how is this justifiable?

[aybe.sea]

maybe someone can tell me? this is just awful. wouldn't this count as abuse if this was being done by anyone else?

a video of police dog 'training'
i hope that dog rips that guy to shreds one day..
YouTube - Baltimore Police Dept. Dog Trainging

[Purrrfect9]

That is called the alpha role. In wolf packs, one of the tactics that the alpha male uses (usually as a last resort) is this alpha role. You see it in domestic dogs as well, when a dog/wolf challenges that authority role, the alpha grabs the offending dog by the scruff and forces the opponent on it's back, with the belly exposed. I really don't like the use of this method, but occasionally, it has to be done to prove a point to the dog. It might look like he is using a lot of unnecessary force, but have you ever tried to wrestle a dog that size and pin him to the ground? It takes a lot for force, especially for a GSD. To me, it doesn't look like that form of training seems to be working for that dog, and they should have moved on to a different tactic, but that's just my $0.02.

[aybe.sea]

i understand what your saying. but he actually lifts him up and swings him around by the neck, i don't think another dog could do that ( to that extent anyway.) i know those dogs are tough though, I'm probably just over reacting. I've just never seen anything like that vid before. thanks for the info.

[blackcrystal22]

i understand what your saying. but he actually lifts him up and swings him around by the neck, i don't think another dog could do that ( to that extent anyway.) i know those dogs are tough though, I'm probably just over reacting. I've just never seen anything like that vid before. thanks for the info.

That isn't hurting the dog, I promise. It may look rough, but those dogs are built to handle tough situations and go through rigorous training. One of my friends has a golden retriever that gets a little out of hand 'playing' sometimes. When there's a lot of people around I do a similar thing by putting her on her back and holding her there in the Alpha position. It does take a lot of force to get a dog over like that, I have to lift her first then set her down on her back with me on top of her. It'll calm her down for the rest of the night unless someone intentionally works her up.

Purr is right, it does not seem to be a method that is working for that dog, they really should work on a different method, though sometimes that method can be put to good use.

[Denial]

Id love for that dog that show that guy whose the alpha. Theres no reason to throw him around like that. There are other ways of training a dog. I have three huskies and a german shepard and we actually had to have an aplha talk a few months ago when a husky and the german shepard got into a fight but I did not grab my dogs and spin them around like that. A police officer and there dog are a "team" Those dogs are considered officers. They usually go in first and take the guy out and they dont back down from anything there not afraid of knives and guns and there usually the ones that end up getting shot or stabbed. So that guy should show the dogs alittle more respect. It looks to me as if he has a large ego or a troubled life and has to throw a dog around all day at work to make himself feel better.

[GoingPostal]

That is called the alpha role. In wolf packs, one of the tactics that the alpha male uses (usually as a last resort) is this alpha role. You see it in domestic dogs as well, when a dog/wolf challenges that authority role, the alpha grabs the offending dog by the scruff and forces the opponent on it's back, with the belly exposed.

Actually the lesser wolf willingly submits, they aren't physically forced. And dogs aren't wolves. Unfortunately "alpha rolling" is one of those holdovers that just won't die, even though the Monks who suggested it have retracted the idea long ago. Looks to me like they aren't training anything, just jerking the dog around. Maybe he's trying to teach the dog that humans are irrational crazy creatures because I imagine that's all the dog got out of it. Looks like it might be a malinois, not a GSD, great working breed.

[Corvid]

Looks to be a Malinois, not a GSD.
The problem with training dogs this way, is you can BET that the dog will challenge you back for that alpha role. With apprehension dogs, I wouldn't want my dog to challenge me!!! I've seen a lot of police dogs trained in a more 'traditional' manner just fine. Never seen this first hand though.
This is not cruelty, but I sure wouldn't train my dogs this way!!

[Corvid]

lol, you got in there before me with the malinois
If you watch he rolls the dog when he bites at him/his wrist..

Looks to me like they aren't training anything, just jerking the dog around. Maybe he's trying to teach the dog that humans are irrational crazy creatures because I imagine that's all the dog got out of it. Looks like it might be a malinois, not a GSD, great working breed.

[Purrrfect9]

Actually the lesser wolf willingly submits, they aren't physically forced. And dogs aren't wolves. Unfortunately "alpha rolling" is one of those holdovers that just won't die, even though the Monks who suggested it have retracted the idea long ago. Looks to me like they aren't training anything, just jerking the dog around. Maybe he's trying to teach the dog that humans are irrational crazy creatures because I imagine that's all the dog got out of it. Looks like it might be a malinois, not a GSD, great working breed.

In most cases, yes the lesser wolf submits from subtle cues from the alpha. What I meant to say was that when the alpha wolf is challenged (i.e. for the alpha position) that they will fight/alpha roll the opposing wolf to maintain his dominance.

Corvid, I noticed the biting on the wrist as well. Also, if you listen toward the end, the officer is being told by someone off camera when to roll the dog, and to continue doing it.
Either way, both officer and dog look very frustrated, and the dog unfortunately likely learned nothing from this experience other than to distrust and fear his 'partner'. You shouldn't ever EVER continue training like this when any animal gets that frustrated. You just end up trying to correct more bad behavior formed from the traumatic event. And who knows, all dogs have different personalities. This dog could have possibly gone home that night, had himself some prime rib for dinner, and curled up in his 'partners' lap while having his belly rubbed... Not likely though.

[mainbutter]

You can hear in the video at 2:12 or so: "I don't like to do this, but you can see that the dog..." and then it cuts out.

In addition, I think that the guy is being forceful but he isn't slamming the dog down or anything and hurting it.

Either way, the police officer is no dog expert I assume, and is working with someone off camera trusting them to tell him what to do to train the dog. Any blame resides with the off camera guy, who is in charge of the situation.