Police K-9 Units—Why the Switch from GSDs to Malinois?

[beowulf]

They pay a lot more than 15k for a good police dog. I believe it’s closer to the 80k figure. (:

I talked to a man who trained import GSD/dutchies for several police districts in SC when he came into my job for dog food (Taste of the Wild). The biggest reason for the switch is size and temperament. GSDs are simply too big. A malinois also has a better retainability than GSDs. Both are intelligent. He said they start their dogs at 50k and the “good” ones sell for over 80k! To think we got our excellent GSD for 600!

[Unfforgettable]

I was talking to a K-9 handler just last week and asked him the same question: Why Mals over GSDs? He said physical unsoundness in the GSDs was the main reason.

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=beowulf;6899948]
They pay a lot more than 15k for a good police dog. I believe it’s closer to the 80k figure. (:

I talked to a man who trained import GSD/dutchies for several police districts in SC when he came into my job for dog food (Taste of the Wild). The biggest reason for the switch is size and temperament. GSDs are simply too big. A malinois also has a better retainability than GSDs. Both are intelligent. He said they start their dogs at 50k and the “good” ones sell for over 80k! To think we got our excellent GSD for 600![/QUOTE]

it’s been over 5 years…so I might be fuzzy on the details, I think my sister was quoted 3k Euro* a pup…Malinois…proven breeder and police bloodlines.

[ex-racer_owner]

About 15 years ago, I worked in a boarding kennel. A K-9 officer from a local community would board his “family” dog, a failed police dog that was a GSD, and also his partner, a Malinois. The difference between the two dogs could not have been greater. It was easy to see between these two dogs why one would be favored over the other for police work. It was uncanny how that Malinois watched everything I was doing, quite aloof, while the GSD was much more sociable and less vigilant. That Malinois was one of the strangest animals I had ever encountered (I also worked for a vet clinic in that officer’s community and had to restrain that dog when it came in for stitches, it was weird then too) . My BFF also had a Malinois that she got from a rescue. He, too, was hyper vigilant and had cornered her house guests (none had access to her computer ) in a room. Based on my limited experience with the Malinois breed, I would say that they are too intense for the average family, but probably perfect for police work.

I quite like the Malinois breed, but am not ashamed to say that I would not be the right type of owner for this type of dog. Its probably best that they are not a popular and readily accessible breed for the masses!

[Alagirl]

LOL, seems my mom got a special one then…she is the farm greeter and super nanny.

She keeps peace between all the critters, makes sure the formerly confirmed cat killer does not harm the kittens, etc…

except that thing trying to fly off the castle wall…maybe she was trying to escape her duties :lol::lol::lol:

[frisky]

I read a good article in the New Yorker on this and other things about police dogs. It came out about a year ago. I think you need a subscription to read it. Worth it though.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/02/27/120227fa_fact_bilger

[Guin]

There was a major article in the New Yorker a few months ago about training police dogs. There was specific mention of the fact that they are mostly using Malinois because the US-bred German shepherds no longer have the normal body type they need to perform K9 duties. If the police do get any GSD’s, they import them from three or four specific breeders in Germany.

It is sickening what US breeders have done to GSDs.

edit - didn’t see Frisky’s link before posting

[Bacardi1]

@Guin;6900561

There was specific mention of the fact that they are mostly using Malinois because the US-bred German shepherds no longer have the normal body type they need to perform K9 duties. If the police do get any GSD’s, they import them from three or four specific breeders in Germany.

It is sickening what US breeders have done to GSDs.

How very, very sad, & very, very true.

[wendy]

I quite like the Malinois breed, but am not ashamed to say that I would not be the right type of owner for this type of dog. Its probably best that they are not a popular and readily accessible breed for the masses!

oh yes. I have a police-dog-flunkout malinois, and they are probably THE most difficult breed to live with, own, and train. Incredible creatures when you get it right, but nothing that most people need, want, or could even tolerate. I always try to discourage people from even considering the breed. They are very different from GSD in every way- I’m not sure how anyone can mistake them for GSD, because their size, bone structure, general appearance, general behavior, and even their bark is so different from the GSD. People who like GSD often don’t like malinois. The breed malinois are closest to genetically is the collie- look at the smooth collies- they aren’t closely related to the GSD at all. Today the breed they most resemble in drive and behavior is the border collie. If you wouldn’t consider owning a border collie, why would you want a creature that is possibly more energetic, higher drive, twice the size, and bred to bite people? They are a disaster in the hands of most people.

anyway, back to health issues of GSD: One big study of dogs in Europe found that 20% of GSD were dead before age 5, and less than 50% survived to age 10. Most of the people I know who use GSD for SAR or obedience or schutzhund find they have to retire the dogs by age 7 or so. Contrast that with someone I know whose SAR malinois was out actively finding people at age 14, and the many 12 and 13 year old border collies are still running agility.
Most dogs need at least 2 to 3 years of training and experience to really get good at their jobs, so if you buy the police dog prospect as a 1-yr-old for a fortune, and it takes 3 years for the dog to really get good, it’s kind of disappointing if the dog has to then be retired after only 3 years of good solid work.

GSD breeders should be ashamed of themselves.

[RaeHughes]

A friend in the US had GSDs and was very upset of losing 3 before they were 8 from serious spine and hip problems - her childhood GSds lived to their early teens.

So she started looking around at alternative breeds that had the same sort of look/drive etc. She looked at the Malanois … and ended up with what she always swore she wouldnt get - 1 BC and 1 lab :). The BC is from Scotland and the lab is a black from England. Each are working line bred with “soundness and sanity” guarantees (what the BC breeder called them :lol:). She is loving them - drive, stamina and that all important “OFF” switch :D. She loves that she has to wake up both of her dogs in the morning to head off for their day.

[EponaRoan]

They have a Mali as a recurring character (Bear) on Person of Interest who is awesome. I hope it doesn’t make John Q Public want one as a pet, but he’s a really cool dog.

This was his first appearance:

http://www.cbs.com/shows/person_of_interest/video/IkOuAxwzupVoKfdblkgsBX40zX5UXHVd/person-of-interest-something-funny

[cowboymom]

That’s the kiss of death, having a dog on a TV show… I hope they show him behaving badly too!

Professionally (as a vet tech and receptionist) I’ve known one GSD police dog and one Mali search and rescue dog. They were both a hot mess! :lol: The GSD was off the hook aggressive to other dogs and most people-his main job was drug searches at the airport and when he “at work” he was apparently good at his job but when he came in for his vet work he was awful; had to clear the waiting room and muzzle him.

The Mali was just a freak-squeaky, whiney barky, huge, jumped up, out of control energy. He was very good with people and very young when I knew him but he was enough to cure me of any interest in anything like him.

[ParadoxFarm]

GoForAGallop, mine is the same way! I just like to say he talks. Most people think he is growling, but he is just talking.

Yes, Mallies are very intense, very high drive. That being said, mine is also the sweetest, most affectionate dog we have ever had. My Mallie is the smartest dog I’ve ever had (many breeds). I can see where some may not enjoy dealing with the drive, etc. They’re definitely not for the beginning dog owner.

When my husband was in the Secret Service, they used Mallies exclusively. The reasons they used the Malinois were because, 1) in their studies they found the GSDs to be much more prone to hip dysphasia, 2) being smaller, they were much more comfortable traveling in both cars AND airplanes, 4) they tested much better at explosive sniffing than GSDs (for the Secret Service anyway), so they felt they had better sniffing skills, and finally, 5) they tested bite strength, and the Mallies had a much harder bite.

[QUOTE=GoForAGallop;6898547]
Mine doesn’t ever shut up. :lol: HUGE talker. Not barking incessantly, or anything, but he whines and grumbles a lot when he’s just hanging out with you or wants attention. To be fair to him, I’ve always encouraged it, so it’s partly learned, but it’s funny to see how there really are certain breed traits.[/QUOTE]

[PalominoMorgan]

Was also going to say the Mals are sharper, more intense, smaller, and what most others said.

As for the law enforcement dogs being awful at the vet… I was at an eye specialist to get my service dog an eye exam as part of her routine screening. Also there was a handler and yellow lab from Homeland Security. Let’s just say that I assume he is good at his job because holy crap was he intense, fidgety, whiney, pulling handler around waiting room, etc. I’m guessing he had no issues with drive. I was really happy when it was his turn because it was honestly making me jumpy picking up his vibe for 15-20 minutes. My SD is very low key and was plopped on floor with only her eyes checking on the lab when he went from one end of room to other.