[GovernmentShrinker]

Read up a bit on the subject. American German Shepherds are not used for search and rescue because of a deformity bred into their hips to achieve the exaggerated hip angle which is part of the AKC breed standard, extreme versions of which have been rewarded in AKC shows for many generations. Because of this hip deformity, the dogs are subject to serious hip injuries when negotiating the rough terrain common in search and rescue operations. Amateurs who use their dogs for volunteer search and rescue work may try to use these dogs, but professionals and law enforcement do not. They import their German Shepherds from Europe, where the breed has not had this defect bred into it.

[Varda]

"exaggerated hip angle" is not part of the AKC standard. There are some dogs with poorly conformed hips but it's not the norm, it's pretty much confined to those dogs that are used for specialty dog shows.

"Amateurs who use their dogs for volunteer search and rescue work may try to use these dogs, but professionals and law enforcement do not."

Every SAR team I have met has been amateur. I didn't know anyone could make a living out of it. Law enforcment does not do SAR in general since they work with dogs who have been trained to defend and attack. The fact that military and police use mostly imported dogs has nothing to do with the AKC standard and everything to do with supply and demand. Europeans breed dogs like we breed crops and are able to supply dog brokers.