K9

[2682nscovell]

I don't know if many people think about this in regards to future preparedness, but do any of you take into consideration your K9 companions?

I own a German Shepherd named Heidi. CLICK HERE TO SEE She is a great companion and security for me and my house. Along with losing a best friend, it would be a shame for us to survive but not her. I would go as far to say she is as much or more valuable than a shotgun.

Anyways, does anyone get into preparing for their dog and if so what kinds of things have you done?

[610Alpha]

In the book Patriots, they have a dog that they prepped for. Dog food and those sorts of things. I would say get some of the common vet supplies, meds, and vet books etc. You have to ask yourself what would I do for my dog now if X happened? What are the common things that happen to dogs? Granted in a TEOTWAWKI situation they might not get run over but they can still get injured, fleas, ticks, arthritis etc. So what do they do now to treat these common things?

Ask a vet what are the common illnesses for German Shepherds?

[Lowdown3]

Coloring of "Heidi" is very similar to some of ours. I love GSD's.

[2682nscovell]

Coloring of "Heidi" is very similar to some of ours. I love GSD's.

Without a doubt the best dog to have. I would choose to run away from any other dog any day than a GSD. Where most dogs would just stop chasing you after you jumped a fence, a GSD would either jump it or look for a way around it.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

does anyone get into preparing for their dog and if so what kinds of things have you done?

All I have is a pug so I bought an extra bottle of ketchup to mix in with the ramen noodles for PAW.

[Lowdown3]

We get a little over 2 year rotation on cheap dry dog food just put up by being poured into clean barrels.

Their is usually a 2 inch or so layer of white colored dog food on the top, pitch that in the pond for the fish. I think it's from the fats going rancid or oxidizing.

[2682nscovell]

I would assume that in the event of survival, hunting would be as important to you and your dog as well.

[monkeybird]

About 10 years ago while working in the Emergency Department, the police brought in a robber who had attempted to run from a trained GSD. The results were unbelievable. The robbers entire Gluteus maximus, on one side, was gone right down to the middle of the thigh. Following the emergency surgery to put him back together, he developed a terrible infection! Animal bites must have prophylactic antibiotics because most of them do get infected.

After we had shipped the guy off to the OR, the police took us outside to meet his dog. For the first time in my life I was terrified of a german shephard. I could not even get close to him. To this day, I remember the damage one of these powerful dogs can do to a human. I would think that they would be excellent weapons in the PAW.

[2682nscovell]

About 10 years ago while working in the Emergency Department, the police brought in a robber who had attempted to run from a trained GSD. The results were unbelievable. The robbers entire Gluteus maximus, on one side, was gone right down to the middle of the thigh. Following the emergency surgery to put him back together, he developed a terrible infection! Animal bites must have prophylactic antibiotics because most of them do get infected.

After we had shipped the guy off to the OR, the police took us outside to meet his dog. For the first time in my life I was terrified of a german shephard. I could not even get close to him. To this day, I remember the damage one of these powerful dogs can do to a human. I would think that they would be excellent weapons in the PAW.

A German Shepherd is an amazing dog. The debate still goes on today weather or not Rotties or pit bulls are the best. Being an owner of a Shepherd I have a tremendous biased towards them. However larger than the biased opinion is my understanding and logic of their abilities. Where many dogs excel in one thing. For instance a Rottweiler having the hardest bite in the dog family or the Bloodhound with smell. A German Shepherd has a variation of all the specialties making them a more excellent choice for any person. They're the universal dog. Kind of like that one kid in school who was really good at every sport he played and he was also a straight A student. They don't have to be the best in just one field. That's what makes a dog great.

[Benn Gleck]

A German Shepherd is an amazing dog. The debate still goes on today weather or not Rotties or pit bulls are the best. Being an owner of a Shepherd I have a tremendous biased towards them. However larger than the biased opinion is my understanding and logic of their abilities. Where many dogs excel in one thing. For instance a Rottweiler having the hardest bite in the dog family or the Bloodhound with smell. A German Shepherd has a variation of all the specialties making them a more excellent choice for any person. They're the universal dog. Kind of like that one kid in school who was really good at every sport he played and he was also a straight A student. They don't have to be the best in just one field. That's what makes a dog great.

That my friend is a gratuitous assertion. ;)

Being the owner of Rottweilers I will make my own gratuitous assertion that THEY are the universal dog. :)

[eeyore]

I'm partial to shepherds my self, we have one very simular in color also. She is very protective of the family and a good friend to me.

The best dog i have ever seen, was a Rottweiler, that my Grandparents owner. She was protective and an excellent dog and always aware. She would go to the playground with my Grandfather and one of the grand kids, she would sit by him unless someone un familiar came up, she would not bark, but she would walk on the inside of the fence and pace the person until the past the playground, then she would return to my Grandfathers side. Now if a parent of one of the children came up she never left his side, just strangers. It was amazing.

[2682nscovell]

I'm partial to shepherds my self, we have one very simular in color also. She is very protective of the family and a good friend to me.

The best dog i have ever seen, was a Rottweiler, that my Grandparents owner. She was protective and an excellent dog and always aware. She would go to the playground with my Grandfather and one of the grand kids, she would sit by him unless someone un familiar came up, she would not bark, but she would walk on the inside of the fence and pace the person until the past the playground, then she would return to my Grandfathers side. Now if a parent of one of the children came up she never left his side, just strangers. It was amazing.

I think the bottom line is that any K9 you have with you is a must. Unless it's one of those little rat dogs... Anyways, I would push most prepers into investing in a good dog.

[monkeybird]

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Matt Dillon - wanna be fisherman - full time critter hunter.

No dog is better than a Standard Poodle. I've owned them for years. Dillon's grandfather was a nationally championed hunting dog. Unfortunately - Dillon killed a nest of rabbits before I knew they were nesting in my back yard.

An excellent watch dog, an excellent bed companion - and he doesn't SHED. Anyone who thinks Standard Poodles are foofoo dogs - doesn't have a clue.

[Klayton]

Well, unfortunately my little treasure (daughter) is allergic and we had to get rid of our 5 dogs.

But working in the Veterinary field for some time, I will say this: German Shephards are notorious for hip dysplasia, even if they are tested clean they seem to have at a minimum severe hip arthritis in their later years...

Rotweillers are only one step below pit bulls on the insurance NO-NO list for a reason, also, you will not find many (if any) police departments that maintain them anymore as service dogs. Our Doc use to say you can sum up Rotweillers in two words HARD HEADED.

The long standing dog breed that the US military still uses as their main breed is the Belgian Malinois (think skinny looking German Shephard). Although they still use many many breeds, including labs and I have even seen a counterfeit sniffing cocker spaniel.

My point is, try to stay away from dogs with known "genetic" problems.
Remember dogs have VERY short lives compared to us, so you better be thinking of a male and female dog if you want a dog for long term SHTF.
Identify why you want a dog, a simple alarm dog (extremely handy) can be a miniature dog.
But if your looking for a guard dog, you may want to avoid friendly breeds.
Likewise if you have livestock, especially goats and sheep, be extremely careful of labs and a few others. 2 labs accounted for an entire flock of 20+ sheep over a 4 year span when I was stationed in Maryland. Needless to say, that dog owner's insurance raised his rates pretty darn steep.

Well, just my two copper pieces.

(Still thinking of how I can get atleast some miniatures for alarm dogs with my daughter's allergy)

[2682nscovell]

yeah, hip dysplasia sucks. We have our shepherd on some meds just in case she gets it. Many breeders get their shepherds wrong by making their lower butt portion low or something. That's what we were told. All in all, I still love them.