs. Moreover, they have sharp eyes, which they use to figure out suspicious behavior as well.
If you are looking for a quick answer on why do police use German Shepherds, we can provide a simple answer. It is because of the unique qualities of these dogs. These dogs have excellent stamina and strength. Hence, they are in a position to work as excellent working dogs. On top of that, these dogs are in a position to work calmly under pressure as well. Due to the high intelligence in these dogs, they are highly trainable as well. On top of that, German Shephard dogs love to work. They never complain about the working conditions provided to them. They will simply keep on working, even if they have to work
History of how German Shepherds were being used as police dogs
Reasons on why do police use German Shepherds
Now lets come to the most important section of the article, where we understand the specific reasons on why the police officers are using German Shepherds as their K9 companions.
- Sentry dogs
History Of German Shepherds As Police Dogs
German Shepherds have long been in the Police Force, as far back as the late 90s. In the early parts of the 19th-century German Shepherds were only used as farm aids but due to the growing insecurity rate in Europe, a German Army Veteran, Max Von Stephanitz, began to breed GSD for resilience, intelligence, and loyalty to aid in the Battle against insecurity.
In the 1930s, the GSDs gained popularity in Europe, and they began to function on a large scale in Paris and gradually other parts of the world. And by World war 1 and 2, the dogs were officially being used in the West also. The dogs helped as messengers, firearms carriers, Red Cross dogs, and so on.
Read Also: Is My German Shepherd Underweight
Bonus: Mixed And Unexpected Breeds
There are certainly exceptions, additions, and even surprises to this list of popular K9 breeds. Many mixed breeds and shelter rescues have become successful members of various police forces around the country. And especially when it comes to detection or search and rescue, many different breeds can be used if they have the right temperament,Day says. The only ones hes seen struggle a bit are short-nosed breeds like Bulldogs or Frenchies.
Motivation is the biggest key, adds Parsnow. Weve trained all kinds of different dogs for detection work. In fact, right now we have a Dachshund, and he does it just fine. You wouldnt expect him, but he has all the characteristics for a detection and trailing dog. If a dog has those characteristicsthe prey drive, the hunt drive, the sociability, the want to possess a toythen the dog can do the job, she says, regardless of its size, breed or lineage.
Who Is More Powerful German Shepherd Or Rottweiler
It depends on several factors, but the most important one is the training of these dogs.One would reasonably assume that a Rottweilers size and greater jaw power would give it an edge over a German Shepherd in any encounter with another dog, but this isnt always true. This is because training can strongly affect what motivates these animals to do anything at all motivation tends to trump size when determining success in animal encounters. The Rottweilie will also need fantastic obedience training if its going to be effective against other dogs or even larger prey like bears that the shepherd might have the advantage against.As for intelligence, scientists found that while some individual shepherds are smarter than some individual.
Read Also: How Much Food Should I Feed My German Shepherd Puppy
Are German Shepherd Belgian Malinois Mixes Good Police Dogs
In many disciplines that are extremely important, such as seeing-eye dogs and police dogs, dogs may be purposely bred across breeds in order to arrive at an ideal work dog.
Various types of Golden Retriever and Labrador crosses are useful for seeing-eye dogs, and when it comes to police work, a Belgian Malinois crossed with a German Shepherd is an excellent working dog.
Mixing the breeds allows some of the best aspects of each to come out, although these traits are also less predictable.
Ideally, a mixed breed dog will have the tenacity and superior health of a Belgian Malinois along with the size and calm temperament of the German Shepherd.
Police Dogs And Its History With German Shepherds
Police dogs are in some countries known as K9 or canine. They are dogs with specials skills. Trained to assist police officers in duties that include: searching for drugs, locate missing people, attack when ordered by a police officer, find evidence at a crime scene and finding explosives. The basic training includes learning and remembering several verbal commands and hand gestures.
The most often used breed to assist policemen is the German Shepherd, but you may also see the retriever breeds often being used.
World War I broughtThe german shepherdout West, they were active in both world war 1 and 2
Lawlessness, due to rapid urbanization, was a growing concern for the public of London in the 19th century. The existing law enforcement at that time was too small and the problems too large to be dealt with. Commercial companies prosper well in combat against crime. Groups of night watchmen and security guards were formed and provided with firearms and dogs to protect themselves.
Europe was the first to start using the German Shepherd as a service dog on a large scale. The police of Paris used them to track down ravaging gangs and fight against them.
In 1899 the police department of Ghent, Belgium started a police dog service program. They were the first with a large organized program.
Recommended Reading: How To House Train A German Shepherd
Reason : Rottweilers Have A Shorter Lifespan And A Longer Maturity Rate
Compared to other breeds, even breeds in the same size category, Rottweilers have a fairly short lifespan, typically ranging from 9 to 12 years. Police dogs are usually trained under the age of 3, and will oftentimes work until they are 11 or 12 before retiring.
However, Rotts would most likely have to retire as a working dog long before that age. Training a police dog is time-consuming and expensive, and it makes more sense to train dogs who can work for more years.
Rottweilers also take a bit longer to grow up than other breeds. A good rule that usually holds true is that the larger the dog breed, the longer they will take to fully mature. All canines have to go through certain developmental stages. A delay in those stages for Rotties could mean a delay in training.
Have Rottweilers Ever Been Working Dogs Outside Of Police Forces
Yes!
Rottweilers were actually originally bred as working dogs, used in Germany for herding cattle, pulling carts, and as guard dogs. They were widely admired for their bravery, loyalty, and intelligence.
Unfortunately, the onset of railroads at the end of the 19th century put working Rotties out of a job. Thats when dog-loving breeders stepped in to advance the breed anyways.
Also Check: How To Draw A German Shepherd Head
Which Dog Is Best For Police
The police dog, traditionally a German shepherd breed, is a well-regarded and popular animal in America. Though not specifically trained for investigations or law enforcement activities, many people employ these dogs as pets because of their size and intelligence.In the United States when someone uses the phrase police service/service dog, they usually are referring to a type of pet no different from any other seen in show rings. In some states, its against the law for an individual or agency that doesnt have specific handler knowledge to represent themselves as training animals to solve crime or rescue lives which is what youre asking about. Im sure there are extensive courses on this sort of work in other countries but I would never.