Posted on 07/22/2006 6:24:44 PM PDT by blam
Britain's pampered pooches are too soft to be police dogs
By Elizabeth Day
(Filed: 23/07/2006)
Britain's policemen have long been used to handling lazy youngsters with no ambition - but that was the human variety. Now several forces across the country are having to import police dogs from abroad because domestic canines lack the requisite motivation and drive.
Over recent years, dog handlers have found that many adult canines in Britain prefer an easy life as cosseted family pets and fail to show the determination or physical energy required of a police dog.
Sonny's father was imported from the Czech Republic
About 200 of the United Kingdom's 2,200 police dogs - mostly alsatians - are now being imported from countries including Slovakia, Holland, Germany and Belgium at a cost of £1,000-£4,000 per dog.
The dog unit at South Wales Police has bought eight Slovakian alsatians in recent months because of the limited selection available domestically.
The Surrey force has purchased five German dogs this year and is expecting delivery of three from Holland in September.
The Avon & Somerset Constabulary also imported three dogs from Holland for £4,100 earlier this year after testing 48 dogs in Britain which proved -unsuitable.
Insp Dave McIver, who is in charge of the dog unit of Avon & Somerset Constabulary, said: "Once upon a time we would have been able to look within our own boundaries for dogs, but we found that people in mainland Europe bring up their dogs in a working vein, train them and then put them into the marketplace.
"In this country, you get dogs as puppies and keep them as family pets and they are only offered to the police if they are delinquents.
"When we were testing the 48 British dogs, we would throw a ball and some of them would simply watch it bounce, then lie down.
"We also want to know if the dog will use its nose, so we throw a ball or a favourite toy into long grass. The best dogs have an instinct to hunt but some of these dogs went for 30 seconds, then cocked a leg and said, 'I've had enough,' and lay down."
Insp McIver said that the introduction of the pet passports scheme in 2004 had facilitated the importation process.
"Police work requires a confident, well-rounded, bold, alpha-male sort of dog," he said. "It's not that there are no good dogs in the UK, but it is a problem finding the right ones."
Sgt Jim Gall, the head of dog training at South Wales Police, said that the shortage of suitable dogs was compounded by the waning popularity of alsatians as a breed in Britain and the rise of private security companies wanting to recruit the same dogs.
"There are more dogs of the potential we are looking for in eastern Europe at the moment, arguably because they are brought up with more of a working dog ethic and compete in canine sports," he said.
"Some British dogs just want to put their feet up in front of the telly."
replace "dogs" with "europeans" and then re-read the article.
My blue healer/border collie mix would have made a great working dog. I say, would have, he's 7 now... but his job is to protect us and to know at all times where my husband is and to keep the wood chuck out of our yard and to always always bring back the frisbie when it's thrown and drop it at our feet no matter where it lands. He's the most amazing dog I've ever known and I had a pretty amazing standard dachshund years ago.
(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em, Down Hezbullies.)
German Shepherds were being imported into the United States from the former Eastern Bloc countries the moment the Berlin Wall came down. The breed has been weakened here due to indiscriminate breeding, but the stock in Communist countries was still strong.
I've seen FT Wainwright MP canines at work.
Don't mess with them!
I bought a German Shepherd with Austrian bloodlines years ago.She was absolutely fearless,and protected us and the house for 11 years.
http://www.cqbk9.com/ Sorry, forgot the link. Go to the video section.
LOL, sounds like my yellow Labrador. Even as a pup she was never a ball of fire - would retrieve a tennis ball 2 or 3 times then look at us like "if you want it so bad why do you keep throwing it away" and go lie down in the shade.
She's ancient now (turned 13 in April) so we're happy if we can get her out in the backyard to do her business. No tennis balls for her anymore...
It's a good thing we got her as a pet rather than a hunting dog - I don't think she would've been much use as one. She's very sweet and makes an excellent footwarmer, though.
LQ
I've got a lab mix that must be the dumbest dog in the world. He's about 100 lbs. and friendly as can be, but if you throw a stick he'll just watch it fly through the air and slobber. He reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Bart is trying to play frisbee with Santa's Little Helper. He throws the dog the frisbee, it bounces right off the dogs face and the dog just sits there panting and wagging it's tail.
I have a beagle that we purchased from a friend who raised them for hunting. Our only intentions were to keep her as a pampered pet. She's pampered, but if a crumb were to fall under the couch, that dang dog will howl like crazy until I move the sofa so she can investigate.
There is no hiding food from this critter. Always has her nose to the ground.
The military(ies) seems to prefer the Malinois and the Dutch Shepherds now to the Alsatians.
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