best dog breed for the woods

I used to have an old Border Collie Joshua and he was an incredible dog.

So smart.

I was never afraid to take him anywhere and I could call him back from literally hundreds of yards away no matter how excited he was.

He was a bigger dog about 60 lbs and if somebody pulled into the driveway he wouldn't let them out of the car but as soon as I said "ok" he was totally turned off.

He loved goats and was really protective of baby goats and he loved my cats(I'm really a cat person)

I've had 3 border collies since and they were all too hyper and just didn't have the attention span of Josh. Got them same age, tried to train them the same way.

He was the only dog I ever had in the woods I felt was an asset.


On the predator thing. I also have Great Pyrenees. Definately not an obediance dog but a good livestock protector if bonded. Here's the thing with the guardian type animals. It's not really their size that deters predators but their barking.

So really probably a dog that barks a lot at night is probably better than a big silent dog.
 
Why would a dog tire out before a human would? People have been saying that big heavy dogs would tire out fastly but dosen't a dog have more stamina than a person.
 
Hoodcanal5 said:
Why would a dog tire out before a human would? People have been saying that big heavy dogs would tire out fastly but dosen't a dog have more stamina than a person.
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Not necessarily. If I hike 1 mile, my dog probably hikes 5 miles in the same distance, by his roaming back and forth. He doesn't just follow me at heel.
 
Oddly, I have 2 Siberian Husky's that aren't worth a darn. They are great pets but they would open the door and let a burglar in. One is 72 pounds and the female is around 50. They eat, sleep and shed constantly. Now, my Jack Russell would eat one of their elbows off if they acted like the were going to be aggressive with me. I guess he never got the memo that he is small. He sure doesn't seem to know it. :)
 

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Hoodcanal5 said:
Pound for pound would most people say that jack russells are the toughest dogs
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jacks are tough little buggers for sure but I believe pound for pound title goes to a paterdale terrier or a game breed pit
 
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I find that mini schnauzers are also very tough for little dogs. They are very strong for their size. They are also extremely fast and they don't tire easy. I don't know if the whole breed is like this but mine has been in quite a few fights because he is pretty agressive. Hes has even wooped a small full grown boxer and a bulldog. He is a great watchdog. Any of the mini schnauzer owners have dogs similar.
 
Hoodcanal5 said:
Pound for pound would most people say that jack russells are the toughest dogs
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They are very tough for their size. They could not go toe to toe with a Pitt or Rott but they sure are scrappy. I can't tell you how many times one of the Husky's goes tearing through the house with Dexter firmly attached to their neck by his teeth. And don't even let one of them walk in the bedroom when I'm asleep. He is stuck to me like glue and comes up growling and snapping. It's pretty funny really. The Husky's have so much hair that they hardly notice him hanging off their throat. :D
 
Great pic's Thanks all. I think first and foremost you should have a dog that you like and likes you. If it likes you it will protect you from anything or at lest it will try. I like German shepherds and Labs. I never owned one but I knew a Anatolian shepherd once. I believe they were bread to protect from wolfs and bears. Please let us know what you get.
 
Hoodcanal5 said:
I find that mini schnauzers are also very tough for little dogs. They are very strong for their size. They are also extremely fast and they don't tire easy. I don't know if the whole breed is like this but mine has been in quite a few fights because he is pretty agressive. Hes has even wooped a small full grown boxer and a bulldog. He is a great watchdog. Any of the mini schnauzer owners have dogs similar.
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Our Mini is a female. She is a good dog (most of the time) very fast and a little pushy with other dogs. She has been in no real fights but she caught a mouse once and loves to chase squirrels. Also the only dog I ever had that wants to be under the covers in bed.
 
mine has killed lots of rats and has gone head to head with a coon and defeated it without a scratch. He like to be in bed with people and is the most affectionate dog I have ever seen.
 
Great Pyrenees are excellent guard dogs/hiking buddies, but they tend to roam while hiking. Karellian bear dogs aren't that large, but are good at discouraging bears. I would have to say maybe a couple of Boerboels might be the ticket, they are large, strong, loyal, and will stick with you in the woods... don't know about the cold though.
 
I grew up in western N.C. and always had a pitbull . They are fantastic dogs. They are loyal, strong , very athletic, and make great family pets. I am not talkin about these oversized muscled out freaks some are breeding today . I am talkin the old school american bulldog. check out the Old Family Rednose bloodline.........beautiful dogs.
 
Well, I had my Rott with me this weekend for some woods time. Mountains of VA... Crabtree Meadows, to be exact. He's 8 years old, partially lame in his right front leg (from an injury he received as a pup from our other Rott, who is now gone), and carried some of his own gear in saddle-bags. He kept up with our hiking with no problem. I will admit that we weren't hiking fast (had our 4 y.o. with us), and we didn't go on any marathon hikes. But he didn't tire out any faster than I did. He won't be running any half-marathons with us, but he's a good woods dog. When we both were younger, we both went longer and harder and carried more. He's just aged a little faster, as dogs do. He never has had a tendency to wander off, and this trip was no different.
 
What about Geat Danes? My aunt and uncle used to have a couple of these when they lived in MI and they were great outdoor dogs........
 
I have a new English Pointer and I think she would be a great woods dog. Lots of energy but will stay with me. She is big enough that she won't taken by a smaller predator but small enough not ever to get tired (and small enough for me to pick up and toss in the truck)
 
Here's my one year old female Lab. Great with the kids and seems to like foraging - in this instance, for apples :)

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