Survival Dogs?

2258 Views 60 Replies 20 Participants Last post by Ron The Legend, 2 d ago

Oakleaf

Discussion Starter · 7 mo ago

My two current dogs are very old and I've been thinking about what kind of puppy to get as a replacement when they go on to the big kennel in the sky. Given that I feel we are looking at a SHTF situation any day, I'm basing choice of dog breed on things that would be important if that happened.
Hunting: if it's bad, dog food won't be available. Dog would probably have to rustle some of its own grub as well as help hunt creatures I could eat.
Guarding: don't want a vicious attack dog, but it would have to be able to sound an alarm if somebody came skulking around. You also wouldn't want a dog that's instant best friends with strangers.
Common sense: dog would have to be able to operate on its own at times if the people are involved elsewhere.
I have had Great Pyrenees and they are excellent guardian dogs, but don't hunt. Rat Terriers are great hunters but too small to hold their own against coyotes or feral dogs. I feel like Labs and Goldens are too friendly for their own good sometimes, and the herding breeds are smart but have no hunting instinct. My research is suggesting some kind of raccoon hound like a Bluetick or Redbone or possibly some kind of cur might work. I know these are what a lot of people in the past had on farms.
Thoughts? Sorry if this is posted elsewhere, I'm new and this is something I have been curious about for a while.

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Oakleaf

Discussion Starter · #21 · 6 mo ago

Anybody had anything to do with Norwegian Elkhounds? Here is some info on them: Norwegian Elkhounds: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em
I like how this site breaks down "if this behavior drives you insane, don't get this dog" into bullet points for quick reading. I don't believe I've ever been around one of these except for a dog somebody brings to walk around the flea market.

One of the things I'm worrying about is, in an economic collapse or mass scale attack from another country, where will dog food be coming from? I keep a 50 lb bag of Purina dry chow ahead and some canned food as a backup, but I'm guessing if it gets really bad the dogs will be having to hunt for ground squirrels, rats and whatever else they can catch for themselves.

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ncnascarlady

· #22 · 6 mo ago

I lived with one for 3-4 months when I first moved to Buffalo. Overall they're good alarm / guardian / protectors but can be very one person dogs. To the point where a family member can tell them to do something simple like move out of the way and the dog will glare at them and almost dare them to make the dog move. If their Person tells the dog to move at that point it will, only because it's person said to.

Their coat can be problematic when they lose their heavy coat twice a year. They can and do mat badly if you don't keep up with it regularly.

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Chef Duane

· #23 · 6 mo ago

Poodles are actually naturally attracted to water. They are German in origin having descended from the German Pfudel hunting dog. The tuft of hair on the head and on the tail was for their owners to be able to keep track of them when they were retrieving downed waterfowl offshore. It was the French who decided to turn them into companion dogs, and they do make excellent companion dogs. But the French went to extremes with the haircut and turned them into the oddities you see today in Kennel Club shows. And poodles are extremely smart, typically in the top 3 when if comes to obedience and work IQ. And they are excellent problem solvers. We've had 2 - Tennessee's Volunteer Smokey (yes, that was his actual name as he had AKC purebred parentage) and we currently have Huckleberry. Smokey lived to 17 and Huck is about 5-6.

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AK Hunter

· #24 · 6 mo ago

A small to medium sized dog would take less to feed, but if in a pinch would give back less meat in case you had to eat it when nothing else is avalible.

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Dan22

· #25 · 6 mo ago

Poodles are highly intelligent and trainable. That's why you see so many circus dogs are poodles.

My favorite is the Sheltie.

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Dan22

· #26 · 6 mo ago

Poodles are highly intelligent and trainable. That's why you see so many circus dogs are poodles.

My favorite is the Sheltie.

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Witsend

· #27 · 6 mo ago

AK Hunter said:
A small to medium sized dog would take less to feed, but if in a pinch would give back less meat in case you had to eat it when nothing else is avalible.

No way. He can eat me once I'm dead. I don't eat my friends.

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Ranger4

· #28 · 6 mo ago

I have trained everything from Wolf Hybrids to Rots, to black labs and German shorthairs to the little Schnauzers, we have two now. Probably the best and smartest I had, other than the wolf, was a mutt, looked like a cross between a pit and a bird dog, brindle in color. Got dumped off at our house when it was a couple months old, the snow was 6 foot drifts, somebody dumped it to die.

Any dog can be trained to alert. We live on a dead end road, our Schnauzers sound like gorillas when anyone comes. The downside is we have coyotes and bobcat on the place every week as we live on a game path. So, we do not let them out in the dark without an escort and we do not associate with other people much, so they are sounding aggressive to any animal or person. They kill rabbits and gophers and the occasional slow squirrel and they find every snake and armadillo and racoon and possum that happens by. Pretty funny to watch them bite an armadillo.

Big dogs eat a lot, little dogs do not. Just depends on what you want them to do. I suggest a smaller breed rescue dog, they will all be protective of their space and owners and all will alert to strangers. Smaller dogs are easier to keep indoors and you can place a chair or sofa near the windows and they will learn to patrol every window that has something for them to climb up on. Our young one sits on a bench seat in the kitchen which allows him a view of the entire back of the house and a couple acres. The old Schnauzer climbs up on the back of a recliner where he can see everything in the front of the house and 200-300 yards to the front in about a 180 degree angle. Basically that is their daily snooze location and they can see about 90% of any approach to our property. Not even a squirrel can pass buy without them telling us. Together they weigh under 40 pounds, not much to feed in a SHTF scenario.

There are no dumb dogs, just challenged trainers.

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animalspooker

· #29 · 6 mo ago

ncnascarlady said:
I lived with one for 3-4 months when I first moved to Buffalo. Overall they're good alarm / guardian / protectors but can be very one person dogs. To the point where a family member can tell them to do something simple like move out of the way and the dog will glare at them and almost dare them to make the dog move. If their Person tells the dog to move at that point it will, only because it's person said to.

Their coat can be problematic when they lose their heavy coat twice a year. They can and do mat badly if you don't keep up with it regularly.

Funny you say that. I used to have a German Wire-hair and he would abide by my every word, but wouldn't listen to anything my wife said. He just didn't listen to women.

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Cheesy

· #30 · 8 d ago

Title says - Survival dogs.....
Ok well to me when SHTF & think of a dog that will also back me up for use in the SHTF scenario.
I'll side to a bully breed.
Name speaks for them self, they're strong & willing to fight for you or protect you.
Many are the same size of weaker dogs.
So looking for a survival dog that can carry its weight (For us humans), be willing to attack if needed to protect owner & do damage !
Size wise & if trained they may be able take down big game.
Granted a Pit Bull is small & can meet all these needs, there's plenty of other bully breeds that can pack a punch !

To me if SHTF & looking at a dog use, it's for the dogs use of aggressiveness & kill game or ?, then able to carry weight. Last is food, bigger = more food.

BigEd63

· #31 · 8 d ago (Edited)

4 dozen debarked Chihuahuas...🤣 Sorry just kidding.

Breed is one thing but ANY over bred or improperly bred dog that looks good but is LACKING in both INTELLIGENCE for the breed and also PERSONALITY that fails to mesh with that of the owner will be TOTALLY WORTHLESS.

You'd be better off with a Welsh Corgi that has those better traits than any breed of larger working dog that's a brainless happy go lucky clown or attacks and barks all the time.

The next dog(s) I purchase will be like my first German Shepherd. I go in to adopt and if he or she bonds with me fairly quick. Sale/Adoption!
Trust me I know the look stance pretty well.

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Cheesy

· #32 · 7 d ago

When you meet someone with a Welsh Corgi, Chihuahua, Lab, Collie, Poddle etc...
Pretty sure you're not afraid of them. A good punch or man handle them, those dogs are worthless !
Bring a bully or Shepherd breed, now your taking about a survival dog !

As for barking for no reason = tends to be the little ones that bark excessive !
I've been around bully breeds for many years, if your not informed bully breeds are beyond pit bulls !
I'll take any bully breed dog over anything else for their love of family & protection

Chef Duane

· #33 · 7 d ago

We had a miniature poodle for 17 years. Great dog. He wasn't an 'emotional support dog' or any of that kind of BS, just a great companion dog. Whenever I walked him if another larger 'bully dog' (your words) got after him, he could pretty much hold his own. And if he couldn't and the bully was getting too agressive, well... that's why I carry.

Reactions: 4

PaleHawkDown

· #34 · 7 d ago

Oakleaf said:
My two current dogs are very old and I've been thinking about what kind of puppy to get as a replacement when they go on to the big kennel in the sky. Given that I feel we are looking at a SHTF situation any day, I'm basing choice of dog breed on things that would be important if that happened.
Hunting: if it's bad, dog food won't be available. Dog would probably have to rustle some of its own grub as well as help hunt creatures I could eat.
Guarding: don't want a vicious attack dog, but it would have to be able to sound an alarm if somebody came skulking around. You also wouldn't want a dog that's instant best friends with strangers.
Common sense: dog would have to be able to operate on its own at times if the people are involved elsewhere.
I have had Great Pyrenees and they are excellent guardian dogs, but don't hunt. Rat Terriers are great hunters but too small to hold their own against coyotes or feral dogs. I feel like Labs and Goldens are too friendly for their own good sometimes, and the herding breeds are smart but have no hunting instinct. My research is suggesting some kind of raccoon hound like a Bluetick or Redbone or possibly some kind of cur might work. I know these are what a lot of people in the past had on farms.
Thoughts? Sorry if this is posted elsewhere, I'm new and this is something I have been curious about for a while.

Huskies (and malimutes, and similar "wolf" breeds) are a great option within those parameters, but they are not built for Alabama, and are prone to skin problems, allergies and overheating.

A Queensland heeler might be a good choice; they are smart, can be independent, very much one-family-dogs who are very protective, and they can hunt as well as they can herd. They've got a bit of that wild dingo streak in them.

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Chef Duane

· #35 · 7 d ago

PaleHawkDown said:
... They've got a bit of that wild dingo streak in them.

Maybe the Dingo Ate Your Baby - YouTube

Sorry. Had to do it.

Reactions: 1

ncnascarlady

· #36 · 7 d ago

I don't know... I think I'll stick with the Great Pyrenees. Super loyal and bonded to their humans, a well socialized one will still kill or die for their people. Benjen has been hearing young coyotes lately and refuses to stay in at night because he is bound and determined to protect us from them and keep them out of his territory.

They are brilliant and want to learn so training them to pull small, not overloaded carts is possible. Or they can carry packs.

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Chef Duane

· #37 · 7 d ago

ncnascarlady said:
I don't know... I think I'll stick with the Great Pyrenees. Super loyal and bonded to their humans, a well socialized one will still kill or die for their people.

Agreed. Growing up we had a neighbor that had a GP. Sebastian. Great dog. Sweet, loyal, very friendly, and playful. Just a really good dog.

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rangerjd

· #38 · 7 d ago

I've always had dogs and my favorite breed is probably the heelers. Right now I have a Black Lab/Golden Retriever mix who is an incredible dog, but I don't think she could fend for herself. My other dog is a heeler. Her mom was a Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix and her dad is a Red Heeler. She could easily fend for herself. She kills more rats, mice, moles, gophers, snakes, etc, than any cat I've ever had. She is very protective of the chickens and the cats. She barks and runs after the coyotes, but doesn't Chase them into the woods, which is very smart of her. She about the size of a smaller coyote and probably wouldn't stand a chance against several of them. Her only flaw is she loves people, any and all people. Lol She's the only Heeler I've ever had than wasn't Leary of strangers. Most Heelers don't trust strangers, or little kids, but she loves everybody. One of the best kid dogs I've ever had. Both my dogs love kids. My grandkids can do anything they want to either dog and the dogs don't care, they just love them. Lol Anything moving in the woods and the Heeler alerts to it while the Lab mix sleeps. I have a long drive coming up to my property and the Heeler will let me know if someone is coming up it. She's a great dog, but won't frighten anyone away, unless your a rodent. Lol

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PaleHawkDown

· #39 · 6 d ago

ncnascarlady said:
I don't know... I think I'll stick with the Great Pyrenees. Super loyal and bonded to their humans, a well socialized one will still kill or die for their people. Benjen has been hearing young coyotes lately and refuses to stay in at night because he is bound and determined to protect us from them and keep them out of his territory.

They are brilliant and want to learn so training them to pull small, not overloaded carts is possible. Or they can carry packs.

Again, Alabama heat. You'd have to shave the dog from February through October, add oil to their food to aid skin protection, and they are prone to allergies and skin disorders down here. An "independent" dog is not one that has to go to the groomer each month and visit the vet half the year.

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Oakleaf

Discussion Starter · #40 · 5 d ago

PaleHawkDown said:
Again, Alabama heat. You'd have to shave the dog from February through October, add oil to their food to aid skin protection, and they are prone to allergies and skin disorders down here. An "independent" dog is not one that has to go to the groomer each month and visit the vet half the year.

I had three of them for, collectively, over twenty years. They were all outdoor only and lived at the barn all year, including during summer in north Alabama. None of them had allergies, which seems to be a genetic thing in certain bloodlines within the breed, like hip dysplasia in Golden Retrievers. None of them ever saw the vet except for regular shots, as far as I can remember. One of them did have an episode of ear mites once, but cooking oil in the ears smothers the mites and takes care of that easily. I didn't shave them because they have pink skin and can sunburn, but I did clip them shorter with a pair of hand shears like people have been using on sheep for centuries. The only reason I don't have another one now is I don't know of any good breeders who raise the puppies with livestock.

All in all, they were all really healthy dogs even in the heat. They were all healthy until shortly before they died of old age. I know a good many other people who have also had them with sheep and goats and had good results.

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