Dogs...good or bad idea?

Excellent topic!!
Personally I have three dogs. A Husky,a Lab/Shepard mix pup,and a HUGE Rottie...
The rottie has been trained as a service dog, he has only barked 5 times in his 4 years,and it's been one big WOOF when danger was near.
The husky, we rescued from an abusive situation,he is the most loyal and protective.He also brings back 'love offerings' when he goes off lead, so I know he would provide meat if I needed him to.
The pup I am training to be another service dog; it comes in very handy for a dog to be able to carry things, open doors and know how to pull a human to safety and retreive things their human asks them to.
I agree with the more than one dog theory, which is why I have three, they sleep with us humans and keep us warm and the husky is very protective of my kids,even more so than the rottie
I believe they are more of an asset than a liability in SitX
Most of it has to do with how you train your dogs...mine are trained to be multi taskers
Each one has his own backpack and trains with them on,they also have their own B.O.B.s
Again,excellent topic! I'm glad to see others see four legged creatures as an asset and not just another mouth to feed.
C'mon, we train our kids,right? You wouldn't get rid of your child just because they need to eat!
Each memeber of a 'family unit' is valuable,whether two or four legged, each one of us has duties we carry out.
I hope this makes sense...I really need to have my coffee first before logging onto ATS in the morning.

reply to post by Anuubis

Anuubis, that's pretty much like a full-blood Timber wolf. Like I said, thanks to Little Red Riding Hood, the Wolfman, the concept of lycanthropy, and other superstitious nonsense, when one considers a wolf, they only think of their capabilities, not the actualities.

When brought into a family as a cub, they know, regardless of how big and powerful they are, that they are subservient to every other member of their "pack."

Since the thread I thought was the ideal SHTF dog, then based entirely on experience with owning many dogs, the wolf is ideal. And in the wild, you don't have to feed him. He likely will help feed you.

No greater protection, no greater loyalty, no greater companion, no greater "survival associate."


[edit on 23-11-2008 by dooper]

reply to post by wigit


I am gonna go with the standard poodle. Very intelligent. You need an intelligent family dog that can hunt.And I think if you don't give them funny haircuts that they can tolerate the winter well too.


My second choice is a bichon.

LOL j/k

You have to be very careful selecting a breed that will be completely safe around small children, especially when you are considering a protective working dog.

Our mixed shep lab was amazing for disposition and quite effective running off unwanted
critters here in the forest.
Unfortunately she was also a walking hair machine, shedding twice a year.
The problem with large breeds is that they do not live as long as most smaller breeds
and they do eat more.

In a true survival situation, where you want protection and a hunting dog, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is the ultimate breed.
They are known for hunting lions and tigers in packs and they are known to lay down their life
to protect their owners.
The problem with owning a breed like this is making certain you have absolute control
of your dog, because they truly are fearless to a fault.

It is becoming more and more difficult to find pure bread dogs that are free of problems caused by over breeding.

The trainers at CIA told me they are spending between $2000.00 and $3,500.00
for guaranteed lab and shep pups that are free of common over breeding issues.

One of the best all around family dogs is the Boarder Collie.
Highly intelligent with amazing energy and a great working dog.

I also agree that a Poodle or Jack Russell are excellent breeds around the family.

Huskies are great, but they like to roam. so I'd stick to a female if you don't have
a fenced in yard.

In my opinion if i could choose any breed to take into the forest it would have to be the Alaskan Malamute, full blood. This is hands down the best possible dog to have by your side in any situation.

Mind you, im assuming im surviving out of doors in Canada. If i was going to be in a temperate-hot climate i would take a Jagdterrier or two. Gutsy and strong.

[edit on 24-11-2008 by Retikx]

This is a supurb post!

I'm hoping that my Rottie does me just fine. If the weather gets a bit cold I even got a OD sweater for her.

I have to applaud the author of this post because I have been thinking about the subject for over an hour. Afteer all, I think that's the least any post should do... Make one think.

I guess it's a toolbox. Those who are well versed with dogs see their advantages and how to minimize their disadvantages.

It could be a little more than a bit ironic that most movies that are apocolyptic always have a guy with a dog (Mad Max, I Legend, etc.) The companionship they offer as well as the utilitarian needs they fill are amazing.

I chose my Rottie because of their loyal nature and the ability to draft (pull a cart).

Again, I must give a nod of appreciation for how deep a thread this one can be if one were to look beyond and think of themselves on their own. A dog, in my eyes, would be a must.

reply to post by BlackOps719


I suspect that having dogs is a good idea for many of you but, suggest you look up what the American Indians preferred because I expect that many of you and your neighbors will be eating them inevitably.

If you think this is harsh, know that we who live in the forests and open lands of America do not want you city dwellers and suburbanites coming out here to live off our lands and since most of you barely know how to boil water, the idea of going out to survive in the "Public Lands" is hard work beyond your limited skill set.

In your life time, your degrees will not be worth the paper they are printed on, as will be the dollars you may have been able to horde.

No, reading a survivalist books, buy a guns and a dog is not for most of you; it is not your karma. Instead, I expect you will be chipped and do as the government says to survive because when it comes down to it, most of you would do anything to survive.

So, when they crash the dollar and require you to be chipped, just get in line. Don't worry about the human race, the very best will survive and in maybe a hundred years when most of you and yours are gone, mankind will go on to the next step in its evolution on a planet that will have come back to life after being torn apart for so long by the descendants of a race of slaves.

I would speak of turning it all around, of mankind making the changes it needs to but I believe it is too late and 3/4 of the world's population will die horribly and more horribly with many having the blood of their brothers and sisters on their hands and written on their souls for eternity.

What so few realize is there is no such thing as forgiveness; we are all responsible for what we do and do not do; that the cycle of reaping what you sew is inescapable; there are no secrets; everything is known, you are just not able to realize it.

Balance will come again, mankind will go on and at some point will be fit to join the community of life that is everywhere in the universe.

I cant stand dogs...so id probably leave that out.In an apocalyptic scenario id probably eat a dog rather than making it my companion,no doubt has its advantages but i could live without them i think.

[edit on 29-11-2008 by Solomons]

reply to post by Solomons


lol in a apocalyptic world, cruel owners would abandon their dogs, these dogs would band together into large, hungry packs and I shall tell you now you will be the one that is eaten.

No-one ever thinks about the pack scenario in Sit-X I can see it as quite a threat myself, luckily for most people in New Orleans the floods stopped such events from occurring otherwise we’d be seeing people getting eaten alive.

Originally posted by spitefulgod
No-one ever thinks about the pack scenario in Sit-X I can see it as quite a threat myself,

Actually its a topic we talked about very early on when the ATS survival forums first started. I will look for the thread. and try to post it here.

Originally posted by dooper
Anuubis, that's pretty much like a full-blood Timber wolf. Like I said, thanks to Little Red Riding Hood, the Wolfman, the concept of lycanthropy, and other superstitious nonsense, when one considers a wolf, they only think of their capabilities, not the actualities.





Theres not much i don't know about wolves. They are my favorite animal and i've studied them my whole life. Yes, they are the perfect companion in a wilderness survival situation. And if you are lucky, and know what you are doing, it's not hard to befriend them in the wild. If you can get them to accept you then you will be one of the pack. And that's a good thing. I have a pack i've been working on for awhile, and i'm to the point i can be within about 50 yards from them. They are grey wolves though, not timber wolves.

[edit on 30-11-2008 by Anuubis]

[edit on 30-11-2008 by Anuubis]

Hi All

I would say its all in the training of the animal. In sit x i would want a companion as a well as a co-worker. Wolf type breeds that arent bred and domesticated enmass, in sit x if it came to you or them could there own self preservation /survival instincts become an issue if it was a you or them situation.

Some smaller breeds like Jack Russells are good hunters, going down bunny holes and catching small prey plus they have smaller food consumption.

Big Dogs have big bellies and like atheletes their condition must be maintained to be effective.

Australian Sheep dogs, kelpies are easy to train and great workers also.

Saying all of that I have to go with Sharpeis

As the mum of 2 SharPeis if the SHTF they are coming with me. I can say they are easliy trainable and adapt to your lifestyle. ie. They dont require a run up a mountain every day just so they will sleep or not dig up your yard. They are active when you are. Mine can sleep like koalas (23hrs a day) but when we are doing something they are active until its time to stop. They have webbed paws and are highly dextrous and can handle some things almost humanlike, catching things while on hind legs with their handy paws and holding things in certain ways to make it easier to eat or play with or move.

Plus they are the cutest puppies in the world.
I couldnt resist the photo op

This is Henry Wrinkler and Mia Furrow (Mia is the chocolate one)



files.abovetopsecret.com...

themuse

[edit on 30/11/2008 by themuse]

[edit on 30/11/2008 by themuse]

[edit on 30/11/2008 by themuse]

Originally posted by spitefulgod
reply to post by Solomons

 

lol in a apocalyptic world, cruel owners would abandon their dogs, these dogs would band together into large, hungry packs and I shall tell you now you will be the one that is eaten.

No-one ever thinks about the pack scenario in Sit-X I can see it as quite a threat myself, luckily for most people in New Orleans the floods stopped such events from occurring otherwise we’d be seeing people getting eaten alive.

You forget two points, Yes dogs will form packs and become feral, returning to their wolflike state, First wolves dont attack men, theres not been one recorded case in two hundred years of Alaskan or siberian Timber wolves attacxking men for food, two the packs will onluy have a finte sources of fod to east, Carrion from dead humans, cats and other small mammals etc, in time their numbers will fall to sustainable numbers.

reply to post by Northern Raider


These aren't wolves they are hungry domesticated dogs with a pack mentality, it would only take one dog to attack you and the others will follow and once they've done it once they'll do it again.

20 people die in the US a year from dog attacks
6,000 are hospitalised and 320,000 require treatment although this is nothing as these attacks are not a result of hunger nor prey drive

Sorry a pack of dogs while if i was somehow seriously injured and without any weapons could most certianly rip me to shreds,in good health and with a weapon? very much doubt it.Plus it *would* be a good source of food,since so many families have dogs and they are nutritionally good for you and basically taste like chewy fatty pork and not unpleasent at all.

As a dog I think we are a great idea. Of course I am bias but I honestly don't know what you humans would do without us... you are so clueless.

Originally posted by Solomons
Sorry a pack of dogs while if i was somehow seriously injured and without any weapons could most certianly rip me to shreds,in good health and with a weapon? very much doubt it.

I don't want to insult you, but you really don't know what your talking about. I on the other hand do. Training dogs is what I did for more years then I care to remember.

If that pack decides your going down and it is a large pack. guess what "Welcome to the bottom of the food chain." There are ways to fight them but you have to remember these dogs know our tricks. that makes them more dangerous then a pack of wolfs. We taught them to be smart.

If you have a weapon great use it on alpha. as long as the alpha dog is up and fighting the others will be to. Remember this. the alpha isn't alpha just because there bigger then the rest. They are smarter then the rest as well. Any way A little food for thought for you.

Originally posted by angryamerican

Originally posted by Solomons
Sorry a pack of dogs while if i was somehow seriously injured and without any weapons could most certianly rip me to shreds,in good health and with a weapon? very much doubt it.

I don't want to insult you, but you really don't know what your talking about. I on the other hand do. Training dogs is what I did for more years then I care to remember.

If that pack decides your going down and it is a large pack. guess what "Welcome to the bottom of the food chain." There are ways to fight them but you have to remember these dogs know our tricks. that makes them more dangerous then a pack of wolfs. We taught them to be smart.

If you have a weapon great use it on alpha. as long as the alpha dog is up and fighting the others will be to. Remember this. the alpha isn't alpha just because there bigger then the rest. They are smarter then the rest as well. Any way A little food for thought for you.

Sorry,i agree dogs are pretty smart but not as much as people think,pigs outsmart dogs by quite a margin.With my intellect,in good health and a weapon.Im sorry but a pack of dogs wouldnt stand a chance....Good you train dogs etc..but if i was looking for a food source it would be pretty easy to kill a pack of dogs.Without a weapon? yip id be pretty much toast..But humans use tools and technology and not brute force,teeth and claws hence the weapon.

Originally posted by Anonymous ATSI suspect that having dogs is a good idea for many of you but, suggest you look up what the American Indians preferred because I expect that many of you and your neighbors will be eating them inevitably.

The people that say "yeah I will get me a dog, if I be gettin' hungry dogs make good food". Well for that matter so do children. Or maybe that scenario could be a great source of dog food! Puppy barks, hungry neighbors come by, and POP! Dog food for a week! They have strong stomaches, they could survive off an unrefrigerated corpse for a few days.

As far as breeds, I can only speak about those dogs I have lived with. Australian Shepherds are probably the smartest, all around best family dogs.

But I had to choose I would probably go for a large pit bull mix. Many dogs have too high of a prey drive to be trusted (they could run off, get hurt, all sorts of things). For personal protection, especially if the dog was your main companion, Pits are very nice as they are fearsome defenders yet also quite "cuddly" and would be happy to snuggle with their owners to share body heat all night as needed, and that would be a consideration for me. Many protective/hunting breeds don't make such great cuddlers (too macho/hyper/hot blooded).


[edit on 30-11-2008 by Sonya610]