Dogs-Wilderness Survival Tools?

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PayetteRucker

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Aug 4, 2009
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My lease is up on my apartment and I am actively looking for a place as close to the mountains as I am now with a garage for a knifemaking shop that will also allow dogs. I've had some luck thankfully, hopefully will be signing a lease within the week. Looking at wolf, Norwegian Elkhounds and a few other working dog breeds that have long endurance, smarts and strong senses. I remember reading stories growing up of wild Saint Bernards keeping wayward climbers warm, dogs saving drowning children, dogs navigating when a hiker takes a wrong turn, early warning for bears, or even hunting for their owners. There are plenty of post your trail buddy pictures and which breed should I get threads, and really don't want this to head that way, but I was just wondering if anyone had any stories about their pooch righting their failures or making life easier on the trail (other than obvious companionship)
 
Kinda sick, but when things have gotten rough and there happened to be a dog in the scenario I always found comfort that I had a loyal, relatively self sufficient, self-propelling and fresh as can be meat supply.
I have a black dog now... rumor is that black dogs taste better.
Hopefully I'll never find out.
 
PayetteRucker said:
My lease is up on my apartment and I am actively looking for a place as close to the mountains as I am now with a garage for a knifemaking shop that will also allow dogs. I've had some luck thankfully, hopefully will be signing a lease within the week. Looking at wolf, Norwegian Elkhounds and a few other working dog breeds that have long endurance, smarts and strong senses. I remember reading stories growing up of wild Saint Bernards keeping wayward climbers warm, dogs saving drowning children, dogs navigating when a hiker takes a wrong turn, early warning for bears, or even hunting for their owners. There are plenty of post your trail buddy pictures and which breed should I get threads, and really don't want this to head that way, but I was just wondering if anyone had any stories about their pooch righting their failures or making life easier on the trail (other than obvious companionship)
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A couple of times when on hikes, my Bull terrier ( Maisy ) , has suddenly stopped with her tail and ears down and refused to carry on in the direction I was heading. One such spot was where a man told me his dog had been chased off by a Cougar so I know they are definitely in the area. Was my dog warning me of a Cougar, I'll never know for sure but I do know that something was wrong for her not to continue on one of her favourite trails !
 
Remember its not what bread the dog is or even how big he is... Its more about you, how you would teach him how you would treat him. Then you might get lucky and get a very smart pup or a very stupid one both might be from the same breed. Seen plenty of good dogs been ruined by owners who dont have the time to train and teach a new pup and then complain that the dog is a bad dog.

Sasha
 
Dogs in the Wildness are useful, they are your extra set of eyes, they can pick up scent and hear things before we do. Bear, Cat and other critters don't seem to care for Dogs.

I've been taking my children to the woods before they could walk and they are very much at home in the forest because of their up bringing. They were in the range of 5 and up, when we went on a small hike walking thousands of feet away from the truck along a mountain ridge, just me and the kids and the Dog.
We stepped out on the mountain top look out to enjoy the view, we then turned and
walked about 50 to 75 feet when my one child yelled BEAR!
The next thing I see is our Dog (She was a Real Hunter) charges the Bear. I hear the Bear stomp the ground then turns and runs away from us with our Dog hot on it's heels. I take the children to the Truck thinking that Dog saved us from a Bear encounter and also that might have been last time I've seen our Dog. We get back to the truck and as I'm loading the kids in the Truck our Dog is returning from a job well done.
 
For many years, I've felt very comfortable going out in the boonies accompanied by anywhere from one to three Great Pyrenees. They very quickly, within hours, become 'attuned' to the campsite and after that, nothing, and I mean nothing comes within their sensory area without them alerting me/us. One Pyr is more than a match for a coyote or two and a pair of Pyrs give a black bear reason to retreat. I've seen them do it. They're smart enough not to directly engage a bear but they 'pester' it until it goes elsewhere. I'm sure there are other breeds equally good, we just happen to have Pyrs.
 
My favorite hiking partner is my dog Solstice. He's a Corgi/Cattle dog. He stays right with me, keeps his eyes and nose open and listens to my rambles. Couldn't ask for more. Thing is, WE, he and I have worked very hard to get to this point. He doesn't chase animals without permission, doesn't jump around and act like a dolt, doesn't bark unless it is critical and carries his own gear. He also tracks and is pretty good at agility courses. Dogs are great for the wilderness, but they need training, regardless of breed.
 
PayetteRucker said:
I was just wondering if anyone had any stories about their pooch righting their failures or making life easier on the trail (other than obvious companionship)
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All the fellas I run with have dogs. They are companions, but all of them have jobs too. Rufus tracks and runs down shot deer, I think he could run two days straight. Believe it or not, he is also a hell of a squirrel dog. He is super friendly towards people, but very territorial and aggressive towards other animals, including strange dogs. That has come in handy once for my Dad on a walk. He's damn sure comforting when tromping through the swamp.
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He's a hunter, not a one trick pony. He tracks what you put him on, critter or person.
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It don't matter where he has to go, either.
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A couple of guys have really good labs, I couldn't imagine duck hunting some places without them. My grandfather always had quail dogs. They were part of the family, and put meat on the table. Good bird dogs make a hunt. Folks around here use Pits in the swamp to catch wild hogs. Dogs were bread to do things people can't. I guess actually finding or retrieving game you are hunting would be an "upside."
 
My sister and brother in-law have two jack russsel terriers. The little female (Trio) goes down rabbit holes and will either flush one for the male (Jake) or she'll drag out a bunny herself. They're also excellent and very enthusiastic rat killers.

They do have an annoying habit of savaging the fish you catch. Jake watches your rod tip and he knows when you've got a fish on! When you get it to shore he goes absolutely berserk and tries to murder it!
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The dogs wanting to kill the dogfish.
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Jake will steal and eat your bait, squid, sandeel, rotting mackerel heads, he'll eat them all! "Mmmmm....delicious fish guts" says Trio!
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When fishing they can sometimes be a hindrance, when wading across an estuary casting lures for bass, they follow you until they can't stand up and have to start swimming. Jake has the sense to swim for shore, but Trio swims round your legs begging to be picked up.

When rock fishing Jake is a very kind and considerate dog. He always checks on the straggler of the group (me) and guides you across the easiest paths. You can see how making your way across a boulder field and back up the cliffs in the dark could be a nightmare. But thankfully even in the dark you can just make out the white patches on Jake's coat.

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I had a half beagle who use to get real nervous when coyotes were close. Not that I was afraid of them but he was. I always knew when there were some near cuz his hair would stand up and he would stay by me.
 
I've heard that Elkhounds take a lot of work to make into a companion type animal. I think it was Elkhounds.

I've heard stories of dogs fending bears off of owners, and I've also read stories where it appears the dog got in over its head and lead the bear back to its owner.

If you're the type that just has to have companionship, then a dog is probably a good idea for you -- if you're willing to invest the time and energy in properly training them not to go barrel-assing through the woods after a skunk instead of heeling at your side. And that's a buttload of work.
 
PR, please do a LOT of research before jumping on a wolf or wolf hybrid. There are a host of problems associated with trying to make a pet/companion out of an undomesticated predator. Also, if you are looking primarily for a woods companion, look for breeds that are highly trainable (especially recall) and not prone to aggression toward dogs, people or wildlife.

My new Akita pups will be getting their first taste of camping this weekend. Akitas are probably not an ideal breed for woods buddies because they don't tend to be trustworthy off leash and can be dog aggressive. (That being said, Ron Hood used to wander the woods with a pair of Akitas off leash.)

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I lost my shephard last year to bone cancer. He was my preferred woods buddy. Always scouted the area well, not getting more than about 40 feet from me running the perimeter. I am wanting another but work is busy and I dont have time to raise one correctly now. I am thinking about a mini golden doodle for my next. I need a barker/ monitor not a fighter. I am prepped for that nasty schtuff.
 
My Lab/Rotty mix is well either the dumbest or smartest dog I have ever been around. She is a giant goofball and when I take her along with me in the woods she is definatley bird crazy. Its hard to describe the dumb/smart factor but she trains very easily and retains it. At 100lbs she's a fairly large dog with the height of a lab but the head/chest more like a rotty. I def wouldnt not want her on my badside.

I dont have any heroic stories, she has on several occasions alerted ahead of me in the woods and not wanted to go places. We do have bears on the farm and whether or not she was keeping me away from them or something else I'll never know. But she's been a good dog and worthy of posting about:D

And here is my fav pic of her (need to take more)

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Dogs not only warn you of the four footed predators, but the two footed predators too. Of course, mine would tend to hide behind me if something came up on the trail.
 
I understand the dumb/smart factor of labs, for sure! And yes, I've been doing extensive research on breeds for a long time now and understand with many of the working dog species I'm after, it takes a LOT of time and effort. Since I'm jobless, alot of time and effort is what I have to invest. It'd be worth it to spend the next 10-15 years with an experienced trail companion though. Elkhounds (and wolves for that matter) have been domesticated working dogs for 5,000 years, so they must be trainable. I'm not looking for a cuddly lapdog and don't expect alot of affection, just something that can put out miles and take abuses of the trail. Fishshooter, Rufus looks like one hell of a dog. That's kinda what I'm looking for-go anywhere, do anything, no matter the terrain.
 
my Aussie/Border mix was great in the woods, or just out anywhere... except for the one time she chased a lizard into a cholla. my first Terv alerted me to a 'yote on one hike.

but now my second Terv is still getting used to things. they've all been rescues, but this one needs to be on a lead until we get to the dog park, then she wanders the [ark instead of sticking by me. she's NOT ready for the boonies yet.
 
fixer said:
my Aussie/Border mix was great in the woods, or just out anywhere... except for the one time she chased a lizard into a cholla.
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awesome combination, this is my landlord's dog and she's got the best temprament of any dog I've ever seen. I haven't written off one of these either.
 
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