They fell from favor as US police dogs because they *think* rather than blindly follow commands.
Unless they feel compelled to save their owner’s life, they will not mindlessly run into situations that can kill them.
Not what most police want.
Scary smart dogs....sometimes, too smart for their own good.
One reason Dobies are not chosen as police dogs is that they don’t grab and hold, the bite then step back to see what happens next. German Shepherds grab and hold, so they are better as police dogs.
German Shepherd logic: “You want me to enter the burning building through one flame-spouting window to save a baby. Time to jump through the window! I am such a good boy!”
Doberman logic: “I saved the baby in the birning building by ignoring your command to jump through the flaming window and crawled through a less smokey part of the house until I reached the hoomin pup. I am such a good boy.”