Starting Police K9 Unit - Page 1

I work for a small police department in North Mississippi. We are currently looking at starting a K9 unit for the PD.

Need some guidance!

First off, a couple of trainers we contacted have pushed Belgian Malinois really hard on us. Personally, I own a wonderful German line GSD, so thats what I love and want. Been around several Malinois' and just don't like them. So I need help in finding a K9 trainer that sells GSD's for police work ( drug detection). And of course, we can't spend a fortune, really need to keep it under $15K, and I am gonna have to raise that myself!!!!

HELP!!!!

I'm not a breeder or a trainer but I would not advertise you have $15K to spend you will get every wanker wanting to sell you a very special perfect police dog fr the great price of only $15K

First thing is that you must be careful, there are plenty of people real big on BS and real short on knowledge. 

If I were you I would stay away from big kennels that advertise to sell "Police dogs", I would instead, contact some top sport people, they sometimes have dogs that for one reason or the other do not work for top sport but are very suitable for police work.  Usually these dogs are well started with very good training.

Another thing to consider, who do you have that is qualified to work these dogs?  It is one thing to buy a trained dog, it is quite another to maintain that training or to teach your officers to handle the dog. 

Thanks for the posts and the PM's. I did make a mistake in putting the amount in the post. That amount is not just for the price of the dog, that would be for the whole unit, training, handler training and all. 

I agree with Zahnburg here. Hang out with Schutzhund people and stay away from those who promote themselves as specialists for the provision of police dogs. In many cases those are but scam organizations whose intent is to sap money from police departments and well-heeled private citizens.

There are many dogs, working-line as well as show-line who have excellent drive but are not suitable for Schutzhund sport as they have a strong civil drive streak or are a bit too "sharp" as Schutzhund exercises must be absolutely correct for every event. Dogs who excel at Schutzhund sport are seldom suitable for true K9 use.

You typically discover these dogs in the Schutzhund world-usually by word-of-mouth. Many of these dogs are "started" as well and may already have the serious health checks finished. You also may meet some people who can provide the training and assistance needed-even drug detection training.

The groups to seek are those clubs affiliated either with United Shutzhund Clubs of America: http://www.germanshepherddog.com/ or the Deutscher Verband der Gebrauchshundsportvereine (D.V.G. America) http://www.dvgamerica.com/ On their webpages you can find clubs that are the closest to you.

Best Regards and Good Luck!

Bob-O

I would go visit some police departments nearby that work K9s, watch them work, see what you think.  I am sure they will be your best resource.

Nalloop:  Larry Filo whose wife SANDY WAS  on the USA team long ago,,,is the canine K9 and trainer in Wisconsin and just took on Milwaukee ,pd and provided them a unit of dogs...

Look up Zeus on our database and pm him...He is a certified Police K9 officer with Milwaukee and studied under Larry (Lawrence) Filo....Larry breeds and sells the toughest and knows the ropes..He is head of the Acadamey that supplies and trains for the Michigan < Wisonsin"    also  you  can   google    Steining Tal   kennels  and find  Larry and some of the other police depts are in his sites and on the google answer.....

I have both of their phone and email if you want to pm me privately....Zeus has  the Eisenfaust Kennels...in Wis.

Wow A policeman who wants a schutzhund dog for a policedog? Thats funny. Stay away from schutzhund dogs for hard police work. If you are going to train him yourself just start with a green dog. They are reletively cheap given your budget. I have several schutzhund 3 dogs who I wouldnt rely on to protect with my life. Malis are just real hard dogs. Great if you rely on coming home alive in the morning. I would rely on most malis over schutzhund dogs anytime. A good Rott is also a good choice. Buy a DDR or Czech dog thats the best bet. Go to Czech-dogs.com they always have green dogs or know where to get them. Stay away from the showline dogs.In europe the police dogs are really civil real dogs. Over here they try to make dog soft. Remember the dog can be the difference between life and the death so get a real hard dog . Oh do not tell the kennels your budget....They may just have an extra on laying around for 15k! Good luck and good training. Best Regards

I was told by a police K-9 trainer in Indiana that they stopped buying in Germany and had gone over to the Mals. 

$4,500.00 was basic price just to get the ones they wanted to the usa before training.    I'm not going to give you his name but you could probably contact  Evansville, Indiana P.D.  and get a line this trainer if your really P.D.

I dont see Mals being better myself.    And I would think any P.D. near you would be willing to help you if your for real.

I wonder.

Germanguy,

  Who said anything about buying a schutzhund titled dog??