German Shepherd or Malinois?

[timmster]

I was going to put this on the working dog thread, but I figured there would be more traffic here, and i wasn't sure which working dog thread it should go in. So mods, if you guys want to move this, go right ahead.

Anyways, my question is, why do nowadays Belgian Malinois' seem more popular for working/police/military dogs? A while back, I remember that the only police/military dogs I saw were strictly German Shepherds (or maybe I wasn't knowlegable enough back then to know the difference). But recently, I've been seeing an influx of Malinois' as detection, police dogs, etc...

Is it simply because Malinois' have more drive, and in my opinon, a little more crazy, that makes them all the more desirable to the military and police? It seems the German Shepherd has pretty much taken a back seat to the Belgian Malinois!

[AbbyK9]

Don't get me wrong, there are still lots of lines of German Shepherds that produce great dogs for police/military use and that have those drives and that correct temperament and not a lot of health issues, but they seem to be harder and harder to find. There are still more GSDs working police/military than there are Mals.

But, there definitely is a move toward more Mals. If I had to guess, I'd say these are some factors - smaller, faster, more agile. Less health issues. More drive. Less shedding.

[missmychance]

Last summer here on Fort Bragg, I was driving early one morning and saw some handlers out walking about a dozen dogs and they all looked like Malinios from what I could see driving by.

[rvadog]

You should pose this question to Show Line breeders.

[BlackPuppy]

Malinois obey first, think later. German Shepherds tend to overthink.

[Denali Girl]

Ivan Babanov - Ivan Balabanov’s Ot Vitosha Kennels, Carrie Silva Of Ot Vitosha Kennels, Ot Vitosha Kennels Championship Titles, Ot Vitosha Malinois

Here is a good link and you can write Ivan and he will tell you the answer you are looking for.

[FG167]

Originally Posted by BlackPuppy

Malinois obey first, think later. German Shepherds tend to overthink.

Interesting differentiation - I have been wondering the differences for a working line GSD and a Dutchie - which I think has a different temperament than a Mal.

[crackem]

I think people "think" too much and talk too much. I have never seen a good mal do something a good Shepherd couldn't do or vice versa. There are plenty of good and plenty of crapper dogs. Find a dog you like and get it. There isn't a whole lot more to it.

[Mrs.K]

Originally Posted by crackem

I think people "think" too much and talk too much. I have never seen a good mal do something a good Shepherd couldn't do or vice versa. There are plenty of good and plenty of crapper dogs. Find a dog you like and get it. There isn't a whole lot more to it.

I absolutely agree!

[JakodaCD OA]

a friend of mine who has 3 mals and has had gsd's made a good observation about them (hers anyhow)

A mal would go jump off a cliff while a german shepherd will think about it first

I like mals, and if I didn't have 3 dogs, I may have one.

I think alot of law enforcement whatever, that do go for the mals are going for a smaller compact , not as many health issues, dog that will think later vs a gsd who will think first.

Personally, I like the 'think first" type, but I do like mallys