Customs Patrol Dog attack

[sammgirl]

I've not been around many malinois, but I know people who handle them and they all say that, "they are alot of dog."

With that being said, so are lots of other breeds.

Sounds like he was on edge during the situation and maybe the child moved very quickly or maybe the dog didn't like the child's posture and the dog's instinct just kicked on into over drive.

Maybe it was just too much at one time. However, you would think that a dog like that would not have made it as far as "custom's dog" in the first place.

 

[Criosphynx]

I wasn't aware they used mals for this type of work, all the photos and videos I have seen have been beagles, labs or rescued mutts from the shelter.

 

[corgipower]

Probably for the intimidation factor. THey probably think a drug dealer is going to "oh man, I'm not smuggling with those dogs around!" vs "Pffft beagles. What ev."

IME, malis aren't the most intimidating looking breed.

If they're going for that kind of visual, they would do better - both in looks and in being easier to handle - with GSDs.

 

[Laurelin]

I'm reading along and reading the opinions. I shouldn't have read the comments on the article itself you guys are much more competent lol! Many of the people seemed to be blaming the kid for being fearful and giving off 'the scent of fear' which still doesn't excuse a bite like this. I hate when people start blaming the victim- she was only 4 after all! There are lots of toddlers and kids who are afraid of dogs and a dog working in the capacity this mal was in should be stable.

I don't think I've ever seen a malinois at an airport. I've seen beagles, labs, and GSDs.

Anyways I agree it's probably a combo of shoddy temperament and poor handling here.

 

[Criosphynx]

read som'where else that this dog was "in training".

 

[Promethean]

Last time I passed through Heathrow, the working dog I saw was a Springer Spaniel. There are a number of breed (Brittanys, Harriers, etc) that can work on detection and even if they went nuts would do a lot less damage.

 

[JennSLK]

Poor Kid.

Emma's out worked when her and Sadie got into a fight. She was holding on the Sadie and I yelled "Drop It" and she did.

 

[pitbullpony]

Some of the detector dogs that are used;
Detector Dogs - Titan

 

[pitbullpony]

Q: What types of dogs are used for this work?
A: The CEP uses a wide variety of dogs including, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and many mixed breeds. The Agriculture side of the canine program uses Beagles as well. The most important factor in selecting detector dogs for training is not its breed, but the extent of enthusiasm the dog displays toward retrieving a given object. All potential CBP dogs are tested to see if they possess the inherited traits that make them a likely candidate for detection training. Many dogs are tested, but relatively few are procured. Dogs used by the CEP can be of either sex, but must be between 1 and 3 years of age.

Q: How does the CEP obtain its dogs?
A: Dogs that are selected for training are obtained from animal shelters, humane societies and rescue leagues, primarily in the Eastern and Midwestern part of the United States. Many of these dogs are unadoptable and would have to be destroyed. Dogs meeting the entrance qualifications are also taken as donations from private owners. Some dogs are purchased through contract vendors. Several years ago, the CEP began breeding program to provide additional detector dogs to the program. As the CEP detector dog program grows, we continue to look for new and better ways to recruit dogs.

Q: Where are the dogs trained?
A: OFO canines are trained at the Canine Enforcement Training Center and occasionally satellite facilities, when warranted. The Agriculture dogs are trained at the National Detector Dog Training Center.

 

[Romy]

Then it comes back down to, WHY are they using malis??

I don't know if it's why they are being used in airports, but I read an article about the drug dogs working the US/Mexican border while we were in Tucson. It talked about how they were shifting from GSDs and labs over to malis because the malis had better stamina to go for 8-12 hour days every day, whereas some of the other breeds were getting burnt out.

Then again, it was just an article in the Tucson newspaper and written by a regular reporter, not a dog trainer or anything. I don't know if it's true that the other dogs get burnt out, but seeing how amped up the drive is on the Czech border patrol GSD lines there may be something to needing that for dogs who are on their feet all day having to stay focused on finding certain scents, vs. riding around in a cruiser between calls.

Edit: if one of my dogs has anything in his mouth that he shouldn't, my first impulse is to yell "drop it". It worked when Strider grabbed our duck, and he's never been trained to drop live animals. I'd absolutely yell it if he had his mouth on a person for some reason. Anyway, I've never done Sch or PP, but I thought the command to disengage a bite is "aus"?

 

[DanL]

Then it comes back down to, WHY are they using malis??

They are relatively inexpensive compared to a good GSD, but it seems like they are using any dog that can pass the tests so that probably isn't as much of a factor. As far as intimidation goes, I don't think a mal is as intimidating looking as a GSD, but any prick eared dog that looks GSD like is going to be intimidating to most people.

 

[corgipower]

Anyway, I've never done Sch or PP, but I thought the command to disengage a bite is "aus"?

That depends on what language you train in.

 

[Romy]

That depends on what language you train in.

Okay, lol. My old lady neighbor used to do Sch with her rottweilers and liked bragging about their good "aus", and the way she talked about it make it sound like it was to disengage.

Is there any language where they do use "drop it" in PP sports? Off topic, but now I'm just curious.

 

[corgipower]

Okay, lol. My old lady neighbor used to do Sch with her rottweilers and liked bragging about their good "aus", and the way she talked about it make it sound like it was to disengage.

Is there any language where they do use "drop it" in PP sports? Off topic, but now I'm just curious.

"Drop it" would be English.

Dr. P's Dog Training: Commands in Several Languages

Although they'd more likely use "Out".

 

[Romy]

"Drop it" would be English.

Dr. P's Dog Training: Commands in Several Languages

Although they'd more likely use "Out".

Dur, lol. Sorry, I r tired today. I probably should have said, is that command used in PP sports? Thanks!

 

[Pops2]

i know this isn't going to be popular, but i'd put the dog down. if it had been an adolescent 12 yo i might look at what set the dog off because dogs see them as adults even if we don't. there is absolutely no way to excuse attacking a 4 YO child. a dog that will cross that line even once is a danger that cannot be tolerated.
if it had been my child that dog would not have left the scene alive, the handler might have got an @$$ whupping too.

 

[lizzybeth727]

i know this isn't going to be popular, but i'd put the dog down. if it had been an adolescent 12 yo i might look at what set the dog off because dogs see them as adults even if we don't. there is absolutely no way to excuse attacking a 4 YO child. a dog that will cross that line even once is a danger that cannot be tolerated.
if it had been my child that dog would not have left the scene alive, the handler might have got an @$$ whupping too.

I agree.

 

[Doberluv]

I'm afraid I have to agree too.

 

[Romy]

i know this isn't going to be popular, but i'd put the dog down. if it had been an adolescent 12 yo i might look at what set the dog off because dogs see them as adults even if we don't. there is absolutely no way to excuse attacking a 4 YO child. a dog that will cross that line even once is a danger that cannot be tolerated.
if it had been my child that dog would not have left the scene alive, the handler might have got an @$$ whupping too.

I can't even imagine, that dog didn't just lunge and snap and get in a lucky bite. It tried to disembowel her from the sound of the injuries. That' just. ugh.

I agree. If that had been my daughter the dog would have a flat head.

 

[stafinois]

That's what they mentioned in the article, but I don't understand: if the dog was trained ONLY for detection, like they alluded to, and ONLY had to sniff out drugs and explosives, AND had a passive alert, WHY would they have needed to teach him to release? Because to teach a release they'd also have to teach a grab, and there's no reason for that, right? I mean, my dog knows a release (we use it when we play tug), but if she ever bit a person the LAST thing on my mind would be to tell her "drop it"... cause she's never been trained to "drop" a person.

I would bet that the dog had done bitework at some point in time. I think that a lot of Malinois/GSD/DS detection only dogs are ones that washed out of a dual purpose program. Also, a lot of law enforcement dogs don't have an out at all. They often choke the dog off of bites. It makes the dog feel more tough and can bolster the confidence of a weaker dog. I was horrified when I found that out.

I would bet that most of the dogs working at airports are purchased like police dogs, which are often green dogs purchased from Europe and then brought to the US and given minimal training and placed. I don't think that a lot of these brokers and trainers are really all that experienced, and likely not picking up the "best" dogs.

Our local PD just got a new dog, their FIRST dog actually. They went through a local broker that I was less than impressed with. The dog that they got is a nearly 3-yr-old GSD that was imported from the Czech Republic about 6 months ago. The dog had NO training at all outside obedience. The broker brought the dog over, put a few month of training on it, then handed it to the K9 officer on the PD. The officer is a nice guy, but his dog experience consists of growing up with a Cocker Spaniel, and adopting a Beagle from the shelter after he bought his house. I wonder if any of them ever questioned how this dog managed to get to be as old as he is with no training. I would imagine that if he were a working quality dog, somebody would have done SOMETHING with him by now.

Sadly, I think that this story is not unusual. I think that a lot of K9 handlers are inexperienced and naive, and often the dogs that they are given are ones that that weren't kept by the breeder and were passed over by people who DO know their stuff.

Just my theory, of course.