What Dog Looks Like A German Shepherd But Is Smaller
The popular toy breed called a Pembroke Welsh Corgi is very closely related to the German Shepherd and was used for centuries before the German Shepherd became a show dog. It has ancestry from we know today as we Friesian herding dogs.Their name comes from their duties of corralling or herding cattle, sheep and other livestock by nipping at their heels while bark-barking.The Pembroke Welsh Corgi enjoyed some popularity in Europe principally because it would produce an easier-to-shear coat than most longer sheared breeds and they did not require quite so much grooming. Puppies come in different colors: sable, black and tan, red mer.
German Short Haired Pointer
Much like the Bloodhound, the German Short Haired Pointer is often used by police agencies to track missing persons or as a cadaver dog. These non-aggressive and intelligent dogs are renowned for their keen sense of smell, which along with their desire to please their handler, makes the German Short Haired Pointer an easy dog to train and work with and an excellent police tracking dog.
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.
Also Check: Does Police Academy Cost Money
Police Dog Breeds That Help Law Enforcement
Dogs have been formally called on to help police fight crime and track down suspects since the late 1880s, though their role in serving and protecting humans goes back many centuries earlier than that.
More recently, police dogs work has expanded to mirror almost everything their human counterparts dofrom apprehending suspects and patrolling, to assisting on search and rescue missions, to sniffing out drugs, guns, and bombs. Its nuanced and demanding work, requiring a special temperament and skillset, which is why youll see certain breeds used as police dogs again and again.
Still, experts agree that breed alone doesnt automatically qualify a dog for police work, nor does a less common K9 breed rule one out. Yes, were drawn to certain breeds because we know what their characteristics usually are, says Shana Parsnow, manager of working dog programs for Highland Canine Training, LLC. But the characteristics of the individual dog are really the most important thing.
What Types Of Dogs Are Used As Bait Dogs
When it comes down to it, they need fur, flesh, blood and meat to replicate a dog fight, so anything with all of that is fair game. I have gone in on rescues where we found a Golden Retriever, a Dobie, a GSD, a couple of Chows, a Lab mix, and a small Benji-like dog, who were all to be used as bait.
Hi, Im Cara. Im a life-long learner and creator with a passion for dog training and the science of canine behavior. My love for dogs began at the age of 4 when my first family pet was a black lab named Dallas who was most definitely not trained to do tricks! Since then I have had several dogs ranging from pugs to Dobermans and I have an unreasonable enthusiasm for all things doable or teachable in dog training. After spending several years training dogs and people in a variety of environments, I formally earned my master dog training certificate.
Recommended Reading: Do I Have To Call Police After Accident
How To Train A German Shepherd Like A Police Dog
Lets say youve already purchased an elite breed of a German shepherd. The next step is to train the puppy to become a police dog. Its advisable to go to a professional dog trainer for working dogs because police training is different from other types of dog training. Before you let your dog be trained by professionals, start by teaching your dog basic skills because professional dog trainers dont just accept random dogs for training.
If you want to train a German shepherd like a police dog, its better if you start training him during the first 16 20 weeks of your dogs life because it is the most critical time to train him to instill positive behavior and prevent behavioral problems. However, they can still be trained whether theyre puppies or adults but dont ever attempt to train your dog on your own for police training if unqualified.
Obedience Training
Obedience is the most important quality of a police dog so it is important to teach your dog to follow commands. You can start with simple commands such as sit, stay, down, run, jump, etc. Remember that obedience is something you should not force. Teaching obedience by force will result in mistrust. On the other hand, mental stimulation and positive reinforcement will motivate your puppy to follow your commands.
Physical Training
Tracking Training
How Do You Become A Police Dog Handler
To become a dog handler the minimum standard of education needs to be achieved to have a chance of getting a training placement. At least three years of police work will be needed, and a transfer can be requested into the dog unit. Entry to the police dog unit is very competitive and often there is a waiting list. Once your application has been successful you will spend a few weeks completing specialist training using your allocated dog.
You May Like: How Can I Find A Police Report Online
American Pit Bull Terriers
There are several types of pit bulls in the United States, but only one regularly serves as a police dog. The American Pit Bull Terrier is a relatively recent entrant into the world of policing, with many of them only coming into service during the last few years of the 2010s. With that said, though, these dogs are already proving to be quite effective.
Many departments are turning towards Pit Bulls for the simple reason that they are cheap. Most working Pit Bulls are rescues, which means that they dont come with the five-figure price tag thats common in most other service breeds. Fortunately, the sheer potential of these dogs more than makes up for their low price.
Pit Bulls have all the qualities one would want in a police dog. They are fast, strong, and confident. Theyre also loyal and fearless, with a surprising amount of tenderness to those who they love. These are mostly patrolled dogs for the moment, but there are definitely talks of using these dogs more widely due to their excellent dispositions and the relative ease of procuring more of them in the future.
A Shared Herding Heritage
Both the Malinois and German Shepherd are members of the Herding Group and can trace their origins to livestock herding dogs. As their names imply, the Belgian Malinois was developed in Belgium and the German Shepherd in Germany.
The Malinois was one of four varieties of Belgian Shepherd Dog in use in the late 1800s. It was first recognized by Professor Adolphe Reul. He characterized the variety as a medium-sized square dog with dark brown eyes and triangular ears. Each of the four types of Belgian Shepherd Dog was named for the area around Brussels where it was developed, with the Malinois hailing from the Malines region.
As the agricultural lifestyle declined, the Belgian Shepherd Dog became favored in the development of police dog training, according to Ann MacKay, who has owned Belgian Malinois for 32 years and bred them for 26,
- German Shepherd doing a police dog demo.
- Belgian Malinois doing a police dog demo.
In fact, as early as 1908, the AKC Gazette mentioned that two Belgian Sheepdogs had been imported into the United States to work as police dogs in New York City. More were imported in 1911, including two specifically identified in the AKC studbook as Malinois. Finally, in 1959 the Belgian Malinois was granted full AKC recognition as a breed of its own, separate from the other Belgian Shepherd Dog varieties.
Recommended Reading: German Shepherd Mix With Chihuahua
Also Check: What Is The Best Police Scanner To Buy
Can My Dog And I Get Involved In This Type Of Work
Just because your puppy has an uncanny ability to sniff out and dig up bones from in your backyard, it doesnt mean theyll have the drive, motivation, and physical attributes to work as a canine scent detection detective.
Cooper recommends finding a local search and rescue team if you think you and your dog might have what it takes. You cant do this out of a book. You need mentors to help you progress day-by-day, week-by-week. Your dog needs a high level of certification and affiliation with a reputable organization for the police to consider working with you, and it takes a lot of training and dedication.
Starbuck says they have seen wonderful, what you would call pet dogs, come in through volunteer search and rescue. As long as the handler can change their mindset to making them a working dog and realize that sometimes theyre putting that dog in a situation that might make them feel uncomfortable.
History Of Police Canines Around The World
Dogs have been used by law enforcement agencies for over 100 years. The English used bloodhounds while searching for Jack the Ripper in 1888, and during that time they allowed canines to accompany bobbies on patrol. In 1899, in Ghent, Belgium, police started formally training dogs for police work. This enhanced the popularity of using dogs for police work. By 1910, Germany had police dogs in over 600 of their largest cities. In 1938, South London introduced two specially trained Labrador Retrievers to the Metropolitan Police Force to accompany bobbies on patrol.
In the 1970s the use of dogs in law enforcement took a foothold in the United States. Now they are considered a part of the police force, and in many departments they even have their own badges. From the hundreds of dog breeds, there are some that are widely known for their presence in law enforcement. The most widely trained dog for regular patrol work is the German Shepherd. Other exemplary breeds includebut are not limited tothe Labrador Retriever, Belgian Malinois, and the Dutch Shepherd. Certain breeds have been used for special purposes, such as detecting illegal drugs or explosives, and tracking fugitives or missing persons.
Also Check: Can You Find A Police Report Online
What Is The Easiest Dog To Take Care Of
10 Easy-Maintenance Dog Breeds #1: Basenji. This wonderful breed has no doggy smell, so combined with his short coat and small size, he goes right to the top of the list. #2: Vizsla. #3: Whippet. #4: Boston Terrier. #5: Doberman Pinscher. #6: Toy Manchester and Manchester Terrier. #7: Pointer. #8: German Shorthaired Pointer.
Human Remains Detection Dogs
Theres an increasing demand for dogs to help find dead bodies. Cadaver dogs, also known as human remains detection dogs, can find human remains that are just a few hours or decades old. The remains are often as much as 15 feet underground or at the bottom of deep bodies of water.
Kim Cooper from Ottawa Valley Search and Rescue Dog Association has been working with search and rescue dogs for thirty years. She explains theres been a surprising demand for cadaver dog assistance since they added this profile in 2007. The cadaver and water searches are skill sets that often the police and the police dogs dont have. Whereas civilians have trained for this, so it becomes an extra resource that can be brought in.
You May Like: How To Obtain A Police Report In Michigan
Search And Rescue Training
Dogs that are trained in search and rescue training have the specific objective of finding missing persons, usually in inhospitable environments. Some of their areas of coverage will include rescue after natural disasters, tracking missing persons, wilderness tracking, and mass casualty events.
An example of a time when search and rescue dogs were used was on September the 11th, 2001, when the attack on the Twin Towers occurred in New York City. Many first responders attended the scene to help out where they could, but humans were not the only people that responded to the scene. There were also search and rescue dogs present after the towers fell. These dogs searched through the rubble without hesitations.
Unfortunately, some of these dogs, as well as their handlers, passed away on this day. However, their bravery will be remembered forever. These search and rescue dogs worked tirelessly to find people on this awful day, and were able to remain focused on the task at hand, despite the dangers that they faced.
One particular dog that you may be interested to learn about is Trakr, which was a search and rescue dog that was able to locate the first survivor to be found. He worked so hard and selflessly that he collapsed from a combination of smoke inhalation, exhaustion, and burns, after searching non-stop through the rubble for 2 days.
Why Do Police Not Use Dobermans
The doberman got a very bad rep during the 70s as an out of control beast that would turn on everyone at the blink of an eye, and this led to them being much less popular as a pet dog, and even less popular as a police K9 due to the inherent liablility with the public perception of this breed of dog.
Recommended Reading: Can I Sue The Police For Not Investigating
What Breed Of Dog Is Most Used By Police
Police dogs must remember several verbal cues and hand gestures. The most commonly used breeds are the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Bloodhound, Dutch Shepherd, and the retriever breeds. Recently, the Belgian Malinois has become the dog of choice for police and military work due to their intense drive and focus.
Do Police Take Police Dogs Home
Each puppy is carefully chosen to complement the officer’s size and temperament and, having passed the training, officer and dog are licensed and allowed out onto the streets. They quickly form a bond, helped by being rarely apart: the dogs travel in the van on every shift and go home with the officer after work.
Hi, I’m Nelson. I’ve been a professional dog trainer for over 20 years, making my living teaching people how to train their dogs and helping them overcome their struggles with unwanted behaviors like pulling on the leash or not coming when called. I’ve owned several successful dog training businesses and have trained dogs for movies and TV shows. I’ve also been on local television and in a variety of magazines.
Recommended Reading: Can You File A Insurance Claim Without A Police Report
Everything You Wanted To Know About Police Dogs
Police dogs do a lot in a day. They can track down criminals, find narcotics hidden by even the cleverest of criminals, search buildings, rescue individuals from dangerous situations and more and theyre used in most major city police departments today. There are thousands of police dogs in service, and hundreds that have made the ultimate sacrifice all in a days work. But how does a dog become a member of the force, and what dogs make for good police dogs? Here youll find everything you wanted to know about police dogs, including why theyre not only used, but so highly relied upon.
Types Of Scent Detecting Dogs That Support The Police
The police use a dogs nose to support them in various activities. The training for each discipline is rigorous and costly, sometimes taking as much as two to three years to complete. Most dogs specialize in one area of expertise, detecting specific odors. The training techniques are all similara dog learns to associate certain scents with a high-value reward, so they search for these scents over all others and indicate when they find them.
Recommended Reading: Do Police Officers Need A College Degree
What Is The Stupidest Dog Breed
The 10 Dumbest Dog Breeds and Why Theyve Been Characterized as Dumb Afghan Hound. The Afghan Hound is the dumbest dog. Basenji. Basenjis also make the list of dumbest dog breeds. Bulldog. Bulldogs are known for their stubbornness. Chow Chow. Chow Chows can also be difficult to train. Borzoi. Bloodhound. Pekingese. Beagle.
Story Behind German Shepherd As A Police Dog
The first data on the existence of the German Shepherd as a breed dates back to 1899. At that time, a captain of the German army noticed this type of dog and considered it very valuable for herding, so he dedicated himself to the breeding of these animals. He bet on highlighting their intelligence, their loyalty and dedication to work and fell in love with the breed completely.
Little by little, these furry ones were also the best allies to defend the house and from there they began to resort to them for the protection of small villages and communities. Over time, they have become part of the police, the army and other specialized bodies, such as the fire department.
They are very obedient, so they can be trained with some ease. This allows dog trainers specialized in German Shepherd as a police dog to enhance those qualities and characteristics that make them so valuable for these specific and necessary functions. They are highly respected dogs and, as we mentioned earlier, they are very much loved. Seasoned and restless, they are faithful and good companions.
These dogs have a courageous and faithful character, obedient and good.
Also Check: Can I Get A Police Report On Anyone