WTF!?!? Dogs for SHTF

[Brandon Craig]

If their is a thread for this already I apologize.

Ok everyone I want to hear you opinions about the best dog for SHTF wether your bugging in or out.

Obviously with a dog you need dog food and water but I've seen those vests with more than adaquate storage for all the pet supplies. Also at what point would be the moment you decide to separate from your dog either because you cannot feed him anymore or because you need to eat ( I don't think I have to explain what that means).

A dog can also play a huge role in morale especially if you're alone, not to mention security. I would probably go with either a German Shepard or Rotweiller thats properly trained.

 

[jontte]

personally,I would stick with the dog as it would prolly stick with me,loyal companion to the end,more trustworthy than
most humans..
had I the possibility to choose,then it would be a mix-breed,fairly large and I would actually adopt one,a shelter dog,give it a home..
and I would separate from it only if it's badly hurt and there would be no chance to heal it.

 

[tmttactical]

While I really like animals, I am not a pet owner anymore. Any critters I would have in the future would be part of a future menu. Now if I could have a dog like in the movie "Hondo" (John Wayne version) then I might consider it. For a SHTF dog, it has to be silent, no barking, only a very low growl and mostly self sufficient. It needs to be able to catch it's own dinner in lean times. In an urban SHTF environment a dog is going to be more liability than benefit. In a rural setting it may be beneficial, if very well trained. I think a collie sized dog would be workable but the real big dogs are more viable for herd protection. Any sized dog can bark, growl, or bite, so the only advantage I see of a big dog, is if it needs to fight off very big critters. The bigger the dog, the more it will eat. I would rather own a dog that can catch it own meals, than haul it's own meals.

 

[Maverick]

I got 3 Rotties outside that watch over the live stock, they generally kill and eat the rabbits on the property. When it is cold outside they come in the mud room and the wife has food for them, overall they pretty self reliant.

 

[bigpaul]

probably i'm a bit different as I live in the UK and we don't have the large preditors you have in the US, I have always been a terrier owner, these breeds of dogs are good ratters and vermin killers, some like the Cairn terrier I had don't bark that much but are good warning dogs as they can hear and smell much further than any human.

 

[Brent S]

I think the larger dog might be hard to keep fed, so by that alone I prefer medium sized ones. Like jonette said, rescue dogs are my favorite, and have three right now. The love and companionship you get from them is worth the extra work by far. Yes, a good dog does provide some security too. As far as eating my dog though, would you eat your child or even another person?

 

[DrHenley]

`As far as eating my dog though, would you eat your child or even another person?

Well maybe not MY dog, but...
After all, I eat rabbit and dove, and I have had pet rabbits and I still have a pet dove. Amazingly, the dove has lived longer than any other pet I've ever had.

But if I were starving, I don't know that I would turn up my nose at this:

 

[Brent S]

Well maybe not MY dog, but...
After all, I eat rabbit and dove, and I have had pet rabbits and I still have a pet dove. Amazingly, the dove has lived longer than any other pet I've ever had.

But if I were starving, I don't know that I would turn up my nose at this:

Lol. Yeah, a stray dog is just meat possibly, just mine is off the menus!

 

[bigpaul]

post SHTF you might have to shoot stray dogs anyway before they become a worse problem so why not use the meat instead of letting it rot?

 

[Kevin L]

I think almost any healthy dog could be an asset post SHTF, but the key is recognize the dog as an individual and tailor your expectations accordingly.

For example, I live with my girlfriend who has a small maltipoo . . . not much larger than my cat.

Obviously, she can't be a guard dog that attacks on command, and would be useless for hunting.

However, she's very alert, she's territorial, and works as an excellent alarm system. She lets us know about people, other animals, etc. that come near the house, so she's a great burgler alarm. Being small, so only consumes a little food when compared to a large breed.

A friend at work has a golden retriever that seems to have excellent instincts for hunting. This dog is also very friendly and sociable, and would be very helpful post SHTF for traumatized children, and would probably help with depression and PTSD, yet I wouldn't expect her dog to be a good watch dog unless you want the intruder to get licked to death.

And so on.

In other words, I think any dog could be an asset, but how the dog would function depends on what kind of niche you give it.

 

[grayghost668]

dog will never be on my menu ,,,,,,as for what type of dog 25 to 50 lbs max for size,,,and you can't beat a mutt

 

[bigpaul]

I don't mind eating dog if its someone else's, there will be lots of strays post SHTF.

 

[Brent S]

Agreed Paul, never say never. In the book one second after the lead character killed his beloved dog when his pregnant daughter was suffering from malnutrition. It would always be my last choice as well, but survival is a pretty strong instinct.

 

[grayghost668]

sorry guys but just because the SHTF does not mean we forget who we are and nothing is sacred anymore,,,,,,,,,,eating the dog is like saying it is ok to eat a human,,,,,,,

 

[bigpaul]

dogs aren't human, and if we get packs of stray dogs after SHTF they could become a serious problem and we may have to cull them, so why waste the meat? I don't believe in cannibalism but a four legged animal is fair game. i'm not going to pass by a source of fresh meat.

 

[grayghost668]

do what you want,,,I don't have to live with it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but I am out in the woods some a-hole shoots one of my dogs he is now the hunted,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[bigpaul]

that's not what I said. i'm talking about packs of feral dogs.

 

[grayghost668]

most people have a strong attachment to their dogs,and look poorly on anyone who would do them harm ,,,,,,

 

[grayghost668]

that's not what I said. i'm talking about packs of feral dogs.

who decides if they are feral,,,,,,

 

[bigpaul]

better learn to tell before SHTF in that case before they attack you in a pack. i'll start shooting long before they get that close, how about you? don't you have wolves where you are?
I really think your splitting hairs.