What are you looking for?


There was a Cocker Spaniel that couldn't have been more than 30 lbs that what a phenomenal drug sniffing dog, even with it's cute pink clip to keep it's ears & hair up.

There's an English Pointer that is the FIRST dog I'm calling to sniff out an explosive device. He weighs in at 50 or so pounds.

GSD's are anywhere between the 65 and 110 pound range.

Malinois are typically lighter, 50-90 pounders depending. Think a German Sheppard on Meth with a case of ADHD. I've seen first hand a 55/60 lb Mal hit a 245 well built man like a rocket and take his ass OUT.

There's Mastiffs that are easily in the 180-200 lb range. Great Danes, 140-170 lb range. Rottweilers 80 - 130 range. Dobermans 60-100lbs.


Size is one thing. Temperament is another.

A Malinois may be the "right size" you're looking for, but it's a very VERY active dog. Work orientated, and if that dog doesn't have a task, or someting to do... they tend to get into trouble (like tear up your furniture)

Most of ours at between 80 to 100lbs.

It really sucks as the generation of K9's we have are all passing away (5 in the past 2 years) to a new generation.

I have a lot of history with the ones leaving.... Not only friends with the handlers but friends with the dogs. One that the VAST MAJORITY cannot/will not pet. But I can. It's sad, they have saved my ass once or twice.

As stated previously... We already have our dog.

We are NOT looking for a dog.

We know what my husband's department usually uses. We were just asking for those that are actually around their police department's dogs, a generalization of what their dogs weigh. I appreciate the insight of those sharing who have the fist hand knowledge. Thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Many many departments import their dogs from Europe. Breeding standards are higher than in the states,much more rigid, and it’s breed dependent but for the most part they like to stick to the breed hardcore in Europe unlike here.

European breeders tend mostly to breed for function, rather than form (not like those slope-backed GSDs you see American breeders showing in AKC shows). The result is a true working dog, without the handicaps that result from most American breeders.

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
European breeders tend mostly to breed for function, rather than form (not like those slope-backed GSDs you see American breeders showing in AKC shows). The result is a true working dog, without the handicaps that result from most American breeders.

100% and European lines don’t have the medical issues compared to the breeding in the US. There are solid breeders here, I have access to one. But they import their sires and dams and mate them here.

When we got Lex (from an importer in the Bay Area) we were the only none LEOs in the class. Lex was 85# and was a GSD from the Czech Republic. There were one or two bigger dogs, but he was on the high end of the scale. The one standout on size was a female that was noticeably smaller, maybe 65#. EVERYONE in the class agreed that was the one dog you really didn’t want to mess with though as she had more aggression than any two of the other dogs in the class. She was a GSD, but she acted like there must have been a Mal in the woodpile somewhere. Sometimes it really is the size of the fight in the dog that matters.

This is my female akc GSD, she is 75-80 lbs. GGP were imports, working lines. Not an American show type. Excellent dog very protective, from Steel Cross German Shepards here in NM.

Not a K-9, but one of the most impressive protection trained dogs I ever met was a cousin of one of my Cane Corso Italianos. “Luca” weighed in at 160 lbs., all muscle. Huge head and jaws, very intimidating stare.