Good K9 Companions?

[DuskrayTroubador]

Thinking about it, having a dog with you in the bush, as a guerrilla, could be a very beneficial asset. Instant alibi is getting your dog some exercise if someone ever sees you. It's a good alibi if you get pulled over (plus cops tend to love dogs), and it can alert you to/protect you from threats, both four-legged and two.

So what traits would be ideal?

1. Quiet. The last thing we want is a dog who constantly barks and brings attention to itself. We want a dog who barks only when there is a need to.

2. Endurance. We need a dog who has the energy to keep up with us in the bush. It may also help to have a short-haired dog if you live in a place where the summers are very hot.

3. Obedient. It could be a nightmare if a dog didn't come, lay down, or stop barking when instructed to.

Right now I have a dog and love him dearly, but he is an old fella; he can't keep up out in the bush, especially in the heat.

I'm going to get a new pup this year, hopefully around September/October in order to have it grown a bit and trained by the time next season rolls around. I've been thinking of breeds (I've had dogs my whole life, multiple different breeds) that would be good both for guerrilla companions as well as life companions. I'm considering (in no particular order):

Rhodesian Ridgeback
Cane Corso
Akita (long hair may be an issue with the heat)
South African Mastiff (Boerboel) (not sure how quiet they are)
Dogo Argentino (the all-white coat may be a stealth concern)

These breeds are all require an experienced owner and consistent training, which is why I want to allow for at least 6 months of training before they can start coming with me into the bush.

Thoughts?

 

[mojave green]

Rescue dogs only for me.

 

[DuskrayTroubador]

Rescue dogs only for me.

Most of the dogs I've had have been rescues, but there is always a certain amount of unpredictability whenever you take one into your care. Habits can usually be corrected with training, but there is no certain telling how long that may take and early experiences (especially traumatic ones) are often much more of a project to correct.

In the bush as a guerrilla grower, having a dog can be great but any lapse in behavior on the dog's part can be a huge liability. With heightened stakes, I would rather get 1)a puppy that I can raise so that I don't have to worry about prior experiences or learned behavior and 2) a purebred so as to have a higher degree of predictability concerning what to expect in terms of temperament, endurance, etc.

This was originally posted in the Outdoor Growing forum because, though it is a pet thread, it is oriented towards pets as guerrilla companions as well as life companions, and that orientation should be kept in mind. I would actually prefer it if whoever moved it would move it back, as I know a few of the OD growers there have experience bringing their dogs with them into the bush.

 

[mojave green]

You never rescued a puppy? Get a rescue puppy. Your older dog will do most the training for you.

 

[nukklehead]

rescue dogs only.. they are part of your family and you protect them as so... dogs imo shouldnt protect you should protect them.. with large calibers and multiple rounds to the intruder.. hey if they wind up saving your ass thats gravy.. i hate people that use dogs for protection.. not against it.. just not my cup of tea.. i will protect my dog as above just as i would my family.. fwiw.. I think they know what to do if the shit really hit the fan and i was down...

 

[Midwest sticky]

German Shepard.

 

[OGEvilgenius]

Mastiffs tend to be stubborn and of their own mind.

One you haven't considered that I think would fit your bill is a Shepherd. Perhaps a German. Perhaps a King. German's are more high strung. King's are larger.

I have a Bullmastiff x King and he keeps up with me quite well. But he's also stubborn. Not what I'd call easy to train, although hardly untrainable. That's the Bullmastiff in him though.

Shepherds and Mastiffs alike are both Velcro breeds. They don't wanna leave your side.

I rescued him as a puppy (4 1/2 mos old) from someone who had to give him up because of a forced move. He'd probably fit your bill pretty well, except for being slightly stubborn.

 

[Green Squall]

I agree, you can't go wrong with a shepherd. Here's my shepherd/lab/hound mix. Adopted at 3 months. 66 lbs at his heaviest. Usually pretty mellow but has tons of energy. Definitely a "Velcro dog". Hardly barks and was easy to train.

 

[gekolite]

nice dog

 

[Mr.Miner]

Rescue Shepherd. We have a 13 year-old. He's the best.

 

[DuskrayTroubador]

Stubborn doesn' bother me too much. I've had a Malamute before. I've noticed that most dogs only listen to you when they want to, the key is them liking you enough that they want to listen to you all the time.

My only concern with shepherds is that they like to bark. Which is great at home, but when I'm in the middle of the bush unneeded barking can be a bad thing. I would love to rescue a dog under 6 months, but that's hard to find around here. Most are at least a year and a half or two years.

 

[stoned-trout]

max not only did security he drove game my way....I miss his ass sooo much..he was a natural and he didn't bark until time...yeehaw ..we had a lot of fun in the wild..

 

[stoned-trout]

yeehaw... it was my pleasure to have time with such an animal.you try and not say you have favorites but he wins hands down over any dog I have encountered for so many reasons..even tho he had a lot of medical costs from the beginning /parvo/ I think we bonded even more because....ended up with tumors cancer and died on his own...he got out of the city where he was a pound puppy san diego , and went to 33 acres in the northeast for his best years...we grew lots of dope ,got lots of game and scared the hell out of quite a few trespassers/poachers... he also didn't have a huge penis

 

[Green Squall]

Stubborn doesn' bother me too much. I've had a Malamute before. I've noticed that most dogs only listen to you when they want to, the key is them liking you enough that they want to listen to you all the time.

My only concern with shepherds is that they like to bark. Which is great at home, but when I'm in the middle of the bush unneeded barking can be a bad thing. I would love to rescue a dog under 6 months, but that's hard to find around here. Most are at least a year and a half or two years.

You hit the nail on the head right there. I couldn't have said it better myself. Try to adopt any young needy dog and with that attitude I don't think you'll have a problem training it. Just don't get a beagle lol I think they are the worst barkers!

 

[OGEvilgenius]

yeehaw... it was my pleasure to have time with such an animal.you try and not say you have favorites but he wins hands down over any dog I have encountered for so many reasons..even tho he had a lot of medical costs from the beginning /parvo/ I think we bonded even more because....ended up with tumors cancer and died on his own...he got out of the city where he was a pound puppy san diego , and went to 33 acres in the northeast for his best years...we grew lots of dope ,got lots of game and scared the hell out of quite a few trespassers/poachers...https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=51779&pictureid=1326188View Image he also didn't have a huge penishttps://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=51779&pictureid=1326187View Image https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=56595&pictureid=1320763View Image https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=56595&pictureid=1320754View Image

He looks a bit like my mutt. What mix did you say he was or have you said? What was the scar from surgery from? My dog had his gut opened up when he was a pup because he ate my underwear and it wasn't coming back. Had to get it massaged out.

 

[shithawk420]

Oh.beautiful dogs guys.I'd post pics but its a pain in the ass here.but just great looking dogs

 

[theHIGHlander]

Am all up for a dog that's for protection/willing to protect all pack members even if the alpha aka you is at thret....that's what my male bulldogs does for me and my fam...I trained him not to let people/dogs get to close without got ballistic ...I don't stay in the best of places so my bull keeps all the junkies/assholes/ staff mutts ect ect away...of course friends fam are fine but he's mighty warey of strangers.....I would be first in there if my dogs was in trouble so would like to think my bull would be right by my side if I was in trouble...bulls are loyle and protective of fam/pack.......I must also say I've got a bitch bull also and she is like the other side of the coin..she is silent,does not make a sound.....both my dog are great with other dog when of the leash.but when on leash they no the score......it's all about the training....

I must also stress my dogs are not trained to attack people or fight..that is one thing I hate with a passion as this has stained all us bulll breed owners as people with dangerous dogs....

Out off the breeds you have put up I would got with the Akita, they are ment to be silent...big anuff to fend of wildlife or at leat give you a
heads up..if they could Handel the heat ? Am not sure,,.
Or some kind of Aussie shepherd ..something that is used to working on ranches in high heat

Keep it green
Highlander

 

[Nichead]

Tosa Inu's were bred by the Japanese as silent fighters for their traditional dog fights. The breed is a natural guard dog, but it's a quiet guard dog, something that can be hard to find in guard breeds. Look them up, they may be what you're looking for.

 

[DuskrayTroubador]

I was asked today if I wanted to take a 4 month old Norwegian Elkhound off someone's hands.

I'd love to, but I still plan on getting a male akita soon, and this Elkie puppy is a male. My Malamute is closing on on 15 years old, and I'd love to have another social, friendly dog around but I also need a guard dog... I live by myself, and it's good to have a guard dog at the house when I'm out.

Elkies are great dogs, and ideally I could have both a male Elkie and a male Akita and the Elkie would be the loudmouth watchdog who alerts me, the Akita when I'm out.

IDK though, I'm thinking it might be irresponsible of me to get both, knowing of the potential problems. I'm such a sucker for adopting dogs though, and I (as you can probably tell between having a Malamute and getting an Akita and/or Norwegian Elkhound) love Spitz dogs.

EDIT: FWIW I had a Beagle growing up and the incessant barking wasn't something I was a fan of... My Malamute is quiet and I love that about him. I can't imagine Elkies bark as much as Beagles, and I'm sure they're easier to train in regards to not barking incessantly. I'm thinking I may just have to resist the urge to rescue this fella though...

 

[armedoldhippy]

i want another giant schnauzer myself. big enough to intimidate folks that needed it , but did not bark at all unless it was called for. my first loved cats, which worked out well. he would go visit the neighbors cat after she had kittens and groom them while she nursed...