Why are German Shepherds used for police dogs? When you think of a German Shepherd Dog, you likely think of a strong, capable dog- and you would be correct! What may also come to mind is the German Shepherd bearing a police dog’s uniform. The GSD is one of the most likely dogs used in the police force, and for good reason, too.
So, why are German Shepherds used for police dogs? A German Shepherd’s temperament makes them the ideal breed to be a police dog. They can remain calm under pressure and are known to be one of the smartest breeds. They are also easily trained and obedient to their owners, so you can rely on this breed during all situations.
There are a lot of different reasons why German Shepherds are chosen to be a part of the police force. We are going to discuss all of these specific reasons to give you a better understanding of why this breed becomes the drug-sniffing, criminal catching dogs you see in real life and on television.
The Top 6 Reasons Why German Shepherds are Used for Police Dogs
Have you ever wondered why your pet German Shepherd, who seems to be the sweetest, funniest dog you have ever met, could possibly be a part of the police force?
A lot of people are curious, especially when they own one of these dogs. They are not aggressive, so it may be confusing why they are chosen.
Let’s take a look at the main reasons why a German Shepherd is used for a police dog.
1. Their temperament
The biggest reason why a German Shepherd is used as a police dog is due to their temperament. When we speak about the German Shepherd, there are many personality traits that set this breed apart from the crowd.
The German Shepherd can remain calm under pressure, which is something that is crucial for any dog who is in an intense workforce such as the police.
Aside from their calmness, they aren’t overly aggressive- unless they absolutely need to be. This makes it simple for the German Shepherd to pick and choose when he needs to be calm and aggressive.
2. German Shepherds are easy to train
Another big reason why the German Shepherd is used in the police is their ability to be quickly and easily trained.
Unlike other dogs, who might not be able to understand commands right away, the German Shepherd picks up on commands very quickly and does not forget them.
To put it simply, the German Shepherd isn’t stubborn like some other breeds may be.
When you give a German Shepherd a command he knows, he will respect and obey his owner and automatically do what he is told. This is important in the police force when an officer needs the dog to do something specific, such as sniff drugs out or find a criminal who is hiding.
3. They are loyal and obedient
Loyalty is strong in the German Shepherd, which is another prime example of why they are added to the police force.
The K9 unit needs dogs who are able to stay loyal to their owner(s) and listen to them in a time of crisis.
With a German Shepherd, you can rest assured that he will listen, obey, respect, and stay loyal to you. Again, this is why they are a top choice for families as well as in the force.
If a police officer needs their German Shepherd to do something, they will do it with pride.
4. It’s a natural instinct to protect
Think about why the German Shepherd was bred in the first place: they were designed to watch over the farms, paying extra close attention to the sheep.
They are working dogs who were created to help out around the farm and make sure everything was going as planned.
With this inbred natural instinct to protect and serve, it’s no wonder why the German Shepherd is used in the police force. They have a natural instinct to protect, and that shows true when they are out on duty with police officers.
Aside from their need to protect, the German Shepherd breed is also a hard-working one.
In fact, German Shepherds actually enjoy working hard for the ones they love. When this type of dog works hard and is rewarded he feels a sense of pride and passion that other dogs may not experience.
5. GSDs have a good sense of right and wrong
At this point, you’re probably thinking that German Shepherds are well-rounded heroes that can get the job done- and that is completely true.
But if you want to hear one more fact about this dog that will make you smile, it’s this: German Shepherds tend to have a good sense of what is right and what is wrong.
This is likely due to the fact that German Shepherds were bred to protect the farm. They needed to know when to be aggressive, and when not to. That is why a German Shepherd won’t simply start chasing after someone uncontrollably without being told to, and they will likely have a sense that something is amiss anyways.
6. They are fast and physical
As you can imagine, it takes a lot of strength to become a K9 dog. That is what the German Shepherd is all about.
They are highly physical and energetic dogs that have enough stamina to chase after a suspect and capture them with ease.
What do Police Dogs Do?
Have you ever wondered what police dogs actually do? Well, some of the tasks that a German Shepherd might end up doing while being K9 includes:
- Apprehension. The German Shepherd will be trained to bite any dangerous suspects that might be trying to get away or hiding from the police. They will bite the suspect and hold them hostage until the police officer can arrive and take the next steps.
- Detection. With their amazing sense of smell, a German Shepherd has the ability to detect all types of things including drugs and explosives on a person.
- Search and Rescue. It’s not all crime-fighting for the K9 German Shepherd. If someone is missing or lost, this breed is likely used to try and find the person. Again, they are trained and use their sense of incredible smell to make it all possible.
As you can see, it’s not all fun and games for the K9. But the German Shepherd truly enjoys working hard and a simple reward is all that is needed to keep him upbeat about his efforts.
Related Questions
There are five different breeds that are likely to be chosen as K9 dogs, including Belgian Malinois, German Shepherds, Bloodhounds, Dutch Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers. This is because they generally all have a loyal, calm temperament and are intelligent. They are also easily trained and will obey commands given by officers.
As of writing this, there is no organization that is assigned to helping retired German Shepherd police dogs find a new home. Instead, there are different foundations that are set up to help handlers deal with the cost of retired police K9 dogs. They will help with a multitude of things, including medicare and other types of training that may be needed.
