Military K-9 - Page 1

I hope there is no such thing as a stupid question? They had a special on the other night Animal Kingdom about the way the US military trains dogs and the process. Apparently, they breed many of their own dogs. There were several dogs that washed out and I was curious why they botherd with their own breeding. There are so many really good breeders all over the world and especially in Europe why not contract with those breeders and get the very best.....sure the cost might be more but would not the results be worth the cost?

It seems as though everyone trys to breed dogs but only the experienced ones can produce what they are trying to get...Breeding is not easy when you are trying to produce top working dogs...

Well, probably the military has decided that what makes a good "working dog" for them isn't the same as what most breeders consider a good "working dog"- which usually means "sport dog". They wouldn't be the only ones- the Czechs and Slovaks still have their PS/Policia/Policie lines, after all.

that was filmed in 2003. they no longer have a breeding program. they buy there dogs from all over and only buy adults, that have a 2wk testing at lackland. they will sell dogs that don't pass the program, or will have them put to sleep if it is because of health problems and they can't place them.

The Military needs experienced dog handlers to evaluate and train the dogs in the program is part of the problem. Many K9 handlers in the military have little experience reading a dog, accessing drives, most dogs are bought in Europe, same with the Police they buy from Europe thinking they are getting a better dog than they can get in the US which is not true. There are many good breeders here in the states that they could see the dogs before purchase but they chose again to use Europe and not the top kennels in Europe but the ones we would never buy from. We had a guy retired from the Military and was in charge of training his men/dog troops and his training skills were not what we expected when he came to visit our kennel. He watched a dog work here and was blown away by the training and admitted that was way above his expertize. He said most of the dogs they had had serious issues health and temperament. He said ninety percent came from Czech/Slovkia. Another Example: We met a supplier to Homeland Security who buys shepherds from the backyards around Atlanta and sells them to homeland. He called here and said he pays 500 tops is his limit to get a puppy so you know what the quality of puppies he is getting is. He trains them and imprints them and re sells for around 8,000 a dog. He knew nothing about bloodlines working vs show vs american and he is a government contracter because he had connections. The goverment is known to waste money and this is another example. My feeling is if they had more experienced trainers in the military coupled with good solid working lines they would not be weeding out so many dogs and would save money in the long run and the dogs in the program would improve as well. The military may not need a dog with a correct perfect bite for the sport but it could at least have a good nerve base and some decent drives and this is not the case. Marlene

GREAT QUESTION BAXTER. I SUPPOSE MUCH OF IT HAS TO DO WITH EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE BREEDING FOR AND WHAT YOU ARE EXPECTING TO DO WITH THE LITTERS. YOU EITHER DO YOUR OWN OR CONTRACT OUT OR MAKE BREEDING ARRANGEMENTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR DESIRED OR REQUIRED RESULTS. JUST AS A 100 YARD SPRINTER WOULD LIKELY NOT MAKE THE BEST LONG DISTANCE RUNNER, SO WOULD IT MAKE SENSE THAT SOME OF THE BEST MILITARY DOGS MAY NOT MAKE THE BEST SPORT DOGS AND THAT SOME GREAT SPORT DOGS MAY NOT MAKE GREAT PERSONAL PROTECTION PROSPECTS OR POLICE DOGS. UNLESS YOU HAVE CONTROL OR INFLUENCE IN THE BREEDING PROGRAM THE BREEDER CAN TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTES THAT MAY BE FINANCIALLY BETTER FOR THEM BUT NOT GET YOU TO WHERE YOUR PROGRAM REQUIRES. PROGRAM BREEDING SUCH AS THE EUROPEAN POLICIA OR POHRANCINI STRAHZE PROGRAMS TAKES A CONCERTED EFFORT TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON ONLY ONE PURPOSE. YOU WILL NOTE THAT MANY GREAT BREEDERS HAVE SHOW LINE, SPORT, POLICE AND PERSONAL PROTECTION BREEDING SECTIONS. WHILE THIS MAY BE FINE I FEEL A SINGLE MINDED APPROACH ELIMINATES ALL THE OTHER DISTRACTIONS AND ALLOW YOU TO FOCUS SOLELY ON YOUR PROGRAM. THIS WE FIND WORKS BEST.

This comes up every time we see this special. The military is set in it's ways. Being so they are way behind the times. In police work, all that use to be out their were land sharks, walking eligators that bit everyone. Because of liability police changed there focus and started going to dogs that were very well controled and many capable of competeing in SCH. My police K-9 could go into a classroom and play with the kids then go on the street and bite the bad guy. Military handlers have very short time being just that handlers. there is a constant push for them to advance in their career and with advancement takes them out of the K-9 program. So you may get 3 years out of them. As far as the dogs go, lowest bidder. Kinda says it all. Their are some military dogs with specialized units that would knock your socks off, These are purchased just for the unit and not lowest bidder. because of the specialty of these elite units you will never see them on tv. I know someone will wonder where I get my information. I did 2 years straight in Iraq and 6 months in afghanistan as a civilian handler and trainer working patrol/ bomb dogs under military contract. This included going out on missions with the troops. These dogs where contracted by the military along with a civilian handler, not owned by the military.

"He said ninety percent came from Czech/Slovkia." I have to wonder how accurate this statement is. I have never heard this statement by any of the K9 handlers I have talked to.

EDD I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE. EXCELLENT INFORMATION. "Their are some military dogs with specialized units that would knock your socks off, These are purchased just for the unit and not lowest bidder. because of the specialty of these elite units you will never see them on tv." YOUR COMMENT HERE SHOWS YOU KNOW PRECISELY THAT EVEN THE MILITARY HAS DIFFERING REQUIREMENTS OR PARAMETERS. GREAT INFORMATION.