Working Breeds - Page 1

What are the good and bad points of the all the working breeds out there. Most importantly GSDs, rotts, dobies, ducth shepherds, and mals. Why are mals used for work more than the other belgian breeds, and what charaistics of the each breed makes certain people pick mals over GSDs, and GSDs over mals.

Just speaking from MY experience with GSD and Mali's.... I started out with GSD....had the usual problems...hips, elbows.no drive ect. .. went to the Mali's....LOADS of drive but nervey!!! VERY!!! Mali's mature quicker and are easier to train in obedience..they exit the womb looking to bite... the problems are usually in the tracking. Mali's handle problems two ways...biting or by doing whatever they are doing FASTER!! So....if the problems start on the track and it gets tough rather than working harder like the GSD would do on a track...they panic and lose the focus needed. I just went back to the GSD and the jury is still out on it. GSD are calmer on the sleeve and handle pressure better than the Mali. I'm looking forward to training my GSD pup!!

Whether you mean "working breed" in the sense of real street work like patrol work, SAR, detection, or in the sense of sport like SchH or Ring, the two breeds that dominate are the GSD and Malinois. Of course, that is not to say that you cannot find a good Rottie doing police work, or a Dutchie excelling in Ring, they are just not as common to find one at the top of the heap. Another tidbit for your consideration, the US Military Dog program excepts donor dogs as candidates to train for their MWD program from only three breeds - GSD, Malinois, Dutch Shepherd Dog. Mali's are getting more and more popular with police departments because of their over the top drive, easy trainability, and speed out the yaya. Some old school police dog handlers still like the GSD because it is a bigger, more intimidating dog - it has presence. Of course a 60 lb Mali can knock a man down just as well as 85 lb GSD but some crooks may not take a Mali seriously - that is, until they get laid out by one! Ha! I'm sure that if I share negative comments on the other breeds I'll get an electornic backlashing, so I'll keep my opinions on the other breeds to myself. Bottom line - the GSD's and Mali's are the two breeds that dominate the working arena. The people at the top of their game can afford to buy any dog of any breed that they please, but they continue to buy these two breeds. Yvette

The question is more complex, Dutch shepherd ,the coat color blends in with the landscape +1. Malinois, Dutch shepherd are medium size dogs, short hair. Temperament, more active.....!!!Good for military,police,pets. GSD are more popular, relatively stable temperament different coat colors and lenght.Good for police,personal,pets. I would like to hear diff.opinions,on GSD, Dutch ,Mal, Rotts,Dobies.AND Kelpies.

C'mon you experts. I want to hear some of the differences. This is an interesting thread.