Dutch Shepherd Forum

I went to see the new movie Contraband today and there was a dutchie in it two times. In one of the first scenes a drug-sniffing dog is helicoptered onto a boat and I was quite sure it was a Dutchie and then he showed up with a mal at the end of the movie, again sniffing drugs on a boat. It was neat to see them but it always makes me nervous. I have heard so much lately about how popular Malinois are getting with the general public. I can't help but think that a few years ago those dogs in the movie would have been GSDs.

I'm worried about them getting too popular as well. While I like that they are being shown more often, and I would like people to recognize Dutch Shepherds so they stop asking if Zodiac is a mutt, I also worry that Dutchies and Mals will go the way of American GSDs.

ZodiacT wrote:I'm worried about them getting too popular as well. While I like that they are being shown more often, and I would like people to recognize Dutch Shepherds so they stop asking if Zodiac is a mutt, I also worry that Dutchies and Mals will go the way of American GSDs.

Just curious...why does it matter to you if people ask if Zodiac is a mutt? You can't really have it both ways...having people (meaning the general public) recognize DS right off means they've become popular enough for breed recognition to have sunk in .

For me, I like that people don't recognize Geyser for what she is. Then, when someone looks at me and says, "DS, right?" it's like a secret club or something, and they know the secret word .

leih merigian wrote:For me, I like that people don't recognize Geyser for what she is. Then, when someone looks at me and says, "DS, right?" it's like a secret club or something, and they know the secret word .

Oh, I feel JUST like that. You want to shock me? Tell me (don't ask) what breed of dog that is at the end of my leash. Mostly cops, or ex military.
And that is, no doubt, where the movie applications come from. They have been appearing for years now. I remember the movie 'traffic' had one too. They seek working dogs/handlers and many working dogs these days are malinois or DS. I keep trying to catch that current commercial (windows 7?) and am always too late to really see what breed that is that makes that nice KNPV style hit. I feel sure that, whatver breed, the dog was selected for the contents of his character, not for the color of his skin.

leih merigian wrote:Just curious...why does it matter to you if people ask if Zodiac is a mutt?

I guess it's not so much people asking if she's a mutt, it's when I tell them she's a non-AKC breed and they assume that because the breed isn't AKC recognized it's not a 'real' breed. But I also don't want them to be an AKC breed. I'm just weird I guess The only people I've had recognize her breed were dog handlers I worked with in the military.

ZodiacT wrote: I guess it's not so much people asking if she's a mutt, it's when I tell them she's a non-AKC breed and they assume that because the breed isn't AKC recognized it's not a 'real' breed.

You're not weird, you just need some cognitive adjustments .

They're just showing their ignorance, and that could make you smile or blow a mental

vneerland wrote: They have been appearing for years now.

Just the other nite, there was a video on America's Funniest Videos (my geeky show ) that showed a DS lying on a couch, with an infant lying with it's head on the dog's stomach. I was like, "OMG, that's a DS!" First one I've seen on AFV...

(We won't go into idiots who place their infants on any dog's stomach )

Really? On AFV? Oh my.........

I, too, love it when people don't know what breed Panzer is! Most people recognize that he is some kind shepherd, but they can't place him. I usually tell them at first, lol, that he is a Hyena and I imported him from Africa...and them I'll spill the beans and tell them he's actually from Chicago. lol! Nobody that has seen him, other than my K-9 officer friends and trainers, knows what a Dutch Shepherd is.
Recently, a client of mine who has Saluki's, met Panzer and she was familiar with Malinois and could see the resemblance. She did ask me why I would want a dog like "this" and I flat out told her that after having a working dog, everything else seemed boring! *chuckle*

For my Zip, most people cant get that close to even ask.

But with Shooter though, they often ask if he is GSD or mix, which he is (DS/GSDx).

GSDNanny wrote: But with Shooter though, they often ask if he is GSD or mix, which he is (DS/GSDx).

Ooooooh! What's he like?

Shooter is awesome. Sire is import GSD (DDR). Dame is KNPV DS. He is a Dutchie with an off switch, probably more like my GSDs in temperament. Congenial. Delayed, but controlled drives. Super nose. I will get photos to post.

GSDNanny wrote:Shooter is awesome. Sire is import GSD (DDR). Dame is KNPV DS. He is a Dutchie with an off switch, probably more like my GSDs in temperament. Congenial. Delayed, but controlled drives. Super nose. I will get photos to post.

Oh man, does he sound wonderful. Can't wait to see the pics!