FBI: International is the hit action from Dick Wolf that premiered in 2021.
Following the stories of Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester, Special Agent Jamie Kellett, and Tank the Schutzhund, this shows these characters and more save Americans in every part of the globe.
While fans love cast members like Luke Kleintank, Carter Redwood, and Christiane Paul, the real showstopper has been the lovable hound Green who plays Tank.
This unique breed has been seen helping American and International forces for centuries.
What Kind Of Dog Is In FBI International?
The kind of dog seen in FBI International is a giant schnauzer, although the show strictly refers to the lead dog character Tank as a Schutzhund.
A Schutzhund is the German word for a guard dog and literally translates to “protection dog.”
According to the American Kennel Club, giant schnauzers can weigh anywhere from 55 to 85 pounds and stand at a height of anywhere between about 23 and 28 inches.
This breed is known for being incredibly affectionate with their families and decently social with other dogs.
Three different types of Schnauzers are recognized by the American Kennel Club and Giant Schnauzers are the largest of the breeds.
The Giant Schnauzer breed has been around since it was first bred during the mid-1800s in the Bavarian Alps.
These rugged working dogs were bred up from Standard Schnauzers and were originally meant to serve as fearsome guard dogs for merchants, farmers, and innkeepers alike.
They were also used for a variety of farmwork, which even included cattle herding.
As railroads arose and the need for cattle drives were decreasing, the Giant Schnauzer was quickly adopted as one of the most common breeds for European police forces and militaries.
These dogs were praised for their loyal nature and strict focus during intense situations.
When the breed was brought over to the Americas, locals were amazed by their dominant and unique physique.
American Giant Schnauzers were often toted around to dog shows thanks to their impressive obedience and charming looks.
Most Giant Schnauzers are either pure black or have a grayish “salt and pepper” pattern.
Giant Schnauzers are more muscular and lean than their Miniature or Standard counterparts, making them more difficult to wrangle than other breeds of Schnauzer.
Is The Dog From FBI International Sick?
Yes, the dog character Tank from FBI International is sick in the show.
However, fans don’t need to worry about Tank’s canine actor, Green, who is doing well.
During an early episode in season one of the show, Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester hired a new agent to join his team.
Forrester needed a loyal and talented agent for the job, so he hired the four-legged special agent Tank to assist both Forrester and the rest of his team.
During the episode “One Kind of Madman,” Forrester admits to having taken on Tank as his new K9 partner to help him avoid retirement.
After a recent bombing in the show, Tank’s health was a major concern for the entire team, and his age was beginning to show.
Special Agent Forrester is eventually informed by Tank’s vet that the dog’s worsening condition has nothing to do with the bombing.
Instead, the vet found a concerning lump in the dog’s throat, and they wanted to run tests to see if the lump was cancerous.
While running a test on the first lump, Tank’s veterinary team discovers a second lump in his intestines.
As Forrester was deep in an investigation, Tank’s veterinary team urgently calls him multiple times to ask for permission to perform emergency surgery.
Luckily, Special Agent Jamie Kellet was able to give the vet permission to go ahead with the lifesaving surgery for the beloved dog.
Once Agent Forrester returned from his mission, he learned that Tank made it through his emergency surgery and is still in hospital struggling.
The final shot of the episode shows the dog hooked up to an IV and fans of FBI International had to wait until February 1st of 2022 in the episode “Chew Toy” to learn what became of poor Tank.
How Do They Get The Dog To Act For FBI International?
The dogs of Hollywood aren’t just well-behaved pets.
Instead, they are trained task dogs who begin their training as puppies, much like Green the Giant Schnauzer from FBI International.
In an interview with Insider, renowned animal coordinator Theresa Ann Miller explained how the professional pups do their jobs.
Miller is the daughter of famous dog trainer Karl Lewis, who worked on movies such as The Beverly Hillbillies and Stephen King’s Cujo.
This animal coordinator has an impressive background as well, having trained the dogs from White God and A Dog’s Way Home, the cats from Cat’s Eye, and the pigs used in Babe.
According to Miller, the younger dogs are easier to train to learn new tasks.
However, older dogs are able to handle more active scenes and can take on more complicated tasks with ease.
The majority of dogs in Hollywood are clicker trained, which is where dogs are activated by certain types of clicks to carry out different commands.
These clickers can also be used to help dogs remember to focus on what they’re doing.
Like many modern dog trainers, clicker trainers use positive reinforcement to encourage dogs to repeat approved behaviors.
A clicker trained dog may sit whenever they hear a clicker clicked once and do another task when that same clicker is clicked twice.
Clicker training allows animal coordinators to give their animals commands without having to be in the frame or direct sight of the dog.
However, the clicker isn’t the only tool that Theresa Ann Miller likes to use.
To help dogs identify targets, Miller uses a feed stick, which is a thin stick that has a bright, green ball on the end of it.
Miller uses her feed stick to get dogs to look from actor to actor while having minimal effect on lighting.
Are Giant Schnauzers Hard To Find?
No, you can find Giant Schnauzer through breeders found in the Giant Schnauzer Club of America’s breeder directory or at a variety of breed-specific rescues located around the United States.
This organization wants to ensure that Giant Schnauzers are going to responsible and prepared homes and ensure that this breed doesn’t end up in shelters.
Those who prefer to adopt their dogs from rescues will want to check out The Hertha Thomas-Zagari Giant Schnauzer Rescue, the G.I.A.N.T. Schnauzer Rescue Network, and the Schnauzer Rescue of the Carolinas.
These are some of the best-known Giant Schnauzer rescues in the United States.
The Hertha Thomas-Zagari Giant Schnauzer Rescue was founded in 2000 by Carolyn Janak in memory of Hertha Thomas-Zagari, who was incredibly passionate about the breed.
This 501(c)(3) organization operates in all 50 states, helping hundreds of dogs successfully find homes and promoting healthy and ethical breeding.
The organization is nearly completely run by volunteers and is able to save this breed nationally thanks to its network of foster homes and breeders.
They also have a network of responsible breeders in order to help preserve the breed.
The G.I.A.N.T. Schnauzer Rescue Network is a network of foster homes and breeders who work together towards a similar goal as HT-Z Rescue.
This rescue network’s name stands for “Giants In Action Networking Together” and hopes to inform the public about the risks and joys that come with the Giant Schnauzer breed.
Although they may not solely focus on Giant Schnauzers, the Schnauzer Rescue of the Carolinas is a rescue that looks to help rescue and responsibly rehome all three breeds of Schnauzer.
Sadly, the Schnauzer Rescue of the Carolinas only allows residents of the Carolinas, Virginia, and East Tennessee to adopt its dogs.
Are Giant Schnauzers Hypoallergenic?
Yes, Giant Schnauzers are hypoallergenic dogs that barely shed or drool.
While no dog is truly allergen-free, Giant Schnauzers are perfect for those who are looking for a dog with low amounts of dander, drool, and shedding.
Those who are looking to keep dog-based allergens to a minimum will need to groom their dog regularly and understand that Schnauzer’s unique coat takes meticulous grooming scheduling.
Schnauzers of any breed need to be brushed daily and will need a bath at least once a month, but they may need more baths if they tend to live a messier lifestyle.
Potential owners of Giant Schnauzers will need to be mindful of their nails, ears, teeth, and skin to help identify when their dog may be experiencing medical problems early on.
Luckily, Giant Schnauzers have vastly fewer medical problems than their Miniature counterparts.
Although Giant Schnauzer may not develop issues like Urolithiasis as frequently as Miniature Schnauzers, they are still prone to Legg-Perthes Disease.
This disease damages the top of the femur and leads to severe hip and joint pain.
These dogs are also prone to suffering from cataracts, entropion, glaucoma, skin allergies, pancreatitis, kidney stones, myotonia congenita, progressive renal atrophy, hypothyroidism, retinal dysplasia, Cushing’s Disease, pulmonic stenosis, sick sinus syndrome, and mitral valve insufficiency.
Although these dogs are hypoallergenic, it is important to budget for grooming and veterinary expenses before considering adding one to your household.
These dogs take a lot of research and canine behavioral understanding to own responsibly.
Are Giant Schnauzers Hard To Train?
Yes, Giant Schnauzers are incredibly difficult dogs to train due to their intelligent and oftentimes defiant nature.
Even the American Kennel Club describes raising these dogs as “challenging,” but the kind of loyal and obedient Giant Schnauzer that occurs when raised properly is incredibly rewarding.
With this breed being capable of growing to nearly 100 pounds, they are powerful dogs that need a constant stream of mental stimulation and frequent exercise.
Since these dogs were bred to work, they need jobs in order to be kept occupied enough to find their own idea of “work” like destructive or overly protective tendencies.
Despite their rambunctious nature, Giant Schnauzers are still considered to be highly trainable dogs who are capable of complex tasks.
Thanks to their intelligence, they are becoming a more common choice for those in need of service dogs.
However, it’s important to ensure that your dog isn’t too hyper if you want to be able to teach tasks or modify their behavior.
Giant Schnauzers are best for potential owners who lead active lifestyles with plenty of activities like swimming, running, or hiking.
A dog that is too hyper to focus won’t gain anything from training sessions.
It’s also important to ensure that your Giant Schnauzer is getting enough mental stimulation, which can be achieved through a variety of mind-testing toys, task training, or playing sports.
Giant Schnauzers are incredibly loyal and protective dogs by nature.
It’s important to socialize your Giant Schnauzer from an early age because they tend to get fiercely protective of their loved ones that need to be maintained.
By showing your dog what to expect when a guest comes to your home, you can quickly train your Giant Schnauzer to know the difference between friends and potential security threats.
Are Giant Schnauzers Really Used By The FBI?
Giant Schnauzers are not used by the FBI, but they have a rich history of serving the Air Force as military service dogs.
Giant Schnauzers were first introduced to the United States Air Force during World War II, but they were swapped out for the more accessible German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever for decades.
This bearded breed would make its return to the Air Force in the 1980s, and they are continually used in the military to this day.
The White House Air Force staff currently has a Giant Schnauzer named Brock in its ranks.
Brock is 98 pounds and is nearly pure black, with the exception of a few dark brown hairs in his iconic beard.
Under the supervision of Sergeant Dominick Young, Brock is dual certified as an odor protection and patrol training dog who works on the Air Force One.
Brock is the first Giant Schnauzer to rise to such high ranks in over 30 years.
The training that military dogs must go through is incredibly difficult, meaning many of the dogs that the military trains don’t end up earning positions within the military.
Like all other Department of Defense dogs, Brock was trained at the 341st Training Squadron, Joint-Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
Although Brock earned the reputation as the hardest dog to train at the base, he ended up joining the Air Force after his biting tendency led him to get dual-certified.
When Sergeant Young first took Brock on as his partner, Brock’s stubborn nature made him ignore most of Young’s commands at first.
However, the pair was able to bond on Young’s days off.
The human and canine partners only have about 45 to 90 days of training to bond, but Young was willing to do whatever it took to earn Brock’s respect.
Despite his stubborn nature, Brock has now served the President.
What Breed Of Dog Does The FBI Use In Real Life?
The FBI prefers to use Labrador Retrievers because of their mellow nature and ability to thrive even while gaining attention from the public.
Labs are known for their reliable natures and how easily they can be trained.
Although some television shows or movies about the FBI may show them using German Shepherds like most police forces, German Shepherds have a tendency to be too aggressive for the jobs that the FBI needs its canine units to complete.
The FBI didn’t introduce canine units to its ranks until 1999, but instead, it began contracting trained dogs and their handlers.
Since joining the FBI, the canine units are seen as just as important and respected as the human officers.
While most FBI K9s are able to retire to become family dogs, those dogs who have been killed in the line of duty are memorialized on a wall in Quantico and are buried in steel coffins.
Luckily, a very small number of FBI dogs end up dying suddenly due to their work.
FBI working dogs are trained to detect about 19,000 different types of explosives.
These dogs’ noses are so finely tuned that they can smell a teaspoon’s worth diluted in a swimming pool and are even trained to detect chemicals that can create explosives.
Dogs like Tank from FBI International play a crucial role in keeping our country safe.
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