Someone's About to Have a Bad Night

[goose]

And while he was usually really focused when on the job, he was still a dog.

Awesome stories. Made me smile thinking of those times when my kids screw up and you know you oughta preach to them but instead you find yourself hiding the smiles or laughter. Innocence/childishness like that is one of the timy pieces that make it all so much better.

[speedsix]

...I've never spent any time around police dogs...I know their partners don't want us petting them through the window or giving treats...but off duty or in the absence of their partner's commands...do they act any differently from a regular dog? I wouldn't think they'd be aggressive towards everyone...unless someone attacked a cop or child...anyone here 'splain this to me???

[steve817]

According to the officer, the trend is shifting towards the Malinois because the quality of the German Shepherd breed as greatly diminished over the years due to too much crossing of the bloodlines.

I seriously doubt that is the case and I am certain there are MANY Professional GSD Breeders that will also disagree with that statement. Now, having said that, there are "other Breeders" (sans: Back Yard) that have no clue what they are doing and degrade the name of the GSD Breed by selling junk dogs as 100% GSD (with no papers) to people that have no idea what a true Purebread GSD is or looks like. Not to mention the various lines of the GSD bread for a specific task such as K9.

In other words.......
There's a BIG DIFFERENCE between a $500.00 "GSD" and a $3500.00 - $5000.00 Purebread GSD for a specific task.

Just info he relayed from a trip to Germany. He was over there for some kind of conference and they (the Germans) were also using Malinois. The APD officer asked a German police officer "Where are all these great German Shepherds that I keep hearing about?" and was basically told , that us Americans screwed them up. On another note,the department pays about $10,000.00 for the dogs and don't even start looking at them until they are about three years old. That is when they truly know whether or not the dog has any issues with hip dysplasia. They then retire the dogs when they hit about 9 or 10 years old. That is a lot of cash for a dog that will only give you six or seven years of service.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Entertaining picture, but totally photochopped.

Sure it is. Those white letters don't just show up floating in space in real life. Duh!

Besides, a K-9 would be jumping from the back seat, not the driver's seat - unless he's had vehicle pursuit driving class. :-)

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************
I recently had a chat with a Corinth, Texas (Denton County) LEO and remarked on how surprised I was that Corinth was home
to a Grapevine LEO and an Irving LEO with take-home cruisers, due to the mileage from their police stations to their homes.
He told me that they were both K-9 officers, and their departments always wanted the dogs to travel in their PD cruisers, not
an officer's private vehicle.

By the way, my understanding is that when a police unit is properly equipped for K9 duty, it has a device which alerts the officer
if the car has stopped running (which would also stop the A/C from cooling). This device allows K9 officers to take a lunch break,
leave their cruiser running, and keep the dog cool. If the car stalls out, the officer is paged, so that he can go to his dog's aid.

SIA

[Keith B]

By the way, my understanding is that when a police unit is properly equipped for K9 duty, it has a device which alerts the officer
if the car has stopped running (which would also stop the A/C from cooling). This device allows K9 officers to take a lunch break,
leave their cruiser running, and keep the dog cool. If the car stalls out, the officer is paged, so that he can go to his dog's aid.

SIA

Some of the newer K-9 units actually will monitor the temp in the car and start it if it gets too warm inside. Additionally, if the engine stops runninng the windows will roll down a little as well as page the officer.

[gigag04]

According to the officer, the trend is shifting towards the Malinois because the quality of the German Shepherd breed as greatly diminished over the years due to too much crossing of the bloodlines.

I seriously doubt that is the case and I am certain there are MANY Professional GSD Breeders that will also disagree with that statement. Now, having said that, there are "other Breeders" (sans: Back Yard) that have no clue what they are doing and degrade the name of the GSD Breed by selling junk dogs as 100% GSD (with no papers) to people that have no idea what a true Purebread GSD is or looks like. Not to mention the various lines of the GSD bread for a specific task such as K9.

In other words.......
There's a BIG DIFFERENCE between a $500.00 "GSD" and a $3500.00 - $5000.00 Purebread GSD for a specific task.

Be that as it may, there is a definite trend toward the malinous.

[WildBill]

Some of the newer K-9 units actually will monitor the temp in the car and start it if it gets too warm inside. Additionally, if the engine stops runninng the windows will roll down a little as well as page the officer.

In that case, a wise K-9 officer will probably bring what's left of his burger to his partner.

[srothstein]

Besides, a K-9 would be jumping from the back seat, not the driver's seat - unless he's had vehicle pursuit driving class. :-)

Actually, the front door is the more likely place to jump from. A lot of the K-9 cars have a passage to the front seat. Then the driver can leave the window open on a traffic stop. If the officer gets into trouble the dog can come to his call. Some officers instead have a remote door opener and can pop the back door.

And as an aside to those officers talking about temperature and paging, that remote opener can be connected to a thermostat too.

[justherenow]

The malinois is a great dog, I have one and she is awesome for the most part, but the Mal is ALL dog. Most of our local departments have Mals, I even had a chance to breed my Mal with one of the sheriffs offices Mals but mine is fixed.

[OldCurlyWolf]

According to the officer, the trend is shifting towards the Malinois because the quality of the German Shepherd breed as greatly diminished over the years due to too much crossing of the bloodlines.

I seriously doubt that is the case and I am certain there are MANY Professional GSD Breeders that will also disagree with that statement. Now, having said that, there are "other Breeders" (sans: Back Yard) that have no clue what they are doing and degrade the name of the GSD Breed by selling junk dogs as 100% GSD (with no papers) to people that have no idea what a true Purebread GSD is or looks like. Not to mention the various lines of the GSD bread for a specific task such as K9.

In other words.......
There's a BIG DIFFERENCE between a $500.00 "GSD" and a $3500.00 - $5000.00 Purebread GSD for a specific task.

While I do not dispute your facts as presented, they would be much more likely to be believed if you used spell check or a dictionary. The word is variously spelled as Pure Bred or Purebred, usually without capitalization.
They are also a breed, not bread. We eat bread.

Now that I have done my "spelling police" job, the only K-9 dogs I have dealt with were German Sheperds, which like the Malinois and other similar dogs were actually originally bred to guard and herd the bovine, capran and ovine breeds.

[PUCKER]

By the way, my understanding is that when a police unit is properly equipped for K9 duty, it has a device which alerts the officer if the car has stopped running (which would also stop the A/C from cooling). This device allows K9 officers to take a lunch break, leave their cruiser running, and keep the dog cool. If the car stalls out, the officer is paged, so that he can go to his dog's aid.

While I have no problem with this, it's illegal, at least according to this law (below)...I did not see an exemption for LEO, but I would say it's quite doubtful that a k-9 LEO would get a ticket from another LEO...but if one of us "regular folk" did it with our beloved pooch in the car, would we get a ticket? I've always wondered about this. I wonder if the LEO k-9 units have an ignition lock/remote start, etc. I know my wife's Tahoe has a remote start (nice on summer/winter days)...so, due to the keys not being in the ignition, this is OK? Or not? Just curious.

Sec. 545.404. UNATTENDED MOTOR VEHICLE. An operator may not leave the vehicle unattended without:
(1) stopping the engine;
(2) locking the ignition;
(3) removing the key from the ignition;
(4) setting the parking brake effectively; and
(5) if standing on a grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.

[speedsix]

...police are regularly allowed to disregard various sections of the traffic code in order to perform their duties...taking full responsibility for anything untoward that happens as a result of those actions...been that way since I was a lad...

[steveincowtown]

...police are regularly allowed to disregard various sections of the traffic code in order to perform their duties...taking full responsibility for anything untoward that happens as a result of those actions...been that way since I was a lad...

Not so much various sections, but really four specific ones (if I am reading correctly)....


Here is a cite on a site:

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/D ... TN.546.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SUBCHAPTER A. AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES

Sec. 546.001. PERMISSIBLE CONDUCT. In operating an authorized emergency vehicle the operator may:

(1) park or stand, irrespective of another provision of this subtitle;

(2) proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, after slowing as necessary for safe operation;

(3) exceed a maximum speed limit, except as provided by an ordinance adopted under Section 545.365, as long as the operator does not endanger life or property; and

(4) disregard a regulation governing the direction of movement or turning in specified directions.

and to Speed's point.....

Sec. 546.005. DUTY OF CARE. This chapter does not relieve the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle from:

(1) the duty to operate the vehicle with appropriate regard for the safety of all persons; or

(2) the consequences of reckless disregard for the safety of others.

[airbornecpa]

Yeah, I know it is an old thread but I just read it:

Sec. 546.002. WHEN CONDUCT PERMISSIBLE. (a) In this section, "police escort" means facilitating the movement of a funeral, oversized or hazardous load, or other traffic disruption for public safety purposes by a peace officer described by Articles 2.12(1)-(4), (8), (12), and (22), Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b) Section 546.001 applies only when the operator is:
(1) responding to an emergency call;
(2) pursuing an actual or suspected violator of the law;
(3) responding to but not returning from a fire alarm;
(4) directing or diverting traffic for public safety purposes; or
(5) conducting a police escort.

[C-dub]

.

Wow! A stray German Shephard, I'll bet I could get $100 on Craig's List!

Actually I think it is a Belgian Malinois. He looks similar to the one they was showing us at the Citizens Police Academy a couple of weeks ago. I was amazed at how friendly he was. According to the officer it is a different story when he "switches him on"...I didn't want to call his bluff.

With all due respect, if you think the dog in Keith's picture looks like a Mal, then maybe you should see about borrowing Andy's new glasses.