Does anyone know what will happen with the World Team this year for America. I have read in my current USA (Nov/Dec issue) that Mr. Hamilton was unable to create a productive form of communication between himself and WDA. Now I read on the USA website, that there has been some postitave contact with WDA and USA's new President. But also I have read that AKC is looking to employ a working dog Representitave or something of the like.

Also with the forming of the Working Malinois Ass. this only gives the Malinois more exposure and organization for the Malinois to dominate the working scene, and thus if the GSD people do not get thier act together, will be left behind. Any info on this?

Originally posted by Michael Talyor Rivers:
Also with the forming of the Working Malinois Ass. this only gives the Malinois more exposure and organization for the Malinois to dominate the working scene, and thus if the GSD people do not get thier act together, will be left behind. I'd be VERY careful making any kind of statement like this! Getting mass exposure is a double edged sword that will slice you in half just as easily as it will help you. Don't be surprised if you see Mals going downhill fast once there is a big public draw to them. Bringing them into the eye of the public will lower standards, thusly problems will not be corrected but will be compounded by unscrupulous breeders.

And sorry, but I don't see Malinois dominating the working scene. Some trainers that I've talked to are eluding that Mals are being replaced by GSDs in lots of departments and that's a rising trend. And it's mostly due to nerve problems with Mals! Now granted, it's mostly dependent on what's available and the selection process, some are better at this than others, and I'll just leave it at that.

I do see your point in part , but I do not see a mass number of departments moving away from the Mals. I have heard about this going on back in the late 80's and early 90's as there was a lot of KNPV wash-out trash brought over to the States, but on a whole, there are by far alot more better Malinois then there were before in general. To further this, I know of departments that would not have touched a Malinois before, and now they are buying them.

While away from my primary question I am of the view that there are more Malinois available that can do police service work, then GSD dollar for dollar. Nerves are an issue with both breeds-while one may fight the other chooses flight! Many more agencies are going to the Malinois for detection work. Do not get me wrong, I am a GSD man, but I am not Ray Charles!

While you are correct and on the money with your point that exposure will bring the trash, it will also generate popularity, amongst all. I know of people in Schutzhund that love the GSD, but are having a tough time finding a good one, that are buying a Malinois.