K9 dogs

Your answers are going to vary by state/department - as each has their own rules. I went to a K9 demo this past week - and it was REALLY cool to watch, so I have some answers based on what I learned. 

1. Why are the dogs always males? - females tend to be more bitchy. honestly. the males are more eager to please - and don't get stuck in their 'moods'. And - females have to be spayed - which cuts down on training time.
2. Why are they not neutered? - because they don't have to be - that was the answer I was given.
3. Are they more driven that way or are they gonna be used as a stud later? No. They don't breed the dogs, they import from Germany. I would imagine an unaltered dog would more driven.
4. Do any of them come from the US? - Most come from Germany. The dogs cost $10,000. They are trained for showing when they come over, the police departments just apply the training to what they need.
5. Do they ever get to play with other dogs? - No. They do not get along, usually. I was told that if they were to let them off leash, they are trained to ignore the other dogs, and work only for their handeler.
6. How come German Shepard's are the only dogs used? - They aren't. They are the most common, because they have the previous training from overseas.

I watch this show too! One of the dogs featured, I *think* Lance but could defiantly be wrong, does get to play and goof and be a "normal" dog when he's not working. His handler has another dog at home, I *think* it was a shih tzu (again I could be wrong), he can play with, and they take him to parks, and swimming. On another episode I saw the K9 dog was playing with the handler's 2 young children and was happy and playing great!

Most of the dogs are males because males have more drive, and unneutered males have even more drive. Females are moody, and tend to like to do things as they please....kinda like cats, LOL. Most of the dogs also get along with other dogs. They do know when it's time to work, and when it's time to have fun! And, most of the dogs retire to they're handlers home, and live as pets - with other pets. GSD's are not the only breed used, but are the most common, another top K9 dog is the Mal. One of my friends had a retired breeding bitch(Mal). She was a lovely house dog and adored kids and small pets(reminded her of pups I guess...?).

I didn't read anyone else's posts, so I'm sorry if someones already said this!!

kle1986

Why are they not neutered?

Kyda

kle1986

Why are they not neutered?

 I was watching the show and wondering the same thing. Wouldnt they be easily distracted by scent of female in heat that way?

They are **highly** trained dogs, but I've wondered that often myself.....it seems like they would want to, maybe the drive to please they're handler is higher?

I've watched a few episodes and I love it! I've always had an interest in that sort of thing and wanted to be a K9 cop when I was younger. I was also wondering why they only have German Shepherds. It seems like they would also have Rottweilers and Dobermans.

Luvntzus

 It seems like they would also have Rottweilers and Dobermans.

Rotties tend to be hard-headed. When trained very well, they do listen, but not quite like a GSD.

Someone told me Dobies are to unpredictable....I highly doubt that, because that was the same person that told me Pit's were all vicious......

Luvntzus

 It seems like they would also have Rottweilers and Dobermans.

Rotties tend to be hard-headed. When trained very well, they do listen, but not quite like a GSD.

Someone told me Dobies are to unpredictable....I highly doubt that, because that was the same person that told me Pit's were all vicious......

There ARE rots and dobes competing in Schutzhund, but I imagine that health is even bigger issue iwth them than with GSDs- and there are fewer dogs to choose from who are training with big-name successful trainers.

My experience has not been that females are any less driven- at least in any other breed and type of trianing- but that yes, they *can* be more moody. I think the bigger reason is that the boys are bigger, frankly- and a lot of military and police dog 'traditions' originate from well before the days that spaying was a usual thing. Having a girl come into season twice a year puts a serious dent in her time working. Neutering a boy can lessen his drive, though.

All that stuff said, I really take everything animal planet says with a grain of salt at this point. You might try asking over on germanshepherds.com 

I'm sorry--I DO NOT buy the females are bitchy thing!  I think this is pure sexism.  My dog, while not one of  these breeds, could easily have been trained for work like this when she was younger. 

I would put a good sized Am Staff up agains tthese breeds ANY day.  Half of K9 work is intimidation--perps KNOW these dogs will bite if asked.  Sooo, you have a "Pit bull" and violá--a dog "they" all say is meaner thatn Hell. Perps believe these dogs WILL take them down and they give up, more often than not. A bitch can bite just as hard as a male.  I know--I have been bitten by BOTH sexes!

our local police have totally switched from GSD to malinois because healthy GSD that stay healthy long enough to justify their high price tag are sadly non-existant anymore. Other breeds just can't do it; they might do ok in competitions but on the street day in day out they don't do so well. I also think the unneutered male thing is sexism and not anything real- big tough cop with a dog whose balls have been chopped off? the horror. big tough cop with a spayed female dog? the horror.

Most are males and unneutered due to bias not reality.  There are neutered dogs out there, they just dont happen to be on that show. Drive is an issue of the individual dog and biddability is every bit as important as drive. 

 Few K 9 are allowed to play with other K 9s due to the "whose the boss" attitude that is instilled in them from almost birth.  The absolute confidence and training approaches to instill that dont often lead toward a dog well socialized for unstructured play.  Many are extremely dog aggressive.  That however can often be an error related to the handler. 

Some of the best k9s are bitches.  Take a look at the Austrian Anti Terror squad.  There is also a believe that bitches are too small to do the job.  Not so in a precint in western CA.  The best k9 happens to be around 50 pound malinois bitch who will become part of a breeding program after her years on the street (which will be limited do to healthy reproductive life time). 

Malinois are lighter, faster, and more reactive.  They take a much higher level of proficiency on the part of handlers.  GSD tend to be more forgiving.  There are plenty of GSD lines (from Europe) who are plenty healthy enough to work.  Again, there is a bias about a speed of light dog weighing in the 60 to 70 pound range is incapable of taking a man down.  Not so believe me, when that weight hits you at "malinois" speed it will be every bit as effective as a slower heavier GSD. 

There are also K9 departments with Dobes, Rotts, and Giants: with a few Bouvs for good measure.  There are even a couple with labs sniffer dogs who also do protection and apprehension work.

Ooops  forgot a well trained, high drive dog with the proper work ethic will ignore a bitch in season.  The most likely place to see this is a working livestock situation.  Now once work is over all bets are off.  I have not heard of any working K9's doing that, but have heard of use of a bitch in season being used as a distractor (and working).

As to hard headed,,, that is not a breed trait.  Working k 9s actually have to be very much like good herding dogs:  a) aware this is a team effort; b) trained to perform in a specific way but to also practice disobedience when appropriate (ie second perp in the bushes); c) is willing to take direction from the lead partner about the manner in which the work will occur.

Some dept give up mals because they are more difficult to maintain, others wont have anything else.  Mals tend to be far less likely to forget a mistake, or forgive it.

kle1986

 I have several questions after watching K9 Cops. I looked it up on the net but couldnt find any answers!!

Why are the dogs always males?
Why are they not neutered?
Are they more driven that way or are they gonna be used as a stud later?
Do any of them come from the US?
Do they ever get to play with other dogs?
How come German Shepard's are the only dogs used?
 

Sorry but I am very nosy. Must know everything I can about dogs!!
 

I haven't seen the show but our training director is a K9 trainer/cop...

1.  Not sure, they aren't always males, but typically good breeding programs keep back more females for breeding

2.  Probably no reason.  I know among JQP there's this assumption that everyone neuters their dogs but for people who are fanciers and/or work the dogs that is not true.  I have no intention of neutering Nikon simply b/c I see no reason to.  My breeder does not require people to neuter their males and there have never been any "oops litter" problems.  We consider marking and humping to be a training issue just like potty training, etc.

3. Not necessarily more driven, drive is genetic.  Possibly used for stud later.

4. Some yes, probably most of them from imported breeding stock though.  There's not as much divide in the types of working lines so it's not rare to find working line dogs that are a combo of west German, DDR, Czech, Belgian, etc.  It's all about producing the drive they want, not what the dogs look like or where they are from.

5. Mals are actually very popular (especially in military) and often more reactive, just as drivey, extremely fast and athletic, but I've heard that some police use the GSD's bad stereotype in their favor.  They are bigger and look scarier.  Often, visual deterrence is enough to stop a suspect.  So if you are running from police in a dark alley, which dog is more scary looking?

Some Mals are just too over the top.  This is a generalization I know, but I've heard of many police depts switching back to GSDs because they are easier to control and train, more clear headed.