FCI 2008 - Statistical Analysis - Page 5

OK, this thread seems to be degenerating into the usual "GSD vs Mal" debate. It is interesting, however, to see the various points of view. As for me, the value of any dog is in its serviceability (provided that's a real word). I know that we all can only speak to our personal experience, and here is mine... in my community the Mal and Mal-crosses are increasingly surplanting the GSD as the breed of choice for real working dogs (patrol, narc, bomb). I train with a K9 officer who currently owns an ageing GSD and whose next dog will be a Mal. I asked him to explain why he would switch breeds... "In general, Mals have less health problems, have a lower incidence of HD/ED, can work at a later age, and cost less than a quality GSD." For a man that puts his life on the line every time he takes up the end of a leash, I doubt that "prey monster" would make his top 10 list. His perspective is something that I would like to learn from, while I sit smugly in my car at training sipping a soy latte waiting for my turn to work the helper wearing a bulky sleeve. Yvette