Steve,
The LE K9 group I trained with had 2 Rotts. Both are very capable dogs, dual purpose (patrol/narcotics), males around 100 lbs. I really liked the one, he's a Hungarian import, very nice working dog.
AJ Slaughter in Michigan always seemed to have nice Rotts. I've never met him or any of the dogs but I know he's put multiple SchH3/IPO3 and FH & FH2 titles on a number of his Rotts.

Chet wrote - 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.

My question - Is ths UK allowing you to bred Rotties for patrol or protection work? If so thats great they are lifting their ban on working dogs activities.

But if you are shipping them in, I would think that there is no shortage of working GSDs in comparsion to working Rottie, of course there cost be a price consideration.

Don, it was Paul, not me who said that...

Don it was Paul who said that not me...

chet

Sorry Chet.

Paul wrote - 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.

My question - Is the UK allowing you to bred Rotties for patrol or protection work? If so thats great they are lifting their ban on working dogs activities.

But if you are shipping them in, I would think that there is no shortage of working GSDs in comparsion to working Rottie, of course there cost be a price consideration.

Originally posted by Chet Dennis:
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. I disagree with the stamina comment somewhat. I will grant you this, size, weight and physical condition are all factors. But a fat, out of shape gsd won't have any stamina either. Stamina is something that can be improved and trained for, even in the heat. I have a rott that many on this board have seen and I would offer that his stamina, as stamina is defined, is jsut as good or better than most dogs, regardless of breed. Of course, he is no superdog and will tire, as will any other dog. As for being slow, that is being confused with lazy. Admittedly, rotts tend to be more lazy than gsds or mals. But if yu have ever seen an athletic rott work, slow is not something that would come to mind. Good rotts are also oftentimes very quick, which is different from fast.

These are all physical traits that can be greatly improved with dedicated training. Am I saying that a rott will ever be as high flying or fast as a well trained mal or gsd athlete, not necessarily. But, more often than not, people characterize rotts as lazy, lumbering clods (which a lot of them are) But, you shouldn't underestimate the potential of the breed to excel athletically or you may be embarrasingly surprised if you are the helper on the receivng end of a courage test. Remember, mass + speed = force, or something like that.

Joshep wrote - I disagree with the stamina comment somewhat. I will grant you this, size, weight and physical condition are all factors. But a fat, out of shape gsd won't have any stamina either.


My reply - That maybe the case with your Rottie but most will give all they have in short burst and then peg out. They are slow to recognize the helper as prey and they do mature slower. Brute strenght wise they are a lot stonger then the GSD or Mal, but they just don't last long.

This is just a fact, even when you apply your formula it takes more energy to move more mass.

Just like a Cladsdale ain't gonna win a race with a Quarterhorse at Remington park, the odds are against the average Rottie working better in a stamina test long tracking+apprehension against a GSD. You can reverse this in the Rottie/Cladsdale favor, they will out work a GSD/QH in a weight pulling contest, on average.

The Rottie is a good/great dog in personal protection when it all quick and dirty. Not that the GSD isn't, I mean it didn't gets its reputation for being the most versitle dog in the world by chance. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Don,there has never been a restriction of working Rotts in the UK,I dont breed,just select Rotts from available dogs.
The reason is simply that the UK police dont spend money on dogs to the extent of being able to import and because of this there is a shortage of any usable dogs for police work.
There are some good dogs about but very difficult to find.
Paul