The US Secret Service guards the White House. The White House is the official house of the world’s most powerful leader, the US President.
Getting into the White House requires multiple security checks. The US Secret Service has men, women, and a canine unit.
These dogs undergo extensive training and develop a wide range of skills. However, not every other canine is eligible to defend the White House. Therefore, a specific dog breed has been assigned to this vital responsibility.
The Secret Service’s K-9 Division was established in the 1970s. German Shepherd was their first choice for a canine division, and they decided to keep it.
Belgian Malinois, on the other hand, proved to be an ideal choice for the job due to their speed and ability to chase and fight suspects easily. Additionally, they have an incredible sense and can detect drugs, explosives, and mines.
Belgian Malinois possesses all of the features necessary for a successful police dog. In addition, they are one of the most athletic dog breeds.
They have a strong work ethic and endless energy, enabling them to focus all day and night.
In addition, these dogs show a high level of bravery and loyalty to their handlers, making them well-suited for police work.
Dogs were introduced to law enforcement in the 5th century.
Several police dog breeds excel as detectives, trackers, and guards of the innocent.
The variety of police work dog breeds has been increased, and law enforcement has incorporated other species for police work training.
Nowadays, a K-9 police dog is regarded as an official security guard with several duties and responsibilities.
Belgian Malinois are gaining popularity as police dogs, gradually replacing German Shepherds in many areas.
There are several valid reasons why police departments prefer Belgian Malinois rather than German Shepherds or other breeds.
Police use Belgian Malinois for a variety of reasons, including their physical structure and temperament. Belgian Malinois are exceptionally active, healthy dogs with a high level of work motivation and a desire to please.
Belgian Malinois are sometimes mistaken for German shepherds. This is reasonable considering their common ancestry. Although they look like German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois have darker markings on their thick brown hair.
They also possess dark muzzles and prominent dark ears that are upright. A mature male Belgian Malinois weighs between 25 and 30 kg. At the same time, an adult female Malinois weighs between 20 and 25 kg.
A mature male Malinois measures 24 to 26 inches long, whereas a female Malinois measures 22 to 24 inches.
US secret army uses a specific breed of dog because it is hardworking and steadfast. One reason the Belgian Malinois makes an excellent assistance dog. It is a highly energetic canine that has been bred mainly for administration purposes rather than as a pet.
The best police dog is a hardworking canine capable of working continuously throughout the day. Police dogs can also be trained in smell sensitivity, bite work, or a combination of the two.
A police dog that performs bites and smells detection tasks must have certain features.
Today’s police dogs are prepared to have excellent self-control to be released into a crowd and successfully take down the target without hurting others.
Additionally, police dogs should have an excellent response when called back after an attack or chase.
Each police dog would be required to put selves in positions where it knows that it is in danger.
They must be courageous enough to charge into an attack despite their physical risk.
Additionally, they must be willing to rush into potentially risky situations without considering the time to assess their surroundings.
Solid and agile dogs are essential for the chase of criminals, whether they are jumping over boundaries or attempting to escape in a vehicle.
So a good police dog needs strength and agility.
A dog’s drive refers to his desire to achieve a goal.
Police dogs must have a high level of motivation, as they must work continuously during the day and be highly committed to learning challenging and complicated behavior.
In many police departments, Belgian Malinois have replaced German Shepherds as the official police dog.
For example, 75% of the police and military canines in Los Angeles and the United States are Belgian Malinois.
There are various reasons why Belgian Malinois are an excellent choice for police service and are substituting German Shepherds.
On the other hand, German Shepherds are still an excellent choice for police work in some situations. Here are some essential points of comparison between them.
Belgian Malinois are more athletic and smaller than German Shepherds. However, they are so sporty that they can walk on a wire and climb a tree.
Whereas German Shepherds are more, Belgian Malinois are as intense as a Shepherd.
As a result, the German Shepherd remains an ideal choice for those situations where a large and powerful dog is needed to take down the enemy.
Compared to Shepherds, Belgian Malinois has an even more excellent work ethic.
German Shepherds and other herding breeds are widely renowned for their high level of work ethic, but Belgian Malinois goes much further.
They work all day tirelessly.
Furthermore, Belgian Malinois tend to maintain single-minded attention on their work and are therefore less prone to be distracted.
Health issues are less common in Belgian Malinois than in German Shepherds.
The German Shepherd has a curved back and inclined hips. They’ve been bred for show rather than work for a long time.
They are, however, more susceptible to hip and back issues as a result of their specific shape.
Because training a police dog costs money and time, you must spend on a dog that can perform after training.
German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois dogs have a fantastic sense of smell and are highly motivated to work with scents.
Since Belgian Malinois have a higher work drive overall, they tend to work harder while sniffing out odors.
The Belgian Malinois’ enhanced energy and athleticism mean they are more likely to pursue a scent than a German Shepherd.
Belgian Malinois, a breed of dog, possesses a sense of smell that exceeds any other dog. They can distinguish between thousands of different odors, making them ideal for detecting weapons, drugs, and explosives. The Belgian Malinois possesses several features that are regarded as vital for Secret Service activities.
As a result, the US Secret Service spends an average of $6500 to $8500 for each dog, but they earn much more in terms of the type of service.
Once the dog has completed its training, it must continue to train for an additional eight hours each week for the duration of the dog’s workforce. Secret Service canines serve for 11 years and then live with their trainer and family.
The Secret Service uses Belgian Malinois dogs because they are brilliant and do not forget commands. Initially, these canines train for 20 weeks, forming a solid relationship with their trainers. Strong bonding between the trainer (the handler) and the dog assists the handler train the dog all they’ll need to know when they begin working.
A Secret Service dog’s primary responsibilities include the following:
- Determining the location of explosives, landmines, and other potential risks.
- We are rescuing injured officers.
- We are ensuring the safety of everyone during night patrols.
- We are identifying and capturing the wrong people.
Some of the reasons they keep their training once they start working are to keep their instincts strong if they become to perform their job successfully. In addition, training for eight hours per week allows them to become more dependable in the field because of their increased experience.
In general, the Belgian Malinois can run 25 miles per hour and weighs about 75 pounds. Therefore, if something changes, they are automatically placed in a position that they can do.
Some police departments believe their Shepherds have a more stable and peaceful temperament than Malinois, allowing them to work effectively as police dogs.
However, most US police forces do not have this mentality.
Indeed, the fundamental goal is to have a dog that is capable of performing exceptional work, and it is difficult to claim that the Belgian Malinois is not the superior worker of the two breeds when it comes to the majority of the activities that are vital for police dogs.
However, handlers who work with Belgian Malinois believe them to be just as reliable as German Shepherds with individuals.
Perhaps the biggest reason Belgian Malinois are substituting German Shepherds is their willingness to work.
Belgian Malinois are ready to work continuously throughout the day and are always positive and enthusiastic.
They are courageous and obedient to their handler. Moreover, their innate intelligence provides them with remarkable self-control when adequately trained.
When you consider the Belgian Malinois’s superior health to the German Shepherd, it’s no surprise that Malinois is gaining popularity in the United States.
Irrespective of their aggressive temperament, the Belgian Malinois is an appropriate choice for training. However, the dog’s preparation is not easy, as it takes approximately $50,000 to improve the requisite abilities in a Belgian Malinois.
They are loyal, intelligent, and easy to learn. But unfortunately, Malinois is also a sensitive dog, and it would not be surprising to see one Malinois carrying a child carriage.
Each dog has a handler appointed to it. They collaborate and build an everlasting and intimate relationship with one another.
Additionally, the dogs are subjected to biosensor stressing to excite their senses and hearing capabilities, including thunder, firing, motorbike sounds, and siren.
Additionally, they are treated with dignity. Bulletproof jackets are provided to them. If they die on a mission, the division plans funerals for them. Even after they retire, they are engaged in other duties.
Belgian Malinois dogs are so quick and well-prepared that if someone breaches the White House barrier and activates the alarm, they are sent within four seconds to attack the gate crasher till the supervisor arrives.
They are also known for their intense loyalty, ability to interact nonverbally, alertness, substantial intelligence, and very playful personality. These features contribute to the dog developing a solid bond with the trainer, resulting in a far more robust relationship.
This speed is also why the US military commonly uses these breeds of canines to track down suspects. The Belgian Malinois excels at running faster than humans.
Some of the other unique features of Belgian Malinois dogs limit their reliability.
Exceptional non-verbal communication skills, sharpness, knowledge, and passion, are the features that enable the canine to form an everlasting relationship with its mentor. As a result, the relationship becomes substantially more beneficial.
When out in the field, the Belgian Malinois dog is more proactive than many other breeds of dog.
A Secret Service dog’s work is not easy. But, they are loyal and hardworking animals who work with agents to guard and serve. These dogs have become an integral part of the White House security squad.
For centuries, dogs have been considered man’s (and woman’s) best friends. This is because canines are loyal and affectionate, and they frequently assist their human counterparts with comfort, protection, and other tasks.
Although Belgian Malinois begin their preparation a few days after birth, considering the Secret Service and many other military-based professional co-ops, only 1% of the slice will be presented.
In addition to Belgian Malinois, the Secret Service employs a variety of other dog breeds.
Shepherds are self-assured and possess brave personalities. They are exceptionally obedient and loyal dogs. This breed is commonly employed as police, military, and guard dogs. They are also ideal pets as family dogs.
For its history as a working dog, the boxer is best known for its service as a security and patrol dog supporting military personnel throughout World War I and World War II.
Additionally, boxers were trained as messenger dogs, conveying communications between troops caught in the crossfire of the war.
One of the fascinating things that Boxers performed during wartime was to carry communication wires using a spool tied to their collars, and they did it brilliantly.
Labrador Retrievers are affectionate, playful, and ready to receive praise. They are incredibly skilled and can be engaged for various purposes, including hunting, police work, drug detection centers, guide dogs, and rescue squads. Additionally, they are easy to prepare and intelligent.
The Rottweiler has a bold personality. But, they are also gentle, easy to learn, courageous, and devoted to their trainer and family. Additionally, they are powerful, protective, furious, and formidable warriors.
They are polite guard dogs capable of performing well in law enforcement and military tasks.
The agility, intelligence, and speed of all police and military canine breeds are undeniable. In addition, they can serve and assist humans at any time due to their solid and agile bodies, spontaneous character, and robust nose. They understand how to collaborate with humans and carry out tasks with courage.
Here are some amusing facts about Secret Service dogs if you’d like to learn more about them:
- Since 1976, the Secret Service has screened sites for presidential visits with police dogs.
- Historically, the Secret Service used only Belgian Malinois dogs. They’re well-known for being quick on their feet, hard workers, and adept at detecting explosives.
- An explosive detection dog alerting near the White House may prohibit or disrupt presidential meetings if the president cannot leave or re-enter.
- A dog inspects almost all visitors to the White House, but the majority are unaware.
- A dog searches every vehicle entering the White House area. Every year, the Secret Service canine screens 7,020 cars for explosives.
- Secret Service canines are among the most frequent travelers in the canine world, having taken more than 200 flights, many of which are international.
- Secret Service canines stay with their handlers at the Uniformed Division 24 hours a day.
- The average retirement age for a Secret Service dog depends on its physical condition, although it is often about ten years for most dogs. When a dog reaches the age of retirement, it is given up to the care of its owner.
- These dogs can run at 25 mph and bite at hundreds of pounds per square inch.
- The dogs’ field of vision is 270 degrees.
- They are capable of working in both dry and frigid environments.
- They can detect unmarked graves.
Like seeing-eye dogs and service dogs, many key disciplines require crossbreeding to create the ideal professional dog.
Numerous Golden Retriever and Labrador crossbreeds make great seeing-eye dogs, and a Belgian Malinois bred with a German Shepherd makes an excellent police dog.
Combining the breeds brings out some of the best characteristics of each; prompt better features are also less reliable.
A mixed-breed dog should ideally possess the tenacity and outstanding fitness of a Belgian Malinois while also possessing the shape and gentle nature of a German Shepherd.
Labrador retrievers are widely-known as America’s favorite dogs, and they are also an excellent fit for some types of police work. Still, they do not perform well with any biting activity.
Labrador Retrievers like people and have never met a stranger. However, it is not in their tendency to show the level of hostility necessary for a dog to perform well in biting exercises.
