I can vouch for that! My big guy, Yansa, is a purebred GSD, 31" and 130lbs. He's huge but is a total klutz. He's a rescue that is most likely from a BYB.
Jihad
and the pound puppy crew.
East German GSD versus West German GSD
Our MP unit actually has a few K9 teams assigned to it. I've noted one Malinois and one GSD. The GSD though is huge. It's about 100 lbs of muscle, which leads me to believe it's a European line GSD. I don't have pictures, yet, but the dog has the straight as opposed to the sloped back of an American line GSD, it's got the black and brown and grayish coloration in its fur, and it's larger than the 80-85 lbs by the breed standard. I doubt it's a Shiloh because it's fur isn't shaggy enough. If I were to guess I'd say it was an East German GSD. Does that breed still exist or is it crossbred into other GSD lines?
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Jihad
and the pound puppy crew.
A link for comparison on the different "types" of GSD's...
http://www.shawlein.com/The_Standard/13_Breed_Type/Breed_Types.html
I don't know exactly how accurate all the information is, but it gives good examples of the difference in body types.
http://www.shawlein.com/The_Standard/13_Breed_Type/Breed_Types.html
I don't know exactly how accurate all the information is, but it gives good examples of the difference in body types.
FT Sill had mostly GSDs when I trained over there last year. They were getting a Malinois up to speed but he was still a puppy.Yep, I notice that trend here, at Fort Drum, and at Fort Huachuca...Fort Drum had a really nice Malinois as their drug sniffer.
For the most part you'll see lots of imported GSD's though, and an occasional Mal.
I did run into a really nice Mal one of the TSA guys had in Bangor, ME when we were flying into theater last year too.
My husband said they had mostly GSD's when he was deployed in 2003 and 2006 (both to the same place, Camp Victory) It's debatable though whether they will go to Malinois as a permanent solution. They've used pitbulls, Dobermans, etc before and it didn't seem to stick like the GSD has.
True, but Malinois are equal to if not superior to GSDs in many areas. One is heat tolerance, which in the Middle East is a Godsend.
The Israelis use them almost exclusively for that reason and the fact that they're large enough to handle human sized adversaries yet light enough to be carried by their handlers.
DISCLAIMER: I love GSDs as well, but I might be a tad biased in the Malinois versus GSD debate because I have a Malinois.
The Israelis use them almost exclusively for that reason and the fact that they're large enough to handle human sized adversaries yet light enough to be carried by their handlers.
DISCLAIMER: I love GSDs as well, but I might be a tad biased in the Malinois versus GSD debate because I have a Malinois.
The problem that the military and American police have, is that the Malinois is not as clear headed as the GSD. They are highly reactive and it makes them harder to control, whereas even tough GSDs can be rather pushbutton.
Many K9 handlers are NOT Dog Men...they get into it because they think it's cool, but they don't KNOW dogs.
Many K9 handlers are NOT Dog Men...they get into it because they think it's cool, but they don't KNOW dogs.
But a smart handler will know how to utilize that quick, ball of fire type reactiveness effectively. Knowing his dog and how to tactically employ him or her can mitigate that factor.
Again, that goes back to being a dog person, which most handlers aren't
Which brings me to the point that look at what the Army is recruiting nowadays...remember they've lowered the standards considerably and we're getting a lot of "less than desirable" (f*** up's) here lately. Unfortunately, not all people going to work with the K9's are dog saavy...I'd say a lot of them don't know their butt from a hole in the ground...this goes for police, military, what have you...I think this could be remedied by giving more in the way of training to work with the dogs (more comprehensive anyway).But a smart handler will know how to utilize that quick, ball of fire type reactiveness effectively. Knowing his dog and how to tactically employ him or her can mitigate that factor.
A lot more Mal's wash out of training than GSD's. While I love both breeds (keep in mind they are cousins) well, they don't call them "Belgian Maligators" for nothing.
Maligators? Care to explain? I'm not quite sure I follow.
Maligator = Malinois Alligator...kind of well known for biting at inappropriate times, just a joke with some people that work with them.
Ah. Yes, the infamous bite at the wrong time instinct. Well, I've learned to live with that characteristic from my Mal and love him nonetheless. Great dog he is, that's for damned sure.
I better divert this before this thread gets TOO off topic, so I'll say I actually considered a GSD (I was more interested in a European line one for the fact that they seem to be healthier than American bred ones, IMHO) before I got my Malinois.
I better divert this before this thread gets TOO off topic, so I'll say I actually considered a GSD (I was more interested in a European line one for the fact that they seem to be healthier than American bred ones, IMHO) before I got my Malinois.
Hate to break it to you, but the breed as a whole is pretty unhealthy, and not restricted to the American dogs.
I thought the European lines were healthier though. Anyhoo, I heard that most of the health issues cropped up in the '80s and '90s were GSDs experienced a big upswing in popularity.
Nope, not healthier...just dealt with differently.
This is interesting. Our local dept has a K9, haven't a clue where he came from. But we were watching him do a educational program one day at a local event, and the mal wouldn't release the sleeve, the handler choked him off. He was pretty slick about it too, if you weren't paying attention you would have thought he was playing with the dog. I think the crowd was too in awe of the giant leap the mal made to get the sleeve....lol.Ah. Yes, the infamous bite at the wrong time instinct. Well, I've learned to live with that characteristic from my Mal and love him nonetheless. Great dog he is, that's for damned sure
So would crossing GSDs with healthier shepherd types on the European continent improve the overall health of the breed?Nope, not healthier...just dealt with differently.
No, because you're not crossing anything, unless you're talking about breeding a GSD to like, a Malinois, but then you're screwing with temperament and can get all sorts of stability issues.
People have discussed the pros and pitfalls of such an idea, because it has been suggested.
People have discussed the pros and pitfalls of such an idea, because it has been suggested.
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