Are police dogs trained to be aggressive to other dogs?

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prose

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We were at the animal hospital yesterday (final check-up on Stella's eye, and everything looks great
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) when a number of police dogs came in with their handlers. Everyone was told to pick up their small animals and move the larger ones out of the way. One of the Shepherds, in particular, was very growly at the other animals.

Is this a lack of socialisation with non-police animals, or are they trained to be dominant?
 
All the shepherds we hand over are good with other dogs
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I have come across a few that have been on the highly strung side and I think as a precaution they have to becarefull around people and animals esp as they could get into bother if they bit....I know a few that come into my mams vets when it's quiet and no other dogs around, they are generally kenneled beside other dogs or live amongst other dogs when residing in the home of a police officer(over here anyway)
 
I'm not sure about the US but over here the ones I've had dealings with are not.

We were always taught to never look them in the eye, but have always been 'generally' nice dogs. I can understand to degree that they are unpredictable and are trained in a different way and will see some situations as a 'problem' and react differently.

We had one in for a long time after and RTA - one night the alarms went off at the surgery. When the police women went into where he was kennel to have a look, he went balistic, from being a really calm friendly dog he changed into 'work' mode.

Sorry have ramble on a bit and probaly gone off the point!
 
No - I go for walks with a police dog trainer and all but one of them play with other dogs. The one that doesn't is a rescue which was very badly attacked and abused.
 
My dad was an ex handler, we had 2 Shepherds and they were soft as pussy cat! we also had 3 bassetts at the time too! chaos! they were very friendly with other dogs.
 
no not at all definitly not over here anyway, they are not taught to be aggressive in the slightest and most of the are pussy cats and really friendly.
 
Interesting. Perhaps it was more a case of the handlers wanting them to be in work mode, then. Have to say, the handlers were these intimidating body builder sorts who weren't afraid of popping the choke chain. And only one dog was a German Shepherd--the other two were black Malinois.
 
The dogs we have ever given to the cops were 'too much' for us, not show quality but never aggressive.

However the police in NI, I think, until recently, were the only force in the UK that took on known biters.
As a child I remember going up to a GSD police dog at a local fair to pet it and the handler warned me off - don't know whether this was because the dog was aggressive or if the handler wanted it to remain in 'work mode'.

As with most other areas, police dogs in NI usually go home to live with the handlers' family.
 
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