Ultimate Survival Dog ?

[duxdawg]

Just make sure it's one with enough meat on it to keep you going.

Eat a dog and it only feeds you once. Train a dog well and it will feed you every day. A good dog teamed with a good trapper, hunter & gatherer will put food on the table more days than not. Especially in WROL situations.

That food is in addition to being an alarm system, armed (well toothed anyhow) guard, self propelled heater, etc.

That being said, I have no issue with eating any critter. Have eaten from worms, grubs, snails, mice, frogs, snakes, etc to bears and most things in between.

 

[leghog]

Eat a dog and it only feeds you once. Train a dog well and it will feed you every day. A good dog teamed with a good trapper, hunter & gatherer will put food on the table more days than not. Especially in WROL situations.

That food is in addition to being an alarm system, armed (well toothed anyhow) guard, self propelled heater, etc.

That being said, I have no issue with eating any critter. Have eaten from worms, grubs, snails, mice, frogs, snakes, etc to bears and most things in between.

So is the OP a good trapper, hunter & gatherer? There comes a time to eat the dog. Even many native American groups who held dogs in high esteem knew this. When their supply ran low even the Corps of Discovery was able to restock dogs for meat from many different groups of people across much of the continent.

 

[duxdawg]

So is the OP a good trapper, hunter & gatherer?

Dunno, never spent any woods time with him.

There comes a time to eat the dog.

I never said there wasn't. In a grid down situation, stray cats and dogs will likely make up a large portion of my diet.

Merely pointed out that a well trained dog will put food on the table more days than not. Most of mine have and that is under the current rules, which are quite restrictive. Under survival rules, they'd put even more on the table. Also that dogs can have more uses than just hunting or to be eaten.

 

[duxdawg]

As much as I like dogs in a survival situation they're pretty well going to be another liability that you need to find food and water for.

Not at all. Just because some only think of them as couch potatoes eating from a bag of kibble does not mean that is all they are capable of.

Most strays do well, except for cars and parasites. Remember that they are almost omnivores in that they can eat a lot of the same things we do... and quite a bit that we won't. Stray dogs are numerous in many Third World countries. In wide spread and/or long term survival scenarios, they will be here as well.

 

[Grayzer86]

I have a Jack Russel that is crossed 50/50 with Pitbull. Therefor he is not full pitbull size but doesn't know it haha. He is extremely alert and very good as a means of warning or guarding. He still has the jack russel drive to hunt and catch like a boss but the pitbull mixed in makes him a bit larger and more up to the task. At about 35-40lbs hes still small enough not to eat too much, but large enough that he is incredibly strong and muscular.

 

[Danke42]

Not at all. Just because some only think of them as couch potatoes eating from a bag of kibble does not mean that is all they are capable of.

Most strays do well, except for cars and parasites. Remember that they are almost omnivores in that they can eat a lot of the same things we do... and quite a bit that we won't. Stray dogs are numerous in many Third World countries. In wide spread and/or long term survival scenarios, they will be here as well.

OK so sum up what the dog can do for you in a survival situation. We already defined survival and it means you're at imminent risk of injury or death.

For any pluses of it keeping your spirits up or helping you stay warmer at night you'll have the minus of adding extra complexity of keeping yourself and the dog alive.

 

[Chignecto Woodsman]

Not if the dog can work your smartphone and post 'HELP' on bladeforums, or maybe bark in morse code. Some dogs may even be able to speak 'Siri'...

 

[duxdawg]

OK so sum up what the dog can do for you in a survival situation.

Clearly you have not been paying attention. That has been adequately covered in this thread.

We already defined survival and it means you're at imminent risk of injury or death.

"We"??? Got mice in your pocket? Have detected no such consensus in this thread. Indeed, quite the opposite.

For any pluses of it keeping your spirits up or helping you stay warmer at night you'll have the minus of adding extra complexity of keeping yourself and the dog alive.

I've already done my homework. Sounds like it's time you did yours.

 

[ichor]

Clearly you have not been paying attention. That has been adequately covered in this thread.
"We"??? Got mice in your pocket? Have detected no such consensus in this thread. Indeed, quite the opposite.
I've already done my homework. Sounds like it's time you did yours.

Give it up duxdawg. Clearly the man has never owned a good dog, one that does anything except eat kibble. LOL

 

[Danke42]

Give it up duxdawg. Clearly the man has never owned a good dog, one that does anything except eat kibble. LOL

Clearly you have not been paying attention. That has been adequately covered in this thread.
"We"??? Got mice in your pocket? Have detected no such consensus in this thread. Indeed, quite the opposite.
I've already done my homework. Sounds like it's time you did yours.

Well lads, inform me. Answer my question with what your canine experience and survival know how is. Then we can pitch a couple typical survival situations and you can role play.

I look forward to it being educational. Also no need for guesses about what I know about handling a well trained dog; I'm good.

 

[Codger_64]

Clearly you have not been paying attention. That has been adequately covered in this thread.
"We"??? Got mice in your pocket? Have detected no such consensus in this thread. Indeed, quite the opposite.
I've already done my homework. Sounds like it's time you did yours.

Politeness among friends counts. Please use more of it.

 

[vonrichthofen54]

Well this thread went way off course.

 

[Gottmituns78]

I had a neighbor in southern Cali where I grew up that had an Australian cattle dog.( people will call them Queensland heelers, blue jerker and red heelers as well, but it is all the same breed) he was the toughest dog I had ever seen. Killed three coyotes protecting a herd when I was 10, subsequently loosing and eye and would bay a bull without a moments hesitation when Irv gave him the command. Like people have already said, it depends on the task that is required but for all around, this is what my money would be on. But again there are many excellent options.

 

[HwangJino]

For me, I'll go with my dog, which is a jindo.
They have a very strong prey drive, capable of boar hunting, also they're used to hunt bears and tigers where they originate.
Also they make excellent guard dogs, never friendly to strangers and would die to protect me. Her mother routinely has fights with coyote packs, by herself, to protect her pups. She will max about 40 to 50 lbs.
Plus she knows to use a knife!

 

[MCS]

My first thought is the American pitbull terrier, second would be a patterdale. My next choices would be be curs and american bulldogs and some breeds of hound dogs.

Terriers tencancity will always keep them up there and a curs/hounds loyalty/smarts.....But nothing will beat gameness ever and there is only ONE that is GAME>. The End

 

[duxdawg]

Give it up duxdawg. Clearly the man has never owned a good dog, one that does anything except eat kibble. LOL

You are absolutely right Ichor. Danke42 has contributed nothing of value to this thread. Clearly trolling for attention. Pathetic.

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed valid thoughts in this thread. And for the pics! CricketDave's boxer and HwangJino's Jindo would have no problem getting food from me... though for very different reasons!! Lol.

 

[Danke42]

You are absolutely right Ichor. Danke42 has contributed nothing of value to this thread. Clearly trolling for attention. Pathetic.

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed valid thoughts in this thread. And for the pics! CricketDave's boxer and HwangJino's Jindo would have no problem getting food from me... though for very different reasons!! Lol.

Well no that's not quite true. I'm bringing a level head to this. I notice you've not answered my question yet.

We had a lovely round-table on here earlier about defining survival; I'll quote Survival = short term, improvising and doing whatever you have to do to stay alive until you are rescued. The primary objective is getting out, and/or getting rescued. So I'm sticking with that definition and trying to figure out how that dog will aid with rescue.

I also know a couple other things. Lots of talk here about dogs living off the land via dead stuff they find on the ground. When you change your dog's feed you upset it's digestion. You get your dog sick with parasites or other issues you'll have fun brushing all the matted diarrhea out of it's fur (you brought a brush right). Get it really wrong and suddenly you're carrying the dog out.

When you're working a dog outside you're responsible for that animal and you take care of it before seeing to your needs. So to me in a "survival" situation that's a burden; not an advantage.

My interest in this is that all the local trail crew will have a dog along on work parties. It could be quite easy for someone to get lost with a dog out here and wind up in a survival situation so if I can glean any advice out of this thread I will. Even if it's just leave the dog at home and worry about yourself.

 

[Sulaco]

Nfd538, best post of the thread, man! Laughed my nuts off!!

Ditto! Still laughing!

 

[Nfd538]

Deadskins? Really? Why would anyone do THAT to his dog? Surprised he didn't rip the sweater off and shit on it. He looks like he could do it if he really wanted to.

I prefer to call them them and how appropriate for the pic "the shitskins". He didn't shit on it but wiped his ass with it.

 

[baldtaco-II]

My starting point would always be a long dog / lurcher type thing.

It's not just that I love 'em and that they are my favourite type of dog, it is simply that for here they are brilliant. Not only have they been the tool of choice for the poacher in more recent times but history tells us how effective they are. In the dark ages a peasant was not allowed to have a dog that couldn't pass through a stirrup unless it was was hobbled by having its middle toes cut off. That's how useful they were in the long affray between poacher and landowner.

Broadly speaking they tick all the boxes that I would find useful. In no particular order.

1] Their cunning is widely known, and reflects their intelligence.
2] They don't tend to suffer the problems of inbreeding that the Victorians kindly gave us with their notions of breed standards and the whole canine eugenics thing.
3] They can provide more food than they consume.
4] They are not over-hard dipshit liabilities.
5] They are very happy to buddy up snugly bug and share body heat with you.
6] They are excellent companions.
7] The raison d'etre of the lurcher / long dog type is exactly this - “survival on the down low”.
8] They can carry their own water / food / clothing.

I'm sure I could generate more but I don't think I need to.

That said, I'm always wary of the “survival” type questions. Whilst I believe the above is the correct answer for a lot of scenarios it clearly doesn't cover all. What if I'm trying to survive in freezing cold water? A better answer for that would be a Newfoundland. The priorities would be not drowning and freezing rather than solving a hunger problem. Being attacked by a crocodile I probably want a big over-hard uber manly thing to lay down its life for me. Mebe a few. Holed up on the farm during a zombie apocalypse – mebe something like Dr Brian Plummer's Omega that did over a ton of rats in a year just on pest control, [or even a Plummer Terrier come to that]. How about in the desert? I can't work birds of prey so a sight hound of some description fits the bill, mebe an Afghan. And on and on.

In the most likely scenario for me though, which is short term and here, I'll just team up with a good long dog. If I had my pick of people I probably wouldn't be in a survival situation. And if you just stuck me with random plebs in many instances I'd take the dog over them. The dog would be better company and almost certainly takes instruction better. Plus, allowed to express itself it won't bore me shitless simply regurgitating what Mors, Adolph, JHC .etc apparently said.