Breeds and Breeding
MineTech International runs a breeding programme
at the Dog School. A great deal of time and effort is
invested in socialising and training puppies that are
born at the school.
The physical appearance of the breeds of dogs
used for mine detection is important. The breeds must
have good colour and pigmentation with ears that stand
erect. The dogs are of normal size according to breed
standards and they must be free of any sign of hip
dysplasia. The dogs also need to have a highly
adaptable and courageous temperament.
The types of breeds MineTech uses for mine work
are mainly German Shepherds and Malinois.
   German Shepherd
MineTech uses German
Shepherds because they are loyal, courageous and quick
to learn. This breed is alert to every sight and sound,
nothing escapes their attention. They are also
decidedly suspicious of strangers. They require plenty
of room and exercise and need careful obedience
training when young to fulfill their potential as a
companion and guard.
At one time called the Alsatian, they are now
known as the German Shepherd, originating in Germany
from long established breeds of herding and farm dogs.
A well-proportioned dog with great suppleness of limb,
their heads are long, lean and clean cut with
broad-based erect ears. They have a smooth and
long-reaching gait with a double coat made up of a
woolly undercoat and a dense, straight, flat-lying
outer coat that requires regular brushing. The German
Shepherd is valued around the world as a sentry, police
dog, tracker, search and rescue dog and guide dog. That
by all means does not cover all the talents of this
amazing breed.
Malinois
A Malinois is a type of
Belgian Shepherd Dog and these are also used as mine dogs.
The breed is sensitive, responsive and extremely
intelligent, excelling at obedience work. They have a
lively, enquiring mind and, although wary, are neither
timid nor aggressive.
This breed originates from Belgium and the
Malinois takes its name from the town where it
originated. It is a light-footed, medium-sized dog,
squarely built, elegant in outline with a finely
chiselled, long head. The Malinois is short-coated with
an undercoat and colouring ranging in fawn, grey and
red with black tips to hairs.
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