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Why Do Police Choose German Shepherds

Are Labradors Good For All Types Of Police Work

Why Do German Shepherds Prefer To Sleep With Their Owners?

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.

How Are German Shepherds Used As Police Dogs

Police Usually has a trained Holder Of A German Shepherd Dog. These Holders Have the responsibility to take the German Shepherd Dogs and use them as needed.

Dogs Are well trained and very carefully grown to be very effective police Dogs. German Shepherd dogs are able to smell drugs from very far and they can found it if it is well hidden.

Police dogs need advanced training in respect of a normal German shepherd dog.

German Shepherd Dogs need to be in constant interaction with their handler. They need a lot of exercises every day and also mental stimulation.

Why Do Police Use German Shepherds And Not Rottweilers

Rottweilers are still seen in the police force today but are less popular than German Shepherds for several reasons. To begin, the average male Rottweiler weighs between 110 and 132 lbs. In contrast, the average male German Shepherd weighs between 66 and 88 lbs. Police dog handlers must be able to lift their dogs in the field. Thus, the Rottweilers heavier weight can be a liability in some cases. The Rottweilers stockier build can also make it less agile in the field. Next, the Rottweilers bite force is considerably stronger than the German Shepherd. While strength is an admirable trait for a police dog, it is also important to reduce damages where possible during apprehension. This makes the German Shepherd more suitable for suspect apprehension, in some cases. For these reasons, some police departments prefer the German Shepherd over the Rottweiler.

During World War I and World War II, the Rottweiler saw use as a messenger, draught, and guard dog. Proving themselves as a valiant and loyal breed, their reputation allows them to continue their work today. Modern Rottweilers boast a good nature, exhibiting devotion to their partners as well as an eagerness to work. Similar to the German Shepherd, Rottweilers are not quick to trust strangers an overly-trusting nature towards strangers could compromise the breeds effectiveness in the field.

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German Shepherds Are Active

German Shepherds have high energy levels. They can spend their whole days outdoor. If you love jogging, hiking and hunting, German Shepherds are one of the best companions you can have. If you have children at home, they can play with German Shepherds as long as they can because these dogs don’t get tired easily.

Why Do German Shepherds Possess These Traits And Such A Temperament Gsd Breed History

Why does my German Shepherd growl at me?

German Shepherds as a dog breed were originally bred to be the ultimate working dog.

This meant they were bred to have the physical and mental traits to perform a range of working tasks, but also be intensely loyal and obedient to their master.

Although German Shepherds are attractive as a breed, their appearance was not a primary priority for early breeding apart from having the physical traits to work .

Further to this, as the German Shepherd breed evolved into the 1900s, there became both working lines and show lines.

Show lines may still have had working ability, but they were primarily bred for a specific appearance and to have the movements for show conformance.

The working lines on the other hand were bred to have superior health , great temperaments and of course a strong working ability.

If we use the East German/DDR GSD as an example, they were bred specifically to help the East German military.

You can read more about the different lines in this guide about the origins, history and evolution of the German Shepherd breed.

In modern times, there are breeders who breed German Shepherds specifically for police work making strong nerves, supreme health, an even temperament, advanced training, and of course a big appetite to work a strong priority.

If you want to read more about the German Shepherd breed in general weve put together this guide with over 100 interesting pieces of information and facts about the German Shepherd Dog Breed.

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German Shepherds Love Long Walks

Do you like to keep fit and healthy, and do you love the outdoors? Then the German Shepherd is the perfect choice for you! They are a very physical breed, and their strength and endurance is really something quite remarkable. They are capable of walking longer distances than humans can, so youd better get yourself in shape! Its usually recommended that a German Shepherd gets at least an hour of walking every day, which can also be great for you as this will help you keep off those extra pounds. Many people have found that their health has dramatically improved when they were forced to take their German Shepherd outside on a daily basis. Theres no excuse to stay inside when you have to take proper care of your German Shepherd!

German Shepherds Love Children

If given proper socialization training from an early age German Shepherds love to play with children if they are trained well to do so when they are young. Proper puppy training is essential along with love, care and respect towards your pooch. Also, make sure not to allow children to play with the dog when eating or trying to remain alone.

EDIT 26/8/17: Removed section about the shedding behaviours of German Shepherds. Thanks for the comments!

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German Shepherd Breed Overview

The German shepherd as a breed originated in Germany. No surprises there. But, believe it or not, their name was changed soon after the war. Before the war this breed was commonly called the Alsatian in Great Britain and parts of Europe.

There are still parts of Europe that refer to the German shepherd as the Alsatian; however, most of the world has converted back to calling them German shepherds.

Pretty interesting, right?

As for life expectancy, German shepherds normally live for around 9-13 years.

The color of a German shepherd can range considerably from gray to black to tan, and even a silvery color.

The males grow to be approximately 24 inches at the shoulder and the females tend to be a little shorter, measuring around 22 inches at the shoulder.

As for weight, males average around 80 pounds and the females are a bit lighter at around 60 pounds. There is no denying that these are big dogs!

Now, as I mentioned earlier, German shepherds are known for their physical strength and intelligence. As working dogs, they were bred to be confident and powerfultwo traits which often scare people away from wanting anything to do with the breed.

Its this combination that makes them quite incredible beasts. They have strong muscles. Theyre obviously large, and yet, in their minds, theyre also very confident, watchful, and alert.

If you have a puppy, I encourage you to check out my Puppy Coach training program.

Why Do Cops Use German Shepherds And Not A Different Breed For Police Dogs

Stop hating on German Shepherds | What police uses dogs for and why they choose German Shepherds

You might have encountered an emergency scene where probably some buildings collapsed due to an earthquake and persons were injured with a few others trapped within the ruins.;

And as you might have expected, there were tons of policemen securing the perimeter, paramedics, other emergency medical care providers, and very notably, there were some fierce-looking canines.

Also, at the airports, you might have observed that these same breeds of canines are always found sniffing for explosives, drugs, and other illegal stuff. Or, at different times, they may just have been keeping watch over the arena while kited with wears that bear resemblance with the K-9 police unit.;

This group of unusual but extremely popular American Police buddies are known as The German Shepherds. But what makes these German Shepherd Dogs good enough to accompany the Police on their high-risk job of securing the State? Read on to discover more.

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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.

Why Are Belgian Malinois Replacing German Shepherds As Police Dogs

Some police departments, such as the Ventura County Sheriffs Department, have no intention of switching from German Shepherds to Malinois.

They think that their Shepherds have a steadier and calmer temperament than the Malinois, able to do a good days work as police dogs and also mingle with children at school events.

However, this mentality is in the minority for most police departments in the United States.

After all, the primary goal is a dog who can do excellent work, and it is hard to argue that the Belgian Malinois isnt the better worker of the two when it comes to most of the jobs that are important for police dogs.;

Some people still worry that the Belgian Malinois is too high strung and wont do as well in groups of pedestrians, but handlers working with Belgian Malinois find them to be just as steady as German Shepherds with civilians.

Perhaps the primary reason that Belgian Malinois are replacing German Shepherds is simply their work drive.

Belgian Malinois are willing to work all day long and they are always happy and enthusiastic about doing their work.

They are absolutely fearless and utterly devoted to their handler. With proper training, their innate intelligence gives them excellent self-control.

When you add in the greater health of the Belgian Malinois over the German Shepherd, it is not at all surprising that Malinois are overtaking the Shepherd in popularity throughout the U.S.

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Establishing A Routine Will Build Your Bond With Your Shepherd

All dogs love routines and require rules to be content. Although much of what most people thought about the role of dominance in pet dogs and wolves may be wrong, according to VCA Hospital, domestic canids need leadership or they at best become confused, and at worst try to take over the family themselves.

Many Shepherds are not afraid to take on a leadership role, and although rare, truly Alpha individuals exist in the breed. A bond of mutual respect is challenging but crucial with a dominant dog.

The firmer and more consistent you are about setting boundaries for your GSD, the more he will respect you as his leader.

Although we mention food first, it is by no means the most effective way to gain many Shepherds hearts. However, being the source of nutrition is often an excellent way to garner trust from dogs who have previously suffered mistreatment or who are naturally suspicious.

Why Are Rottweilers Not Used As Police Dogs

Why German Shepherds Are Used As Police Dogs

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Rottweilers are not typically the go-to dog when to comes to a police units four-pawed officers. Police departments search out dogs that are highly intelligent, eager to please, brave, and naturally protective. So why not Rottweilers?

Simply put, Rottweilers have a different build than the more commonly-used German Shepherds. They have a more powerful bite, they are larger in size, and they dont have the same endurance and agility as some of the breeds used in police forces.;

These are just a few of the reasons why Rottweilers may not be as commonly sought-after for police dog work as other breeds like German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois. Lets explore a few more ins and outs of the Rottweiler breedand why they arent commonly used as police dogsbelow.

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They Are Loyal And Obedient

Loyalty is strong in the German Shepherd, which is another prime example of why they are added to the police force.

The K9 unit needs dogs who are able to stay loyal to their owner and listen to them in a time of crisis.

With a German Shepherd, you can rest assured that he will listen, obey, respect, and stay loyal to you. Again, this is why they are a top choice for families as well as in the force.

If a police officer needs their German Shepherd to do something, they will do it with pride.

German Shepherd Howling At Night

Naturally, German Shepherd howling at night are doing such due to some various reasons. First, because they are not really used or comfortable in their crate. Secondly, they are not feeling well maybe because of hunger or thirst as well as illness or injuries. Lastly, they are seeking the attention of their owners when they are experiencing separation anxiety. You need to understand that German Shepherd Dogs needs attention and companionship. They can also howl at night in response to other howling dogs.

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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.

Traits Of A Police Dog

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The police department itself is very sensitive as it deals with the sensitive issues of society. The dogs used to assist the Police officers as police dogs also need to have some specific traits and features that make them strong enough to fight against a strong enemy and a ruthless criminal. Some of the major traits of a Police dog are;

  • They are obedient and loyal. They follow every instruction and commandment of their handler and never say NO.
  • They need to be strong and bold enough to stop a criminal but not too big to control.
  • They must be persistent and not getting bored with the given task.
  • They should be smart and intelligent to learn things quickly.
  • They must have an even temperament. Not too shy and not too aggressive.
  • They must not be bitting common people and spreading fear.
  • They must have an athletic and muscular body.

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German Shepherds And Police Work

German Shepherds were naturally bred to work. German Shepherds are typically intelligent , they quick to train, obedient and loyal, athletic and healthy, and even-tempered.

All of these traits make German Shepherds ideal candidates for police work. Here are a few key characteristics:

  • GSDs are extremely loyal to their handlers and always want to please them. Thats why they look to their owners for cues about what to do in stressful situations.
  • German Shepherds love to work and have a job to complete. Theyre also driven to finish a job and wont stop until their handlers tell them the job is done.
  • Shepherds are one of the most intelligent dog breeds in the world. Therefore, they can be trained to perform highly complex tasks, like drug or explosive sniffing, tracking and detection.
  • GSDs are bred to keep their head, even in high-stress, chaotic situations. Even in the bustle of an active crime scene or in pursuit of a criminal, German Shepherds follow their handlers commands.
  • Shepherds are natural protectors and are committed to protecting their pack, e.g., their handlers. K-9 dogs commonly are the first to act, when a criminal becomes aggressive.
  • German Shepherds are strong, athletic, and have an abundance of energy. Theyre fast, able to take down criminals, and theyre happy to work for long periods of time.

Does The Military Use Doberman Pinschers

Dobermans are known for their protective guarding abilities and because of their intelligence and easy trainability, they were found useful for service in the military. Dobermans were used in both WWI and WWII assisting soldiers. These war dogs performed various duties. These dogs received specialized training.

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German Shepherds Are Loyal And Protective

Loyalty is a great personality that can be found in dogs. German Shepherds have a particularly strong sense of loyalty. They would protect not only their owners, but also all their family members in the household. The strong sense of loyalty and protective instinct make German Shepherds a good guard dog. However, proper socialisation and training is required so that they wont become overprotective.

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