Police dog killed on a manhunt

Columbian ^ | 10/24/07 | JOHN BRANTON

[the OlLine Rebel]

BRUSH PRAIRIE - The tracking dog Dakota was shot and killed Tuesday as teams of SWAT officers closed in on an armed convicted murderer - who allegedly had told an acquaintance he wanted to "kill a cop."

Dakota, a 5-year-old German shepherd owned by the Vancouver Police Department, was shot in the head and killed about 3 ½ hours after police were called to the Lewis & Clark Railway Co. tracks just east of Northeast Caples Road in Brush Prairie....

[DieHard the Hunter]

> See what happens when you give a Canadian a gun.

That’s a perfectly idiotic thing to say, and this Canadian takes exception to it.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Didn’t mean to be truculent. Just want to set the record straight for others. ;-)

I like Malinois and all Belgian sheepdogs. Actually, I like about any dog with prick ears. ;-)

I’d like to find out the specifics of why many are going Mal (or trying to) and letting GS slip by. I have my suspicions, but who knows. It’s the kind of thing I’d like to bring up with the elites and elite-wannabe followers in the German GS world; maybe it would get their butts straightened out about how THEY (not just Americans whom they love to tar) are ruining the breed - so that police don’t want them any more.

[the OlLine Rebel]

It also is non-sensical, because it’s not in Canada. :D

[the OlLine Rebel]

I don’t know; I think it depends on the locality. I’ve seen some charged with killing a police officer (or assaulting, if that’s what it was).

[DieHard the Hunter]

> The dog I have now is a Belgian Malinois. These are the dogs that were used for searching the rubble at the World Trade Center. If you remember they got so bored that the rescuers had to pretend to be buried just so the dogs could be happy. In fact, Belgian Malinois are the preferred dogs of police departments across the land.

Mals are indeed a very fine dog. And in many ways they correct some of the issues that have developed in the GSD breed over the years: for some bizarre reason people like their GSDs to have a sloping back, and to be on the small side (the latter probably for agility, tho’ God Knows why you’d want a *small* GSD!!!)

My next dog may be a Mal, tho’ I am awfully fond of the GSD breed. My current dog is a prodigy: nice square back, built for work not for show. Her mum was a schutzhund and her dad a police dog, and she was bred to be friendly and affectionate. She understands spoken English (not just “commands”) and is overtly cuddly and friendly with little kids: in fact she will herd them away from dangerous things like sharp corners on coffee tables &tc. And when she senses Danger, she is all hackles-and-teeth... and yet completely in control.

She’s Daddy’s Girl and she knows it! Right now she is sleeping on my leather Lay-Zee Boy recliner in front of the fire, just like she knows she is not supposed to...

(that’s one rule I don’t particularly enforce, unless I want to sit in the recliner!)

There is something majestic about GSDs and also about Malinois that other dogs don’t really have. Dunno what it is, but it is definitely there.

[Fishtalk]

Well I heard::::dropping to low confidential voice:::that the German Shepherd breed was suffering from too much inbreeding.

I have no idea if this is true and in fact I knew nothing about the Belgian Malinois until I got one. Bought her for $150. She’s full bred but has no papers of course.

By the way, that mongrel that saved my life was fully half German Shepherd.

Anyway, don’t know about the GS, but the Belgian Malinois is not for the faint of heart. They are so hyperactive when young that they require almost a full time caretaker.

I also understand that they are being used in police depts and rescue units more than the GS of late but this is just idle talk. I have no statistics but if you will allow me, I can understand just why. The Malinois is one fine dog.

Our female is very clean, very obedient, friendly but always on guard. I don’t have to worry about her up and attacking someone for no reason but I am comfortable that she’ll defend me and the family with an inbred zeal and with a joy to die in our defense.

But I know lots of GS and they are great dogs. I just never owned one is all.

The major difference that I see between these breeds is that the GS has a sloped back and the Malinois does not.

Don’t know what this means, I just noticed it.

[Fishtalk]

Well now here I read your post just when I responded to many of another post's points about the GSD vs. the Malinois.

Allow me to point out again that the Belgian Malinois is not for the faint of heart. Dear Lord getting the dog through the first year of her life without going to jail or being sued for our life savings by the neighbors was a challenge.

I also waxed on about the sloped back of the GS versus the upright Malinois although I don't know why the sloped back is an advantage. But I got eyeballs and I noticed it.

Of course I've never owned a GS but I think I would love one. There's something about this breed of dog, so perfect in terms of dogs and everything they bring to the human/canine table that just intrigues me all to hell.

Again, like I mentioned in my other response, that mongrel that saved my life was at least half GS so I'd been exposed, on some level, to the best in that breed. In fact, the lady who sold me the Malinois said they were much like the GS and that was good enough for me. And for $150, it was a bargain then and still is the best money I ever spent.

But that Malinois is nothing like my mongrel dog and this was surprise number one. Sure both dogs had that protective thing and that's one of the things I love best about these breeds. Both dogs are also more fierce looking than they really were. Which is good because if my mean looking dog scares people just by her looks, that's quite okay. I don't need my dog to be attacking people or tearing their limbs off. I just need her to bark and look mean.

The mongrel was much more adaptable to life in the household while the Malinois is a dog still closely attached to her canine instincts. For instance, right now she's underneath the desk in the family room and at night she sleeps under the bed. When we're outside she's tends to lie under the deck. She never wants to be out in the open is what I'm saying here but I don't know why this is.

I just posted the above pic on my Blog but there's my beauty Jo-Ann with my beloved granddaughter.

[the OlLine Rebel]

LOL oh, the many, many varieties of GS - what you are seeing is may be referred to as the American variety, or the German variety. American “sloped” means the topline is straight but the butt tends to be a bit lower than the withers (often this is only when standing in ridiculous poses, though). German “sloped” is properly in dog terms called “roach-back” - which is normal and proper for greyhound-type dogs, but shouldn’t be on a non-galloper like a GS. However, for each of these types of GS, those are typical traits.

The GS is so popular and so numerous all over the world that basically, different types or “sub-breeds” have developed in various locales.

Belgians are now and even in the old days of good GS, have been lighter-build than GS, and faces tend to have no stop - flatter like a Collie’s face. They also are invariably simply light sable in color, with no real black except the face mask. This is rather rare on GS, who almost always have a good deal of black body in addition to the necessary black snout. That is, if yours is the typical GS - not the oddballs that aren’t based on black&tan. There are oddball colors, white being most prominent, but not common enough to talk about.

Everyone blames inbreeding, but this is common in purebreds and in fact, creates the breed itself. It also works to solidify good traits. The real problem is focus of the program. I suspect Germans are too obsessed on the “attack” part of Schutzhund - almost ignoring obedience and tracking - to the point that naturally many dogs are going to be too aggressive, or just too hyper or too obsessive. Also, they have conformation problems. Germans think they know it all and it’s all best for the working dog, but not only are some things off-base (roach backs are not good for trotting, they’re meant for galloping), but they’ve totally lost view that the dog was meant as a SHEPHERD (just like Mals). It is supposed to herd sheep, not kill them. The people who are in power control what is popular in shows, and if they’re wrong, the whole breed goes the wrong way because everyone is breeding for the wrong thing.

This doesn’t mean wonderful GS don’t exist, just that not only casual “breeders” but official “experts” are generally ruining the breed. I fear this kind of thing happens with all that are popular.

I personally have only had 3 GS - my current 1 is all European and is a basket case. But I love her anyway. She wouldn’t protect me; she’s a dopey wimp at heart with food aggression. Never mind her gazillion health problems. (She’s beautiful, though - best conformation I’ve seen in modern times.)
My last GS - fantastic dog. She was in fact half “American” and half “German”. I’ve never known of a dog I’ve ever been more impressed with overall. She was 98% perfect. It’s been 12 years since she died and I think of her every single week. She is my doggie love of my life, and my PRIDE and joy - she made me proud. Most people never use that word, unless they simply mean how many ribbons they won. Great guardian, dominant and spunky but delicate, lady-like, never aggressive and totally trustworthy to the end, and healthy too. I am glad I was privileged to have such a dog; I’m sure I never will again. She truly is the only dog I’ve never heard a real flaw about. If all GS could be like her - we’d be unbeatable. ;-)

Sorry to be so long!

[the OlLine Rebel]

“and to be on the small side (the latter probably for agility, tho’ God Knows why you’d want a *small* GSD!!!)”

Actually the problem is the GS are TOO BIG. They are supposed to be no more than about 50-90 lbs (sex dependent). No more than 26” high. They should only be a bit bigger than the average Belgian. They are NOT big dogs; just medium-big, if that is a term. If they weigh correctly, than the Germans are too “bearish” in build - big-boned, Rottweiler-like heads, sagging heads as if too heavy. Americans just too tall. GS are supposed to be lithe, agile creatures, not behemoths, of medium build.

[DancesWithCats]

I looked him up on Wikipedia but nothing in the trivia list popped up about him buying K9s ... has he really done that?

[Fishtalk]

Sorry to be so long!

Do NOT apologize.

I love dogs and reading about them. It's what drew me to this post to begin with and I still weep when I think of that beautiful dog Dakota taking a bullet in the head. As I understand that fine human being worth not even a nail on Dakotas' paws might get hit with some sort of three strikes and your out law.

I love my Malinois but would, well I'm not sure I'd get another one.

On a brighter note, in honor of Dakota I went into the family room and threw myself on the floor. My beloved Jo-Ann, the Belgian Malinois soon enough came in and she thought this was just a fine thing. I figured maybe we all should spend a little extra time with our precious canine friends this evening in honor of Dakota.

Jo-Ann and I wrestled around the floor and in her doggy world she didn't know why she was getting all this play and love time but she sure loved it.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Actually the problem is the GS are TOO BIG. They are supposed to be no more than about 50-90 lbs (sex dependent). No more than 26” high. They should only be a bit bigger than the average Belgian. They are NOT big dogs; just medium-big, if that is a term. If they weigh correctly, than the Germans are too “bearish” in build - big-boned, Rottweiler-like heads, sagging heads as if too heavy. Americans just too tall. GS are supposed to be lithe, agile creatures, not behemoths, of medium build.

(grin!) We’ll agree to disagree on this, my FRiend! About 100-110 lbs is about right for a GSD by my books...

[Fire_on_High]

They’re counted as officers, same as any human. So, exactly the same charges that could be pressed if any human officer had been killed.

Given the guy’s stated desire to kill a cop, I’m not gonna shed any tears if he gets sent away for life for killing a K9...or if he got sent away for stealing a pack of Wrigley’s.

[kanawa]

Thanks for sharing your story and Happy FR Birthday.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Yes Roethlisberger does. He bought a dog for his hometown. His usual OP is to do something for the K9 units in every city he plays against. If there is no dog donation to make, he supplies “supplies”, equipment for them, etc. Right now his thing is bullet-proof vests.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Never has been the standard on either continent. Never should be! Too big and bulky. Not meant to be heavy draft dogs even like Rotts. Should be agile and lithe.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Aaaawwww!

[DancesWithCats]

Well God bless the man! What a sweetheart! Someone should write to him and tell him about this.

[the OlLine Rebel]

http://www.br-7.com/foundation.aspx

I know this stuff thanks to my dog-loving Steeler nut husband. ;-)