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German Shepherds are commonly employed as working dogs, engaged in a variety of noble jobs, such as search and rescue, scent detection, and service dog work. It’s no accident that they’re frequently seen in police K-9 unit teams.
German Shepherds possess a number of skills and traits that make them excellent candidates for police dog work. Their intelligence, loyalty, stamina, and bravery are just a few noteworthy characteristics that make them some of the most qualified police dogs. We’ll go over a few reasons why German Shepherds are preferred breeds and how they get selected to become police dogs.
The 7 Traits That Make German Shepherds Them Perfect for the Job
1. Intelligence
German Shepherds are extremely intelligent and love to learn. Regardless of whether they’re police dogs or not, German Shepherds need to have mental stimulation and enrichment activities incorporated into their daily routine. They’re fast learners and typically excel in obedience training.
Once they have a strong foundation built for obedience training, German Shepherds are usually quick to learn new tricks and commands. Their ability to learn a variety of complex tasks makes them excellent candidates for police dog work.
2. Trainability
Along with being incredibly smart dogs, German Shepherds are known to be fairly trainable. It may take some time to earn their trust, but once they’re paired with a handler they respect, they usually form a strong bond and are eager to please them.
German Shepherds enjoy new experiences and learning new things, so they’re often enthusiastic students who take pride in mastering a challenging task. They’re willing participants in police dog training, such as scent tracking, finding crime scene evidence, and protecting officers.
3. Strength
German Shepherds can be employed to protect police officers and people who are in close proximity to a dangerous person. Along with their large size, their strength enables them to tackle and pin people who are trying to run away.
German Shepherds are also among a group of dog breeds with the strongest bite force so people usually think twice about getting on a German Shepherd’s bad side.
4. Temperament
The German Shepherd has a temperament that makes them excellent candidates for police dog work. They’re incredibly loyal to their handlers and won’t hesitate to protect them from danger. Their bravery also makes them reliable partners in the field, as they don’t ever back down easily.
Another trait that German Shepherds possess is their dependability. They aren’t easily distracted and can be trained to stay focused on completing tasks without straying from their objectives.
5. Athleticism
Police dog work is demanding and requires high levels of strength and stamina. Police dogs have days that are filled with training sessions and actively working in the field. Their job responsibilities are physically demanding, especially when they’re engaged in search and rescue, patrolling an area, or pursuing a target.
German Shepherds are naturally active, high-energy dogs. They were bred to be working dogs with a lot of stamina so that they could work on physically demanding tasks day after day.
6. Drive
German Shepherds have a strong work ethic and drive. They’re goal-driven and remain motivated to complete a task, and you won’t find a German Shepherd quitting halfway on anything. Their tenacity enables them to work much longer than many other dog breeds.
Retired German Shepherd police dogs are also known to remain active and driven even if they’re no longer formally working. They were bred to work and take pride in their jobs and responsibilities.
7. Adaptability
Police work can be unpredictable and requires the ability to work effectively in high-pressure situations. German Shepherds are brave and able to stay calm in stressful situations. They trust their handlers and are able to follow through on commands when in the field.
German Shepherds are versatile dogs, so it’s common to see different German Shepherds performing different tasks in a K-9 unit. They may work in a variety of fields, including search and rescue, scent detection, or suspect apprehension.
How Do German Shepherds Become Police Dogs?
Not all German Shepherds are suited for police dog work. Dogs must go through a rigorous selection and training process that qualifies them to become police dogs. Trainers will look for dogs with certain personality traits that make them a good fit for this field. Common traits that police dogs need are trainability, intelligence, and calm demeanor. Police dogs must also be physically healthy and have strength, stamina, and agility.
Police dog candidates must first receive obedience training. They’ll also have to complete endurance and agility training so that they can chase, climb stairs, and jump over walls. They must also be socialized so that they are not anxious or nervous in whatever setting or environment they enter.
On top of all this training, dogs must receive specialty training, such as detecting bombs or drugs and searching for missing people. They also have to train with their handlers and learn how to work alongside them. In police work, they need to be trained not only to restrain or catch a suspect, but also release them on command.
The basic training for police dogs usually lasts between 4 to 6 months, and it can take a total of 3 years of training before a dog fully works as a police dog. They’ll have to receive continuous training throughout their careers to ensure they’re in top shape and fully capable of doing their jobs.
Conclusion
German Shepherds are popular candidates for police dog work because of their courage, loyalty, and trainability. They also have the strength and energy to keep up with the important tasks that are entrusted to them.
Police dogs do so much for their communities, so we can’t help but admire and show appreciation to German Shepherds who become police dogs. They engage in life-saving work and actively work every day to keep their communities safe.
Featured Image Credit: Happy monkey, Shutterstock
