Please can i have menbers views and experiences on rottweilers as police dogs. Specifically what are they like to train, and how are they at tracking. Would you recommend them above G.S.D 'S OR MALS. Thanks.

This is only second hand experience from a pro Rottweiler patrolman, he had a Rottie on the street and the dog worked great. He was the trainer (and a patrolman) for this small metro, anything the other dogs could do his dog could do, with attitude. On the job tracking of a fleeing suspect the K9 was injuried but continued to track and apprehend the suspect.

Here is where the problem started trying to replace this outstanding Rottie bitch with another Rottie, its just not that many to choice from.

In the end he had to settle for a GSD, which was an outstanding K9 in its own right.

So you have to train it a little different, its less tolrable to heat and long working sessions, his female Rottie was about 80lb lean and trim, and by his own admission above the pack on Rotties. There are a lot of GSD and Mals being raised and trained for this field. Plenty to choose from.

I like both dogs, and have watch both train the Rottie is more of a football player or weight lifter, a definite athlete no doubt, he/she will give a 110% for as long as it can last.

The GSD is more of a Socker player or Olympic athlete a little quicker, a little more easier to train for whatever reason, a little more heat ressitance, and a lot more stamina he will give 100%.

This is just MO and the advice of that street cop/associate. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Would I recomend them above GSDs or Mals. . .no friggin way, but my opinion is more than a little bias. LOL


BUT, there are a number of Rotts in service around the world. In Austria a very large percentage of their K9s, military and police, are Rotts.

It is just going to be about 10X easier to find a GSD or Mal that will make a good working/police dog than it would be to find a Rotty. I've also NEVER seen an adult Rott for sale that was an outstanding working dog. I don't spend a lot of time looking, but I see nice GSDs and Mals for sale all the time.

 Quote:

Originally posted by steve thomas:
Specifically what are they like to train, and how are they at tracking.

Steve,

I basically agree with Don & VanCamp, but in regard to tracking in particular, I remember a few years ago Schutzhund USA magazine published a list of all the FH2 holders in the US. There were about 25 at that time and a surprisingly large number were Rotts—something like 80% if I remember correctly.

So apparently if it’s slow & easy, they do great <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> .

My experience with rotties is just in schutzhund, and everyone I have seen, they take forever to pick things up. Slow maturing.
Like Vancamp said, its tough to find good working ones.
Though, it would be pretty intimidating having a rottie chasing you down.
But why drive a chevy when you can have a cadillac.
I am very breed racist. GSDs only for me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Renee,
Do you think they are good at tracking, because generally they have the high food drive?

Dan,

That could be a part of it, but to tell you the truth, I don’t know, I’m not an expert on Rotts. For those who really care to find out about their tracking ability, I would recommend contacting Larry Bzdon of Chicago, ILL. I believe he is a member of DVG—met him once at a trial where he introduced me to FH2. A very nice gentleman and a holder of multiple FH2s. Here’s a link to one of his dogs—not bad for a Rottie... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
http://www.esmondrott.com/casey.htm

Rotts are nice dogs. They share many mastiff traits. They don't have the stamina like a shepherd or malinois. I don't think they will work like a shepherd in the later years(amount of time on active duty). I have seen them in schutzhund and they are slow. They can do the sport, but not as a shepherd will. I'm in the military and I have never seen a rott used by the MP's. I have seen a few as state/city police K-9, I'm sure they are trained, but I suspect the use them as a psychological deterrent. (They have a few rotts on beach patrol in CA, I forget where?) Anyhow, I agree with the others, shepherds are a much better suited dog for police work.

Currently there are fourteen Rotts working in the UK and several more in training,the Rott is being used more due to the shortage of good GSDs.
I am currently supplying more Rotts for patrol dogs.
Several European forces use Rotts with great success but many prefer the GSD/Mal due to the easier training and speed.
Paul

I know some people that will tell you that Rotts make nice dogs in the jail. The reason is you can put along line on it and send it in a cell and drag somebody out. I can see their point, looking at it like that. A big,heavy,strong dog would be nice for that situation.