Have pitbulls ever been used as police dogs?

[DawnStorm]

A women was mauled by two pit bulls recently (link) and the whole subject of the breed was brought up on one of the talk shows I listen to. One of the callers said that there was a time when some western state used pits as police dogs but stopped because the breed would come when called. I've never heard of pits being used in law enforcement. This caller (said he) was a professional dog trainer, but I question his credibility after a) hearing what I just posted and b)after him sort of repeating the oft mentioned 'pit bulls' jaws lock UL.
Anyway, has anyone ever heard of pit bulls being used in law enforcement in this or any other country?

[Morrigan]

Yes.

http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/america...llterrier.html "Pit Bulls are employed as police/armed services dogs, search and rescuers, therapy animals, and livestock workers. They compete in all manner of organized dog sports, from herding to agility to conformation to obedience and the bite sports like Schutzhund and French Ring."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pit_Bull_Terrier

http://www.answers.com/topic/america...cat=technology

[DoubleNaughtSaleen]

US Customs (aka CBP) has used them in the past as narcotic sniffer dogs. I haven't seen one come out of the program lately; the focus has been shepards and Labs.

[Lady Neeva]

Originally Posted by DoubleNaughtSaleen

US Customs (aka CBP) has used them in the past as narcotic sniffer dogs. I haven't seen one come out of the program lately; the focus has been shepards and Labs.

I could be wrong here... are the narcotics dogs you're referring to the kind that go around in the airports sniffing passenger luggage and such?

If thats the case, they might have switched to shepherds and labs because they're generally viewed by the public as less frightening than a pit bull. Not necessarily true, but there is the perception. So people are less likely to freak out around a shepherd or lab, therefore, it creates a safer and less stressful working environment for the dog and handler.

Thats just a guess on my part though.

[Xia]

Airports most commonly use beagles. I do know of some American Pit Bull Terriers that have been trained as narcotics or bomb dogs, but not for airports. Narcotics dogs may be used to check mail, at U.S. Customs checkpoints, and may also be called in to check a house or vehicle where drugs are suspected.

Here is the story of one pittie who was rescued from a drug dealer's freezer and trained to be a narcotics dog:
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petb.../popsicle.html

[DoubleNaughtSaleen]

The ones I knew were "positive response", trained to scratch and bite at narcotic odor (my retired Lab is one). They are not used to sniff people--vehicles and cargo at border ports in the past. "Passive" dogs are used in terminals--they sit or lay down. Beagles are the traditional Agriculture sniffer dogs.

check out http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security/canines/
for some cool pics and more info

[Lady Neeva]

Oh I kind of knew that, but apparently wasn't really thinking about it if that makes sense.

Then again, the only narcotics dogs I see in real life are typically positive response dogs, and usually they're being brought in to search a car when an officer suspects narcotics are present during routine traffic stops.

Yeah, I don't live in the best area heh. Usually it's at night and since I don't want to stop and stare (because that's just not right), the dogs they use could be any number of breeds that would look like a German Shepherd with a quick glance at night.

Obviously I don't know much about it... although I don't see why they couldn't use pretty much any breed of dog which is why I created my theory. Well, they couldn't use my dog... she can't even find a treat or a chew bone if she happens to lay on it, and as for sniffing anything out... if I toss her a treat, 9 times out of 10 I have to go find it for her because she'll just sniff around in the same two inch square spot it landed before it bounced forever.

She's old though, so we'll forgive her less than bloodhound keen sense of smell lol.

[Seraphina]

Here in OZ the sniffer dogs trained to find narcotics and other contraband are often beagles or smallish crossbreds. The first pre-requisite is that they are hyper active dogs willing to go all day searching luggage or searching cargo ship's hull. For this sort of work the smaller dogs are more suited.
I really cannot see any advantage that pitbul would have over other dogs usually used for police work.