Law Enforcement Specialties >> Special Units (K9, SWAT, etc.) >> Mal's vs German Shepards
Mal's vs German Shepards
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Posted 8 months ago Attention K9 handlers...This has been an ongoing dispute in my training group. My question for all of you is which one is better?? I have worked 2 Mal's so I'm biased. Give me your opinions. Thanks and stay safe |
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| Posted 8 months ago I like shepherds but I handle one. I do think they are both awsome dogs though. I understand that the bite of a Mal is harder but the bite of a shepherd is deeper. Just what I was told. Ive never seen an actual bite from a mal other than wearing a suit which I have done a number of times. |
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| Posted 8 months ago Good Dog + Good Handler + Good Trainer = Excellent Dog Team. I am on my third dog, one Dutch Shepard and two GSD. Ford, Dodge, Chevy bla bla bla. The bottom line is about what they have under the hood. It makes for good forum talk I guess, but to say one breed is better than the other is just that, forum talk. I really enjoy seeing Mal's work because they are so intense but I enjoy seeing a graceful GSD make it look so easy. Just my 2cents. |
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| Posted 8 months ago I have a lab , Narc. only.I Would work a Mal. in a heartbeat, love to see them worked, they are top of the line in my book, But that is a short book. |
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| Posted 7 months ago I think both breeds have there strong points I think if we are talking about patrol dogs I think German Shepards tend to be better at tracking and the Mals tend to be a little faster and they bite hard. I prefer German Shephards but I have handled two GSD Patrol Dogs for my Department in the last ten years. How good are the results is what it comes down to How many tracks with finds in the real world has the team had etc etc. |
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| Posted 5 months ago mpdk9214 said: Couldn't agree more, both are awesome working dogs. The only difference in my opinion is the size of the furry "Tumbleweed" left in your car. |
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| Posted 5 months ago I handle a GSD and always considered a Mal to hyper for me. Then one day I worked an entire event with a Mal and changed my mind. That dog was calm and very well trained and a great detection dog. So really, as someone else said it is a matter of Good Dog, handler, trainer. I'll take either and be very happy. |
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| Posted 3 months ago i've handles two german sheperds, one mal and one mal pit mix. i have been involved with the training of several shepards and mals. i disagree that the mal bite harder than a Shepard as a general rule. but i have seen many nard biting mals. i have seen both breeds produce very hard and dominant dogs as well as docile and skittish ones as well. i think the mals are safe bet when it comes to longevity of a search(especially in the heat) i would have to say i prefer the mal over all. BUT....to out come of the dog and the consistency for his drive and energy over time are a reflection on training, acclimatization and exercise of the k9. if you ride around with the ac on all the time and it really hot, then when you go to use the dog, even through he does well, he would do better if you keep the acc as low as you can tolerate it. people will look at fat handle and say oh he must be lazy, but i have seen more pretty boys spoil their dogs because they did not want to sweat or go that extra mile when its hot. i guess what im trying to say is lazy is more a mental thing than a physical thing. by the way the pit mal mix was the hardest most dominant dog i ever saw or handled. he had broke peoples ribs a few times hitting them in the suit. |
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| Posted 3 months ago It's still in the selection of the dog. When you talk about hard biting, you're comparing 600 psi to 700 psi. what's needed is enough pressure to puncture skin and muscle and hang on. That can be done with 250 psi. It's like the old adage; it ain't the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog. My goal is to get the dog to the fight, then natural instinct takes over keeping the dog there. You can't train that into a dog, they either have it or not. The breed is not all that important, it's all in the selection. Beyond fatigue lies compensatory hypertrophy |
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| Posted 3 months ago After seeing several threads about GSD vs Malis, I'm glad to see some make the comment about the TEAM and proper selection of the K-9. I have seen Melon Heads that could not be controlled by experienced handlers. I have seen GSD stay in the vehicle while the handler was fighting with a suspect and I have seen a Pit whine and whimper during lightning and thunder. Short story.. Proper selection and proper handler training is THE most important aspect of being a K-9 TEAM. That being said and being a DUTCH Shepherd handler... If it aint Dutch, it aint much!!!
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| Posted 3 months ago " If it aint Dutch, it aint much!!"" You Dutchie folks all seem to talk the same tune. ha ha.! Beyond fatigue lies compensatory hypertrophy |
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| Posted 2 months ago K9LESTAT says ... by the way the pit mal mix was the hardest most dominant dog i ever saw or handled. he had broke peoples ribs a few times hitting them in the suit.
I want one....... |