Please don't pick up a dog because it looks cool if you're aren't going to put in the training. The rescues are full of dogs that had owners that failed them.
German Shepard all the way for me, if properly trained: > sheparding/herding > guarding/alarm > hunting > strong bight force > great scent > can handle snow/rain > great around kids > great around other dogs/animals > very loyal > very smart > promotes excercise/walks > hilarious > cute > intimidating/scary
I’ve had dogs my whole life and I only had a few requirements. 1. Bark when the should and not when they shouldn’t. 2. Look scary enough to be intimidating to strangers but not be so aggressive that I can’t trust them around family/friends 3. Large and athletic enough to be a good running and hiking partner. 4. Be smart, trainable, and loyal 5. Protective of the property without being a liability. He recently passed but we had a 75lb shepherd/pit rescue dog that was perfect for us. We currently in the process of moving out of the city but once we get settled we’ll get another.
Being in a situation that you can have a dog with you 24/7 can produce a good dog, developing a dog with great understanding. 45 yrs old and have had a dog by my side 24 hrs a day since 18 yrs old, been blessed to hold jobs in which my dogs were allowed. When raised in this manner, your dog will know your every move and desire before you have to " voice'" it. Great video bear !
Hi from the UK. I have a military trained Belgium malinois sheperd aka Major the Maligator and he's impeccably trained with great bite training. He is my protector. I also have a Lurcher who is whippet X Patterdale terrier X collie, bred her myself and she is not nervous, great guarder and takes down small game and brings it straight to me. I have a Saluki greyhound and she is a great watch dog, not nervous and takes down deer for me. They are a great pack and all work together, love how spot on they all are. Nobody can deal with majors eyes, they are so fierce and the black face, just rattles people 😂 he's a bit of kit
My dog trainer, who trained dogs for the Indian and Sri Lankan military and search and rescue (i worked in Dehi) would not find anything wrong with what you said. Besides the German Sheppard, one should mention the Belgium one (Mallinois). They are slightly smaller, more intelligent and energetic and do not have hip problems. Often used as police dogs. In countries, where you have a feral dog population, taking in one or a few of those makes usually exellent guard dogs, that will defend their new found home to the end
We've got 6 canine compadres on the homestead. All trained and all serve a purpose. They are part of the family and the life. The Dogo Argentino and myself got us some wild pork the other day.
As a 20 yr Military Working Dog handler/trainer, I think you pretty much nailed it. You only get what you put into a dog.... Yes, the breeding and inherent traits will help you get what you need/want, but you have to be able to be the " Alpha" in the relationship. Most people think of them as there children.... That is not the case. There needs to be rules, boundaries and limitations just for a house dog. Add in additional tasks, and you need to put in the time earlier rather than later mostly. I will give you a quick jib, didn't mention one of my favorites that is are very capable multipurpose dogs... Kind of exotic if you want good lines, is Belgian Milionis, or a Dutch Shepard. Well worth the price in my opinion, if proper training and blood lines are present.
I have a 3 month old female Doberman. I got her at 8 weeks and by 9 weeks she could sit, shake, lay down, and STAY! I am now teaching her to leave it, jump through a hula hoop and to stop rough play with the cats in the home...LOL! Leash training a little, and will work more on that at 4 months. She is a very good tempered dog who doesn't scare easily and is highly intelligent. I can't wait to teach her even more.
My family raised AKC Dobes when I was a child. Great dogs, very loyal and most folks seem naturally afraid of them (bonus these days). Love Dobermans. They are just not cold hardy because of the short coats, but of course, they can guard you better if they're close to you anyway. What color? We have black and tan, reds and even blues at times.
@@rootsrocksfeathers1975 She is a red dobie. :) But her colors are not muted at all, She looks more dark brownish red with very bright rust. You are right about the cold. She is always wanting under the covers. I will need to get her a nice jacket and shoes for the winter here. I bought her many nice comforters and a big Kong bed.
@@whydoyoucare27 Great! Hope to see you there! Yes, I'm a latecomer fan, only began watching from the beginning this year and have watched through the series numerous times, very happy we are finally getting new episodes of the final season. Will be very sad to see it go! Have a great day!
When I did my SHTF dog video 12 years ago (no longer on YT), I focused mostly on traits instead of breed types. The scenario I consider the be "SHTF" is a total breakdown where you may need to be mobile. Like you said, needs to bark when appropriate but stop on command. Needs to be confident in all situations and around loud noises (gunfire). Needs to have the athleticism to cover distance at my pace and endurance. Needs to be a size I can lift over a fence or carry on my shoulders should it take a mechanical injury. My choice is the Texas Blue Lacy and Belgian Malinois, but that's me. There are more traits, but the biggest thing I think is whatever dog you choose needs to be a dog you can live with for it's entire life even when the Shinloa never hits the fan. Great vid. I love hearing other viewpoints on this topic.
The "blue heeler", "red heeler", and "Australian cattle dog" are the same dog and they are great! SUPER smart, easy to train a territory/defense attitude, can be very aggressive if taught properly, medium sized with small appetite, very athletic, unbelievable loyal. They are by far the best dog for any and every choice you want. They come from the Australian dingo/blue merle so intelligent and capable of devastating power (especially in a large packs)
Yes! Many people are unaware of these very capable dogs. Very little health issues and tough as nails. I watched my red girl chase a squirrel down, caught it mid-air as it was jumping foe the tree, she killed it and would have eaten if I let her. They are lightning fast. They think like a dingo, move like a cat, bite like an alligator, and take a blow like a prize fighter.
For a little alert system, I would add a Dachshund to your list. They're stubborn, but very loyal, and will alert you to all the neighborhood's various activities. They have big teeth for being so little, and they will very readily bite. I've found that the best way to get mine to shut up, is to look in the direction he is, and then say "thank you! All done!" He'll just keep yelling if he's unacknowledged.
We also have a Anatolian/Great Pyrenees mix. I’ve had dogs for all of my 49 years on this earth. I’m also known as “the dog whisperer. She is the greatest dog that has ever been a part of my pack! Loyal, chill, friendly, and an absolute beast at being able to accurately being able to identify REAL threats in the neighborhood when she hears something not right.
Bear (muga) the more I see of the more I like. I am 76 and have been prepping since 97 and I find something new every time I watch your videos. Thank you.
I agree on the Anatolian Shepherd/Pyrenees. I've always said that if I moved to the hinterlands...like I should...I would have an Anatolian. I read that in their native lands they don't get a spiked collar until after they've killed a wolf. The shepherd will take them out with his flock, delineate a border even though there are no fences and leave him to fend for himself while guarding the flock. They are serious dogs. While researching them here on TH-cam I ran across a story of a crazy neighbor woman who decided to march over to somebody's house to confront him about something stupid. She was met by guy's two Anatolian Shepherds who mauled her face. She survived but cried to local tv news and they got her on air. Guy who had the dogs did nothing wrong. She was just trying to cause trouble and got bit mightily for her trouble. She didn't stop trying to get the guy in trouble though. I think he managed to avoid any trouble despite her efforts.
I think you are wrong with the collar story. I worked five years in Ankara, and Kangal ("Anatolian") dogs are valuable. And the collar is there to protect them against the wolfes getting to their throat. There might be regional differences, but I have my doubts that they would send out an inexperienced dog without that protection.
@@The_Osprey a young dog has to learn - and they use them usually in teams anyway. 2 stay with the flock, one patrols the larger area. Wolfes also work in teams, one may get to the throat. I do not think the herdsman will not protect his younger dog.
I have 3 myself. An American pitbull terrier, an Avant bully American pitbull terrier mix and a Rottweiler American pitbull terrier mix.. nobody comes around my house. Except who they know. You are 100% right it's all in the training. Start them off young if you get a puppy and never forget you can always teach an older dog new tricks. They never stop learning
My favorite breed and what I have now and for the past 20 years, Norwegian Elkhound - very protective of their pack, home and neighborhood - huge bark. Silver and black - gorgeous. Super family dog but if anyone comes around I know it immediately. Not a playful dog - mine looks at me when I throw a ball like "you threw it, you go get it". This is the right breed for me. Elkhounds are the smallest of the large dog breeds; males about 55 pounds, females a bit smaller but meaner and harder to train. Thanks for the good video. And, I'm rural, of course. Got out of the SF Bay area in 1998 - saw this crap coming way back then.
The best dog is a well trained dog. We had a black lab I would put up against any dog. She was one of a kind. Went timber cruising every day with my husband, put in many miles a day. At home she loved and protected the family and her domain. No one came near my kids, until we told her okay. She was strong and fast. My husbands proudest moment (guy thing)was when another Timber cruiser had his wolf dog with him. He kept telling my husband that he better watch out for his dog and keep ours away. Long story short. My husband let her out of the rig to pee and the other dog jumped out of his rig and tried to get her. She was on him so fast and had him down. The other guy was yelling for my husband to get her off. My husband couldn't wait to call me.
My Great Pyr and My Anatolian Shepherd are a GREAT team! Excellent guardians of the flock and herd. Loyal and obedient to me. I sleep well at night knowing that they work the night shift around here.
Entire time we were raising children and I had an at home daycare, we had German Shepard. I grew up with them. Not only did we socialize but also took to training. Our dogs were trained to hand signals as well. Never once did a problem with them, other then getting one to live past 10. For a month or so one decided parents could no longer just walk in the gate to pick up thier kids. No problem with drop, just pick up. We got it worked out. Ours never alarmed or alerted which can be a problem. When all of the kids were gone, we got ankle biters. Morkys to be specific as we then wanted alert dogs. I became allergic to long hair or double coated dogs. Lots of socialization, no training but our own. These are excellent alert dogs. Most people are just as afraid of them as Shepard. They too respond well to hand signals and protect our hens. Our first chick's were kept inside for 3 weeks and little girl stayed with them. If she barked we would find a chick perched on the edge of its container. If it got out she alerted and kept the chick in check. She now gathers eggs, one at a time. She has never broke an egg. No other animals get near without alert. When we get on our land we will again have a German Shepard, with a dog house and our alert dogs inside. As a child of 7 a 12 year old jumped on me purposefully, our Shepard pulled them off by thier shirt, never injuring them but getting the job done. A dog is still man's best friend.
Got a pit-bull terrier mix, Lola, shes clam but alert, listens to every commend even when under stress or distraction. She only barks "more of a quit ruff" to alert, as soon as I'm aware she gets quite, She's some what skittish and would run from a fight, but shes big enough to defend her self if cornered. Her medium size means she's not a bottomless pit for food, and altho not small she could still be carried or passed over a fence with ease. Her medium size also means good eating if I'm despite. You mentioned 3 types, Alerts, guard, intimidate. There's one more you might want to include, Distraction. Not all guard dogs are capable of being good distractions because of there training, and not all alert dogs would be trainable for distraction, but my little lola would fall in this type. Shes well trained like a guard dog, but doesn't have the capability of being a man stopper, and she's not a intimidating. She is trained to clear a building in front of me, as well as to follow behind, on hikes she's trained to follow way out in front, way behind or right beside me on command. She also is trained to try and put presser on any threats while keeping her distance, run at the site of gun or stand her ground if I tell her to, she's a costumed to guns, cars, and other things that would normally throw a dog for a loop . She is also trained to find help on command, or to search for people on command. She is insanely smart, and I swear she understands half of what I'm saying even in normal conversation. As amazing as she is, most people don't believe me when I tell them shes was just a mutt, that was given to me out of a shopping cart at walmart.
Our GSD’s are wonderful. Voice commanded, incredibly smart and sweet, that is, unless a stranger gets between them and our kids or chickens. We got them both from the CO Front Range German Shepherd Rescue.
Bear, Are you sure you weren't a "Drill Sergeant" in the Military? LOL...love your approach. You are spot on! I've actually worn out hiking boots, while carrying a 50 pound plus pack. Your points are well stated! Thanks!
You hit the nail on the head at the beginning of the video with "none of these breeds will be effective at the things we're going to discuss unless you take the time to train them."
Finally someone that understand that dogs need, want and are suposed to have a job! Man stoppers and true property guardians are competent until the threat has an engeneering advantage dogs don't... a weapon. Then, dogs become time buyers for you to get the advantage having a firearm, the time, being in your castle and hopefully the training needed to use the other things at your disposal (time, weapons and place).
My pit bull is a hell of a dog but I've been training him every day for years and years. Got him after the military and he literally goes everywhere with me . I rescued him ater he was abandoned out in the country and had some serious ear infections goin on but I brought him back to life. He has been by my side for almost 10 years
@@tomvana4270 the only reason you think it’ll kill someone is because you’re negligent and have had dogs escape. Other people actually manage their dogs well enough none of that would happen. Put a sally port on your kennel and have a yard fence. Problem solved. No need for hysteria.
I don’t currently have a dog and the three that I did have were golden retrievers. Hardly man killers. And I unlike most dog owners had complete control over my dogs. I’m in the service industry and trust me most pet owners have no control over their pets. Pits are trained to kill and it’s nothing more than a accident or death to happen. If you disagree it’s because you’re in denial. Those dogs are a danger to the public and have no purpose. Get over it.@@victorygarden556
I have Australian shepherd, mixed with American bullboxer he is my little savage, but I spend a lot of time with him. It is hard to find balance between maintaining his effectiveness as a guard dog, while having him meet new people all the time…. It’s been making him soft God Bless We the People
Strangely enough I have a "guard pug" lol. He is a Pug/Boston Terrier mix where it is obvious he has the terrier in him body-wise if you really look, but upon first glance at his face you'd just think oh, a pug. He was rescued from a terribly abusive and neglectful situation and even after being rehabbed by me and socialized is still very wary and standoffish with strangers, especially men. He is extremely attached to me after I gained his trust and love, and is even more of a velcro dog than pugs usually are, and is unusually eager to please me. He accompanies me everywhere 24/7 and visibly guards me if he thinks anything seems off, and will get into a stance right next to my ankle like he is about to spring and growls a low rumble. If he thinks someone that is shady or poses a threat to me comes too close he will raise his shackles and bare his teeth and snarl and bark like he thinks he is a Doberman lol. I have never seen any other pug (and I have owned many) behave like this. He never leaves my ankle, even if not on a leash, and I did NOT train him to do this. I did train him to sit down and stop doing it after I ask, though, because it wasn't always appropriate; though a few times it possibly has been. He also knows if someone is outside near the door or window and will alert me. Once when I was at a gas station he was in my car with the window partly up and as I was coming back out to the pumps from being inside this homeless junkie dude came up and started hassling me for money and grabbed my arm. My dog jumped out the window and came flying across the parking lot snarling and attacked the guy's pantlegs. Not that a 12 lb runty pug mix that's overly small due to poor nutrition as a pup is particularly scary or able to do the guy any harm, but he sure latched on to those pants and out came the terrier half lol. He distracted the guy enough for me to shove him down on the ground and for us to get away from him as the store employee came running out to help. He may be small but he is ride or die in his love for me, and I feel the same about him. I doubt he'd survive a SHTF or a serious threat, but you gotta give him props for having a big heart.
I have a Belgian Malinois…..THE BEST! Thanks for the disclaimer, some people need it. P.S - I have spent the last 14 months Training him since I got him at 7 weeks. Folks, check this breed out.
I have a German shepherd mix and a border collie mix, we have livestock and my bc is awesome herder, he body blocks sometimes, my German shepherd mix is a security dog, deturant ect
Great pyrenees female, Great pyrenees/anatolian cross male, and 3 blue heelers. Blue heelers trained exceptionally well, the others just lay around most of the time until it's time to destroy something foxes, coyotes etc.
Our Pyrenees are bonded to livestock and live out in the pasture. And yes, they’ll utterly DESTROY predators. We’ve had issues with Anatolians killing livestock that look significantly different, so no more of those. We only have one “pet” Pyrenees, and it’s the only one with a name. His job is guarding the house. They’re extremely nocturnal. Super lazy all day long, but once it’s dark, he’s making laps around the house and house trap.
I've got a Griff, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. Chill but alert. Points, searches, comes when called. Walks me about a thousand miles a year. Comes from the larger bloodlines. AKC lists them as males max at 65 lbs. He's 85 lbs. He got speared on a stick chasing a rabbit. Still managed to walk home most of a mile. He's got dog and people friends all over town. He travels pretty well. Swims, even caught a catfish one time. Part of his training was doggy day care. He tends to pull on the leash a bit for the firs half mile until he takes a dump, then he walks very well. He can handle pistol and shotgun fire from 30 yards, but does not like rifle fire at up to 75 yards away.
But he is thier to boast morale and be a companion and also as a alarm system people with dogs live longer then people without dogs also I believe it's 3 years or longer
Great topic Bear. And a very important one. Training is key! We lost both of dogs last year, 11 days apart from each other. A Rottweiler and a Lab, similar in age (12-14 years old). When the first one passed away, we knew the second one was coming. They were that close to each other. The protection they provided us for years was unquestionable, especially with our young children.
Have had 4 Akitas, best dog for my lifestyle/protection both in the mountains and home, they have chased away more grizzlies and timber wolves(not the little wolves) than I can count, I only let people into my home if they meet them first, if the pups do not like the person then I never do business with that person again, their instincts are far superior to ours. Great video by the way, training is key, also finding a match for you personality is key to training them with less headache.
I love this, all good breeds, I never hear anyone talk about the giant shnowser , as a former shutszund trainer I can not tell you how many underestimate that breed. They are some of the smartest dogs I have ever worked with. I try to break down training to simple steps, suppress certain instincts and bring out certain instincts in the breed you are training. My lifestyle has changed in the last few years so I currently have a bull mastiff. Will definitely be getting a higher energy dog after him but he has served great the last 7 years. Thanks bear for this realistic breakdown.
Definitely gonna check out that LG training. Great tip, thank you. I prefer standard Schnauzers personally. Best dog I've ever owned. I hope to own a Caucasian Mountain Shepherd, Rough Collie, & another Standard Schnauzer in the coming yrs. Not only for their individual qualities, but also as a pack to make up for their individual weaknesses. Praying I'll have time before the coming collapse.
Love my black toy poodle she has the heart of a lion. No mouse will survive around here. She is not scared of anything and makes her rounds several times a day making sure no threats around. Definitely sounds the alarm if she perceives any threats.
Hybrid 3/4 Shepherd 1/4 wolf you could not tell him he was not the end all do all because he thought he was and he was very well trained for personal protection and police work 🐝
I have 2 Great Pyrenees on my 4 acres here in S.W. Missouri. I believe we live in about the same conditions as you with coyotes possum and other critters including Armadillos tearing up the sod. My dogs seem to do a good job of keeping them all at bay, but my problem is that they're stubborn, ie barking. No matter how much I stay in their ass about it they can't seem to help themselves but to bark. They're brothers so for about the past six months or so they've started to fight too, I guess it's a domination thing... They're going to be 3 years old here in November but I don't see any sign of them slowing down, they actually seem to be getting more embolded to flex their muscles. I've been known to train dogs to bend to my will but these two have been hard case. Any suggestions 🤔
My friends son trains Belgian Malinois for security and guard dogs...my dogs are mixed breeds and two of them work well.the third one is the alarm dog.. Best dog I've ever had was a black shepherd/ coyote mix..no one could get near my son she blocked them. Saved him from an abduction once. Only 45 lbs but could pop tennis balls..
I had an English bull terrier cross staffy who was a pig hunting dog and was an absolute beast. He was a top guard dog except for one thing, he wouldn't bark at intruders because he knew they wouldn't come over the fence. So he sat in wait and once they were over the fence he went on with it. Savaged a few people in his life time
Good topic. My pomeranian is a terror. Very protective. Doesnt eat much and easy to clean up after. Alerts me if even a squirl is 100 yards away. Perfect dog for my situation.
I have LGDs..fir livestock protection.. If they bark its bad..they need immediate assistance. I have 2 others that are protection for family. Training cost 800.00 each One is a Catahoula the other is Catahoula bluetick cross. They can and will be very aggressive if you have a bad heart coming here. They rarely bark until need be.. Voice cmd and hand cmd.. trained. These 2 are just like family for us. And we have a mutt that lives in the house.. 20lb barker alarm
Might be worth looking into a couple dogs not mentioned. Both of which are mixes and both of which are and have been used for a century or two in the US. Curs and bully breed mixes. Curs (black mouth curs, red curs, catahoula leopard curs, etc) are mixed breed mediumish sized dogs (40-100 lbs depending on their job). Capable of everything from working cattle to livestock protection to squirrel hunting to homestead protection to hog huntin. Independent. Super smart. Loyal. Athletic. Work well with families and in packs, not particularly friendly to others. They were bred not on their physical appearance but on their ability to produce results at particular jobs. You gotta go down south to get em. They are quite the handful if not given serious work regularly, many people don’t keep them in the houses. Then pit bull/bully breed mixes. Do the same as the cur dogs. A little more heavy on the protection and less on the hunting. Vs the cur dogs which are a little more heavy on hunting. Although I had a pit mix that had a great nose. A lot of times curs and pits will be mixed for various traits. Pits are usually more chill. More “friendly” to the human pack. You can have a pit in the house, no problem and some like to work, some like to lay.
Slight addition, I've got a male doberman and a female German shepherd. The Dobbie is a giant watchdog and guard dog, haven't managed to get him to shut up when anyone is in the yard. Anything in HIS yard is worthy of barking and attacking, if he manages to be let into the yard for the latter. If something's going on outside the house, just open the door and he's on it. He snatches squirrels before they can scamper up the trees. He's not a "keep my position hidden" dog. Also, everytime I've had to shoot something, he'll run up and make sure it's really dead. The shepherd is a bit of a late responder. She'll rip someone to pieces, but only after you've gotten spooked or told the person to f off. The Dobbie is proactive, the shepherd is reactive.
Had a very intelligent dog that would stop barking when " no bark!" Was commanded. Great judge of character. Knew what I was thinking almost before I did. Strong and athletic, 62 lbs could and did intimidate . Held a miscreant at 10 feet until I drew my pistol. She knew enough to hold the adversary and identify the threat until the main force arrives ( me with optimal firearms) Yes she was trained but it didn't take a lot to train her. Died at age 16. Still missed. Pure bred Pit Bull by the way.
Love the fact that you drove home the need for proper training of the dogs. Would like to add, YOUR personal knowledge and training to work as a team. For it is, after all, a team effort when you come down to it.
We have a pack (4) of Great Pyrenees on our homestead. They're what we need where we are. Their barking drives off predators from our livestock. That's what we need. Now in shtf they would make it difficult for hunting as they drive off moose and deer too. They also actually let us know when things are wrong. As an example they notified us about a fire up near our barn. They also notify us when the animals are having babies during lambing/farrowing season. Super hardy too during winter. Our winters are very cold and they are 100% able to stay outside during the coldest times. We're also on the Farai breeders list in Canada. Great dogs! Btw my production quality is worse than yours!
my dogo argentine used to do bodyblocking when we were out on walks and someone came close to us,no matter if it was only human or a human with a dog.I miss her so much
Love Schnauzers-- they are a working breed, and giant schnauzer is great for guarding and work. I think the best dogs are those breeds that can do more than one thing-- cane corsos, german shephards, rotties, livestock guardian dogs, schnauzers, newfies.
I created my own dog breed I feel is the best dogs for us. They are pit bull, German Shepherd and blood hound. You get the aggressiveness of the Pitbull, the intelligence of the German Shepherd, and the tracking skill and size of the bloodhound.
Excellent information and advice sir! The most important aspect is training the animal to do the jobs it is acquired for, while being a well behaved pet.
I have dobermans. Have had them for 45 yrs. The one I have right now is a rescue and has floppy ears. She is frikn awesome. Not a guard dog at all. I have my chihuahua for that lol😂❤
Great video. Would love to see a pic of Sam. We have a Great Pyr/Anatolian mix as well. He was the best dog. He was 178 lbs of muscle and able to look inside cars without stretching his neck. He did the body block thing with my wife when she was pregnant to keep our Lab away from her. Great protection. He was trained and nothing entered our property. Highly recommended!
Appreciated your comment on Giant Schnauzer. The hearing and alertness of schnauzers and terrier breeds ( wire fix, border, airedales) is outstanding as a group. You'll have a superb early warning system with a couple of those dogs. As for LGD, their proclivity to roam is pretty breed specific. Anatolians will roam the farthest as a general rule while Maremas roam the least. If you have a 5, 10, 20 acre patch and plenty of neighbors in your rural area I'd advise against an Anatolian. Too many issues of them straying onto neighbor's place. Straying dogs end up on the receiving end of SSS. Last, please don't highlight or promote crossbreeding LGDs. You're destroying thousand years of intentional skills selection and environmemtal adaptation. I'd imagine less than 2% of US owners of ANY LGD breed know how to to select and promote a bloodline outside of 'it barks and kills coyotes'. Those attributes are actually pretty thin gruel to build and develop a breed.
Something to consider is your climate for the breed you pick. We have a Doberman pit mix. She likes to keep an eye on things but not dangerous to anyone we bring over. Doesn't excessively bark. But she can't stand the cold. Factor in if you want your dog to be able to stay outside at times. Ive never heard of huskies being guard dogs ours is protective in a good way. She keeps and eye on things. She would destroy someone if she knew something wasn't right. She enjoys being outside at night if we let her but she does wander so stays in at night now. We live in a neighborhood so can't allow it. Her dad was husky. Mom was lab corgi mix. Boerbels or African Mastiffs are cool butva big dog like that needs to eat a lot.
You had me at "no whining". Great info. I have Dobermans. Always have, always will. One does have to "alpha wolf" the big dogs, otherwise they will eat you one day. Even as a little old lady I can snap my fingers and point (my dogs are hand commanded) and my Dobermans will drop immediately to the lay down position. And yes, they do detour idiots from coming on my property simply because they ..well..look like Dobermans.
We raised AKC Dobermans when I was a child. Very loyal, super smart, visually intimidating, not huge barkers, generally, but never get one from a puppy mill or you could get a bad tempered one. They are not cold hardy so should not be left outside in winter overnight unless you're in a warm climate. I'd love to have one again as I approach 65 years old. They can learn to get along with chickens, as I know many who have them around their chickens, but again, training is paramount. The dog of my childhood.
They are great dogs. Unfortunately too many of the wrong folks buy them. My ex had an awesome one. I was luke warm at the prospect too start with. That dog turned out to be an awesome dog. He earned titles in show, agility, jumpers, obedience and passed his disposition test with flying colors. He earned a Registry of Merit distinction from the breed group. He could literally do everything. And he was a sweetheart. He was very fit and had shredded shoulders from the agility and jumpers courses he frequently ran. When we took him for a walk cars would literally stop so the drivers could ask what kind of dog he was. We'd answer "A Doberman". People would answer " I thought so, I just never saw one that gorgeous." They always made him run the agility course last because he frequently destroyed some of the obstacles. He was so fast and strong that often the fabric of the shoots they ran through would split or pull off the mounts. And the stakes holding the curved tunnels would pull out of the ground. The hardest part of agility for him was that he preferred to jump straight to the top of the A frame. If he was going fast on the A frame, and you were in his way, he'd just jump over you. His nick name in our group was The Terminator due to his destruction of agility courses.
In our experience nanny's are the best description of a Doberman trait. Ours nannied all the family and animals till her last day. With training wonderful family and farm dog. For sure hates to be cold but extremely active their first 5years. They are not for the faint of heart or a couch potato lots of energy to burn.
Thinking about a jacket Russell terrier. I find small dogs more likely to wake up quickly and a good terrier would possibly feed itself in a pinch. But great information thanks.
Have mix, Jack Russell, Britney, Corkey. Got him at shelter. He is excellent to train. Calm but territorial enough to train boundaries. He even works with cats to get squirrels. Keeps coyotes away from our house.
Dog side - always go GERMAN. GSD. If you can deal with the slobber, Rottie. Doberman a second to GSD. A pair preferred. Hip Dysplacia more evident in "Pedigree GSD's" then crosses. Love em. GSD all the way babey........ Or maybe a Sarf African Ridgeback!
it may have been said already, but I'd like to mention having TWO (or more) dogs is far superior than a single animal. Companionship for each other, warmth in a shelter, and pack menatility among other things. YES it will cost more food, space etc, but thats a given with anything that you have more than 1 of. Pack mentality: 1 + 1 = MUCH more than 2. 3 good dogs can keep a large predator occupied at the very least, and kill it in an optimal situation. Stay gold.
You need to consider the life span of these breeds. My choice is the Black Lab, which can live up to 20 years, and be productive for at least 15 years.
A tried and true, proven dog that has spent many thousands of years in harsh isolated living conditions with its human companions is the Australian Dingo. They are a wild dog that knows how to look after themselves, so aren't a burden on their human companions.
My female shepherd listens and i never trained her but she is protective of kids and me especially. I wish I had trained her to work though as a shtf dog. She just had puppies though and I’m training the one I kept and my friends to be working dogs.
In Kabul the dogs are wondering what human is best during SHTF...
This is true.
Ask Major, he dont like Joe either
omg that is so sad but true.
Grizzlies
Apparently Taliban is good for that area.
Please don't pick up a dog because it looks cool if you're aren't going to put in the training. The rescues are full of dogs that had owners that failed them.
Much like Kabul airport...
Yes!
100% agree! No such thing as a bad dog....only shitty owners
😭😭amen to that
@@opichocal not necessarily. Breading has a lot to do with it. Some dogs can’t be trained or have had training but still do bad things
German Shepard all the way for me, if properly trained:
> sheparding/herding
> guarding/alarm
> hunting
> strong bight force
> great scent
> can handle snow/rain
> great around kids
> great around other dogs/animals
> very loyal
> very smart
> promotes excercise/walks
> hilarious
> cute
> intimidating/scary
Agree
We have 4 🤣
i got 2. totally agree great list
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
One of the most versatile doge in the world!
two german shepherds. i love them.
I’ve had dogs my whole life and I only had a few requirements.
1. Bark when the should and not when they shouldn’t.
2. Look scary enough to be intimidating to strangers but not be so aggressive that I can’t trust them around family/friends
3. Large and athletic enough to be a good running and hiking partner.
4. Be smart, trainable, and loyal
5. Protective of the property without being a liability.
He recently passed but we had a 75lb shepherd/pit rescue dog that was perfect for us. We currently in the process of moving out of the city but once we get settled we’ll get another.
Being in a situation that you can have a dog with you 24/7 can produce a good dog, developing a dog with great understanding.
45 yrs old and have had a dog by my side 24 hrs a day since 18 yrs old, been blessed to hold jobs in which my dogs were allowed.
When raised in this manner, your dog will know your every move and desire before you have to " voice'" it.
Great video bear !
Hi from the UK. I have a military trained Belgium malinois sheperd aka Major the Maligator and he's impeccably trained with great bite training. He is my protector. I also have a Lurcher who is whippet X Patterdale terrier X collie, bred her myself and she is not nervous, great guarder and takes down small game and brings it straight to me. I have a Saluki greyhound and she is a great watch dog, not nervous and takes down deer for me. They are a great pack and all work together, love how spot on they all are. Nobody can deal with majors eyes, they are so fierce and the black face, just rattles people 😂 he's a bit of kit
@Ian Pemberton that's what you want lol
My dog trainer, who trained dogs for the Indian and Sri Lankan military and search and rescue (i worked in Dehi) would not find anything wrong with what you said. Besides the German Sheppard, one should mention the Belgium one (Mallinois). They are slightly smaller, more intelligent and energetic and do not have hip problems. Often used as police dogs. In countries, where you have a feral dog population, taking in one or a few of those makes usually exellent guard dogs, that will defend their new found home to the end
I’m wanting to get a Mal , everything I read about sounds good. I have a friend that has Mal’s and loves them.
Careful... Malinois are amazing but definitely not easy to deal with.
We've got 6 canine compadres on the homestead. All trained and all serve a purpose. They are part of the family and the life. The Dogo Argentino and myself got us some wild pork the other day.
Dog Owners need just as much training as the Dogs in most cases.
So true!👍
Never forget the humble all purpose Cur dogs.
Black Mouth Curs here I hog and squirrel hunt them several of mine don’t like strangers and all of them will get mad at what I’m mad at
@@jasonraulston3922 I have a BMC and a Catahoula both are great all-around dogs for the south.
I agree I have several BMCs and have some crossbred dogs that are BMC/Catahoula/Hound crosses
Ole yeller
Miniature Schnauzers are also low shedding and low dander small dogs. They are a sturdy little breed too. Not frail like many smaller breeds.
As a 20 yr Military Working Dog handler/trainer, I think you pretty much nailed it. You only get what you put into a dog.... Yes, the breeding and inherent traits will help you get what you need/want, but you have to be able to be the " Alpha" in the relationship. Most people think of them as there children.... That is not the case. There needs to be rules, boundaries and limitations just for a house dog. Add in additional tasks, and you need to put in the time earlier rather than later mostly. I will give you a quick jib, didn't mention one of my favorites that is are very capable multipurpose dogs... Kind of exotic if you want good lines, is Belgian Milionis, or a Dutch Shepard. Well worth the price in my opinion, if proper training and blood lines are present.
As usual, Bear: blunt, pragmatic and witty on the dry end! Great coverage on an important prepper topic!
Agreed.
Have a Pit who saved my life once & my dad’s twice! Thank God he can hear better than I can... 🙏🏻
I have a 3 month old female Doberman. I got her at 8 weeks and by 9 weeks she could sit, shake, lay down, and STAY! I am now teaching her to leave it, jump through a hula hoop and to stop rough play with the cats in the home...LOL! Leash training a little, and will work more on that at 4 months. She is a very good tempered dog who doesn't scare easily and is highly intelligent. I can't wait to teach her even more.
My family raised AKC Dobes when I was a child. Great dogs, very loyal and most folks seem naturally afraid of them (bonus these days). Love Dobermans. They are just not cold hardy because of the short coats, but of course, they can guard you better if they're close to you anyway. What color? We have black and tan, reds and even blues at times.
@@rootsrocksfeathers1975 She is a red dobie. :) But her colors are not muted at all, She looks more dark brownish red with very bright rust. You are right about the cold. She is always wanting under the covers. I will need to get her a nice jacket and shoes for the winter here. I bought her many nice comforters and a big Kong bed.
@@whydoyoucare27 You made me miss my Dobies!
@@rootsrocksfeathers1975 I just subscribed to your channel! I see you are a Waling Dead fan! So am I!
@@whydoyoucare27 Great! Hope to see you there! Yes, I'm a latecomer fan, only began watching from the beginning this year and have watched through the series numerous times, very happy we are finally getting new episodes of the final season. Will be very sad to see it go! Have a great day!
When I did my SHTF dog video 12 years ago (no longer on YT), I focused mostly on traits instead of breed types. The scenario I consider the be "SHTF" is a total breakdown where you may need to be mobile.
Like you said, needs to bark when appropriate but stop on command. Needs to be confident in all situations and around loud noises (gunfire). Needs to have the athleticism to cover distance at my pace and endurance. Needs to be a size I can lift over a fence or carry on my shoulders should it take a mechanical injury. My choice is the Texas Blue Lacy and Belgian Malinois, but that's me.
There are more traits, but the biggest thing I think is whatever dog you choose needs to be a dog you can live with for it's entire life even when the Shinloa never hits the fan.
Great vid. I love hearing other viewpoints on this topic.
The "blue heeler", "red heeler", and "Australian cattle dog" are the same dog and they are great! SUPER smart, easy to train a territory/defense attitude, can be very aggressive if taught properly, medium sized with small appetite, very athletic, unbelievable loyal. They are by far the best dog for any and every choice you want. They come from the Australian dingo/blue merle so intelligent and capable of devastating power (especially in a large packs)
😍😍😍😍
The cousin to that is the Border Collie. They can be surprisingly fierce and lightening fast. Mine would defend me in a heartbeat.
@@pamsloan84 my dog is half blue heeler half border collie. I definitely know what you mean! Smartest dogs in the world, bar none.
Also they have no qualms about sustaining themselves off other animals fecal matter ..if things get really tough
Yes! Many people are unaware of these very capable dogs. Very little health issues and tough as nails. I watched my red girl chase a squirrel down, caught it mid-air as it was jumping foe the tree, she killed it and would have eaten if I let her. They are lightning fast. They think like a dingo, move like a cat, bite like an alligator, and take a blow like a prize fighter.
I love your delivery. Straight up no fluff. This is what you need to do tutoring. It's the only way to get through to a lot of people.
For a little alert system, I would add a Dachshund to your list. They're stubborn, but very loyal, and will alert you to all the neighborhood's various activities. They have big teeth for being so little, and they will very readily bite. I've found that the best way to get mine to shut up, is to look in the direction he is, and then say "thank you! All done!" He'll just keep yelling if he's unacknowledged.
For a little dog alarm...American Eskimo. Barks like anything, aggressive little spitz and hyper loyal and protective
My doxie was an ankle biter !
Very sensible advice! A dog untrained/badly trained could be more of a hindrance in a SHTF situation. Great video again Bear! 👍😊
We also have a Anatolian/Great Pyrenees mix. I’ve had dogs for all of my 49 years on this earth. I’m also known as “the dog whisperer. She is the greatest dog that has ever been a part of my pack! Loyal, chill, friendly, and an absolute beast at being able to accurately being able to identify REAL threats in the neighborhood when she hears something not right.
Bear (muga) the more I see of the more I like. I am 76 and have been prepping since 97 and I find something new every time I watch your videos. Thank you.
I agree on the Anatolian Shepherd/Pyrenees. I've always said that if I moved to the hinterlands...like I should...I would have an Anatolian. I read that in their native lands they don't get a spiked collar until after they've killed a wolf. The shepherd will take them out with his flock, delineate a border even though there are no fences and leave him to fend for himself while guarding the flock. They are serious dogs. While researching them here on TH-cam I ran across a story of a crazy neighbor woman who decided to march over to somebody's house to confront him about something stupid. She was met by guy's two Anatolian Shepherds who mauled her face. She survived but cried to local tv news and they got her on air. Guy who had the dogs did nothing wrong. She was just trying to cause trouble and got bit mightily for her trouble. She didn't stop trying to get the guy in trouble though. I think he managed to avoid any trouble despite her efforts.
I think you are wrong with the collar story. I worked five years in Ankara, and Kangal ("Anatolian") dogs are valuable. And the collar is there to protect them against the wolfes getting to their throat. There might be regional differences, but I have my doubts that they would send out an inexperienced dog without that protection.
@@aasphaltmueller5178 Sheep are valuable too. If a dog can't kill a wolf...what's his value?
@@The_Osprey a young dog has to learn - and they use them usually in teams anyway. 2 stay with the flock, one patrols the larger area. Wolfes also work in teams, one may get to the throat. I do not think the herdsman will not protect his younger dog.
I have 3 myself. An American pitbull terrier, an Avant bully American pitbull terrier mix and a Rottweiler American pitbull terrier mix.. nobody comes around my house. Except who they know. You are 100% right it's all in the training. Start them off young if you get a puppy and never forget you can always teach an older dog new tricks. They never stop learning
My favorite breed and what I have now and for the past 20 years, Norwegian Elkhound - very protective of their pack, home and neighborhood - huge bark. Silver and black - gorgeous. Super family dog but if anyone comes around I know it immediately. Not a playful dog - mine looks at me when I throw a ball like "you threw it, you go get it". This is the right breed for me. Elkhounds are the smallest of the large dog breeds; males about 55 pounds, females a bit smaller but meaner and harder to train. Thanks for the good video. And, I'm rural, of course. Got out of the SF Bay area in 1998 - saw this crap coming way back then.
I love the fact that you promote having a dog! I agree 100% that a dog is a good idea. Yes a trained dog is better!
The best dog is a well trained dog. We had a black lab I would put up against any dog. She was one of a kind. Went timber cruising every day with my husband, put in many miles a day. At home she loved and protected the family and her domain. No one came near my kids, until we told her okay. She was strong and fast. My husbands proudest moment (guy thing)was when another Timber cruiser had his wolf dog with him. He kept telling my husband that he better watch out for his dog and keep ours away. Long story short. My husband let her out of the rig to pee and the other dog jumped out of his rig and tried to get her. She was on him so fast and had him down. The other guy was yelling for my husband to get her off. My husband couldn't wait to call me.
My Great Pyr and My Anatolian Shepherd are a GREAT team! Excellent guardians of the flock and herd. Loyal and obedient to me. I sleep well at night knowing that they work the night shift around here.
Love the emphasis on training. 110%
Entire time we were raising children and I had an at home daycare, we had German Shepard. I grew up with them. Not only did we socialize but also took to training. Our dogs were trained to hand signals as well. Never once did a problem with them, other then getting one to live past 10. For a month or so one decided parents could no longer just walk in the gate to pick up thier kids. No problem with drop, just pick up. We got it worked out. Ours never alarmed or alerted which can be a problem. When all of the kids were gone, we got ankle biters. Morkys to be specific as we then wanted alert dogs. I became allergic to long hair or double coated dogs. Lots of socialization, no training but our own. These are excellent alert dogs. Most people are just as afraid of them as Shepard. They too respond well to hand signals and protect our hens. Our first chick's were kept inside for 3 weeks and little girl stayed with them. If she barked we would find a chick perched on the edge of its container. If it got out she alerted and kept the chick in check. She now gathers eggs, one at a time. She has never broke an egg. No other animals get near without alert. When we get on our land we will again have a German Shepard, with a dog house and our alert dogs inside. As a child of 7 a 12 year old jumped on me purposefully, our Shepard pulled them off by thier shirt, never injuring them but getting the job done. A dog is still man's best friend.
Got a pit-bull terrier mix, Lola, shes clam but alert, listens to every commend even when under stress or distraction. She only barks "more of a quit ruff" to alert, as soon as I'm aware she gets quite, She's some what skittish and would run from a fight, but shes big enough to defend her self if cornered. Her medium size means she's not a bottomless pit for food, and altho not small she could still be carried or passed over a fence with ease. Her medium size also means good eating if I'm despite.
You mentioned 3 types, Alerts, guard, intimidate. There's one more you might want to include, Distraction.
Not all guard dogs are capable of being good distractions because of there training, and not all alert dogs would be trainable for distraction, but my little lola would fall in this type. Shes well trained like a guard dog, but doesn't have the capability of being a man stopper, and she's not a intimidating. She is trained to clear a building in front of me, as well as to follow behind, on hikes she's trained to follow way out in front, way behind or right beside me on command. She also is trained to try and put presser on any threats while keeping her distance, run at the site of gun or stand her ground if I tell her to, she's a costumed to guns, cars, and other things that would normally throw a dog for a loop . She is also trained to find help on command, or to search for people on command. She is insanely smart, and I swear she understands half of what I'm saying even in normal conversation.
As amazing as she is, most people don't believe me when I tell them shes was just a mutt, that was given to me out of a shopping cart at walmart.
Our GSD’s are wonderful. Voice commanded, incredibly smart and sweet, that is, unless a stranger gets between them and our kids or chickens. We got them both from the CO Front Range German Shepherd Rescue.
Bear, Are you sure you weren't a "Drill Sergeant" in the Military? LOL...love your approach. You are spot on! I've actually worn out hiking boots, while carrying a 50 pound plus pack. Your points are well stated! Thanks!
You hit the nail on the head at the beginning of the video with "none of these breeds will be effective at the things we're going to discuss unless you take the time to train them."
Finally someone that understand that dogs need, want and are suposed to have a job!
Man stoppers and true property guardians are competent until the threat has an engeneering advantage dogs don't... a weapon. Then, dogs become time buyers for you to get the advantage having a firearm, the time, being in your castle and hopefully the training needed to use the other things at your disposal (time, weapons and place).
All dogs should be trained!
My pit bull is a hell of a dog but I've been training him every day for years and years. Got him after the military and he literally goes everywhere with me . I rescued him ater he was abandoned out in the country and had some serious ear infections goin on but I brought him back to life. He has been by my side for almost 10 years
Kill it before it goes off on someone. And don’t give me the “my dog wouldn’t hurt anyone “ bs.
@@tomvana4270 the only reason you think it’ll kill someone is because you’re negligent and have had dogs escape. Other people actually manage their dogs well enough none of that would happen. Put a sally port on your kennel and have a yard fence. Problem solved. No need for hysteria.
I don’t currently have a dog and the three that I did have were golden retrievers. Hardly man killers. And I unlike most dog owners had complete control over my dogs. I’m in the service industry and trust me most pet owners have no control over their pets. Pits are trained to kill and it’s nothing more than a accident or death to happen. If you disagree it’s because you’re in denial. Those dogs are a danger to the public and have no purpose. Get over it.@@victorygarden556
I have Australian shepherd, mixed with American bullboxer he is my little savage, but I spend a lot of time with him. It is hard to find balance between maintaining his effectiveness as a guard dog, while having him meet new people all the time…. It’s been making him soft
God Bless We the People
Strangely enough I have a "guard pug" lol. He is a Pug/Boston Terrier mix where it is obvious he has the terrier in him body-wise if you really look, but upon first glance at his face you'd just think oh, a pug. He was rescued from a terribly abusive and neglectful situation and even after being rehabbed by me and socialized is still very wary and standoffish with strangers, especially men. He is extremely attached to me after I gained his trust and love, and is even more of a velcro dog than pugs usually are, and is unusually eager to please me. He accompanies me everywhere 24/7 and visibly guards me if he thinks anything seems off, and will get into a stance right next to my ankle like he is about to spring and growls a low rumble. If he thinks someone that is shady or poses a threat to me comes too close he will raise his shackles and bare his teeth and snarl and bark like he thinks he is a Doberman lol. I have never seen any other pug (and I have owned many) behave like this. He never leaves my ankle, even if not on a leash, and I did NOT train him to do this. I did train him to sit down and stop doing it after I ask, though, because it wasn't always appropriate; though a few times it possibly has been.
He also knows if someone is outside near the door or window and will alert me. Once when I was at a gas station he was in my car with the window partly up and as I was coming back out to the pumps from being inside this homeless junkie dude came up and started hassling me for money and grabbed my arm. My dog jumped out the window and came flying across the parking lot snarling and attacked the guy's pantlegs. Not that a 12 lb runty pug mix that's overly small due to poor nutrition as a pup is particularly scary or able to do the guy any harm, but he sure latched on to those pants and out came the terrier half lol. He distracted the guy enough for me to shove him down on the ground and for us to get away from him as the store employee came running out to help. He may be small but he is ride or die in his love for me, and I feel the same about him. I doubt he'd survive a SHTF or a serious threat, but you gotta give him props for having a big heart.
I have a Belgian Malinois…..THE BEST! Thanks for the disclaimer, some people need it.
P.S - I have spent the last 14 months Training him since I got him at 7 weeks. Folks, check this breed out.
I have a German shepherd mix and a border collie mix, we have livestock and my bc is awesome herder, he body blocks sometimes, my German shepherd mix is a security dog, deturant ect
And so, treat him well. Valuable companion. ;)
My dog would not be any good in a SHTF scenario she’s a very small chihuahua but protecting her will make me twice as dangerous 😎
Great pyrenees female, Great pyrenees/anatolian cross male, and 3 blue heelers. Blue heelers trained exceptionally well, the others just lay around most of the time until it's time to destroy something foxes, coyotes etc.
Our Pyrenees are bonded to livestock and live out in the pasture. And yes, they’ll utterly DESTROY predators. We’ve had issues with Anatolians killing livestock that look significantly different, so no more of those. We only have one “pet” Pyrenees, and it’s the only one with a name. His job is guarding the house. They’re extremely nocturnal. Super lazy all day long, but once it’s dark, he’s making laps around the house and house trap.
I've got a Griff, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
Chill but alert. Points, searches, comes when called. Walks me about a thousand miles a year. Comes from the larger bloodlines. AKC lists them as males max at 65 lbs. He's 85 lbs. He got speared on a stick chasing a rabbit. Still managed to walk home most of a mile.
He's got dog and people friends all over town. He travels pretty well. Swims, even caught a catfish one time.
Part of his training was doggy day care. He tends to pull on the leash a bit for the firs half mile until he takes a dump, then he walks very well. He can handle pistol and shotgun fire from 30 yards, but does not like rifle fire at up to 75 yards away.
My dog is big but too old and friendly, he's not good for SHTF, but a good buddy
But he is thier to boast morale and be a companion and also as a alarm system people with dogs live longer then people without dogs also I believe it's 3 years or longer
Great topic Bear. And a very important one. Training is key! We lost both of dogs last year, 11 days apart from each other. A Rottweiler and a Lab, similar in age (12-14 years old). When the first one passed away, we knew the second one was coming. They were that close to each other. The protection they provided us for years was unquestionable, especially with our young children.
Have had 4 Akitas, best dog for my lifestyle/protection both in the mountains and home, they have chased away more grizzlies and timber wolves(not the little wolves) than I can count, I only let people into my home if they meet them first, if the pups do not like the person then I never do business with that person again, their instincts are far superior to ours. Great video by the way, training is key, also finding a match for you personality is key to training them with less headache.
I love this, all good breeds, I never hear anyone talk about the giant shnowser , as a former shutszund trainer I can not tell you how many underestimate that breed. They are some of the smartest dogs I have ever worked with. I try to break down training to simple steps, suppress certain instincts and bring out certain instincts in the breed you are training. My lifestyle has changed in the last few years so I currently have a bull mastiff. Will definitely be getting a higher energy dog after him but he has served great the last 7 years. Thanks bear for this realistic breakdown.
Definitely gonna check out that LG training. Great tip, thank you. I prefer standard Schnauzers personally. Best dog I've ever owned. I hope to own a Caucasian Mountain Shepherd, Rough Collie, & another Standard Schnauzer in the coming yrs. Not only for their individual qualities, but also as a pack to make up for their individual weaknesses. Praying I'll have time before the coming collapse.
Love my black toy poodle she has the heart of a lion. No mouse will survive around here. She is not scared of anything and makes her rounds several times a day making sure no threats around. Definitely sounds the alarm if she perceives any threats.
So right on. Train your dog not to bark. It's all about the training and socialization.
I have a 10yr old Chihuahua and a 4yr old Lab/Pit Bull/ Boxer mix, lots of barks. The mix will hurt you with love!
We have a Rhodesian ridgeback/Akita mixed, paid $50 for her. Training, training and more training. That's what it's about.
Hybrid 3/4 Shepherd 1/4 wolf you could not tell him he was not the end all do all because he thought he was and he was very well trained for personal protection and police work 🐝
I have 2 Great Pyrenees on my 4 acres here in S.W. Missouri.
I believe we live in about the same conditions as you with coyotes possum and other critters including Armadillos tearing up the sod.
My dogs seem to do a good job of keeping them all at bay, but my problem is that they're stubborn, ie barking.
No matter how much I stay in their ass about it they can't seem to help themselves but to bark.
They're brothers so for about the past six months or so they've started to fight too, I guess it's a domination thing...
They're going to be 3 years old here in November but I don't see any sign of them slowing down, they actually seem to be getting more embolded to flex their muscles.
I've been known to train dogs to bend to my will but these two have been hard case.
Any suggestions 🤔
My friends son trains Belgian Malinois for security and guard dogs...my dogs are mixed breeds and two of them work well.the third one is the alarm dog..
Best dog I've ever had was a black shepherd/ coyote mix..no one could get near my son she blocked them. Saved him from an abduction once. Only 45 lbs but could pop tennis balls..
Belgians are wicked smart.
Also constant training and working together... keeps a game sharp
I had an English bull terrier cross staffy who was a pig hunting dog and was an absolute beast. He was a top guard dog except for one thing, he wouldn't bark at intruders because he knew they wouldn't come over the fence. So he sat in wait and once they were over the fence he went on with it. Savaged a few people in his life time
I love dogs that prefer to wait the bad guy in silence.
Good topic. My pomeranian is a terror. Very protective. Doesnt eat much and easy to clean up after. Alerts me if even a squirl is 100 yards away. Perfect dog for my situation.
I have LGDs..fir livestock protection..
If they bark its bad..they need immediate assistance.
I have 2 others that are protection for family. Training cost 800.00 each
One is a Catahoula the other is Catahoula bluetick cross.
They can and will be very aggressive if you have a bad heart coming here.
They rarely bark until need be..
Voice cmd and hand cmd.. trained.
These 2 are just like family for us.
And we have a mutt that lives in the house.. 20lb barker alarm
Might be worth looking into a couple dogs not mentioned. Both of which are mixes and both of which are and have been used for a century or two in the US. Curs and bully breed mixes.
Curs (black mouth curs, red curs, catahoula leopard curs, etc) are mixed breed mediumish sized dogs (40-100 lbs depending on their job). Capable of everything from working cattle to livestock protection to squirrel hunting to homestead protection to hog huntin. Independent. Super smart. Loyal. Athletic. Work well with families and in packs, not particularly friendly to others. They were bred not on their physical appearance but on their ability to produce results at particular jobs. You gotta go down south to get em. They are quite the handful if not given serious work regularly, many people don’t keep them in the houses.
Then pit bull/bully breed mixes. Do the same as the cur dogs. A little more heavy on the protection and less on the hunting. Vs the cur dogs which are a little more heavy on hunting. Although I had a pit mix that had a great nose. A lot of times curs and pits will be mixed for various traits. Pits are usually more chill. More “friendly” to the human pack. You can have a pit in the house, no problem and some like to work, some like to lay.
Best breeds r based solely on where you live as as temperature can impact how effective they will be in any situation
Dogs are great but not as cool as a hunting falcon.
Bad guys can’t fight if they can’t see! Lol
Ok that is pretty freaking cool!
Why not both? And a horse? Go full scythian and hunt from the horse while you're wolf and raven, I mean dog and hawk track game.
Siiick!. You win lol
Or a liger as napoleon dynamite would say
Slight addition, I've got a male doberman and a female German shepherd. The Dobbie is a giant watchdog and guard dog, haven't managed to get him to shut up when anyone is in the yard. Anything in HIS yard is worthy of barking and attacking, if he manages to be let into the yard for the latter. If something's going on outside the house, just open the door and he's on it. He snatches squirrels before they can scamper up the trees. He's not a "keep my position hidden" dog. Also, everytime I've had to shoot something, he'll run up and make sure it's really dead. The shepherd is a bit of a late responder. She'll rip someone to pieces, but only after you've gotten spooked or told the person to f off. The Dobbie is proactive, the shepherd is reactive.
Had a very intelligent dog that would stop barking when " no bark!" Was commanded. Great judge of character. Knew what I was thinking almost before I did. Strong and athletic, 62 lbs could and did intimidate . Held a miscreant at 10 feet until I drew my pistol. She knew enough to hold the adversary and identify the threat until the main force arrives ( me with optimal firearms) Yes she was trained but it didn't take a lot to train her. Died at age 16. Still missed. Pure bred Pit Bull by the way.
Love the fact that you drove home the need for proper training of the dogs. Would like to add, YOUR personal knowledge and training to work as a team. For it is, after all, a team effort when you come down to it.
I have trained both military and Police K-9's and you are absolutely correct. The dog is only as good as its training
We have a pack (4) of Great Pyrenees on our homestead. They're what we need where we are. Their barking drives off predators from our livestock. That's what we need. Now in shtf they would make it difficult for hunting as they drive off moose and deer too. They also actually let us know when things are wrong. As an example they notified us about a fire up near our barn. They also notify us when the animals are having babies during lambing/farrowing season. Super hardy too during winter. Our winters are very cold and they are 100% able to stay outside during the coldest times. We're also on the Farai breeders list in Canada. Great dogs! Btw my production quality is worse than yours!
my dogo argentine used to do bodyblocking when we were out on walks and someone came close to us,no matter if it was only human or a human with a dog.I miss her so much
Love Schnauzers-- they are a working breed, and giant schnauzer is great for guarding and work. I think the best dogs are those breeds that can do more than one thing-- cane corsos, german shephards, rotties, livestock guardian dogs, schnauzers, newfies.
I created my own dog breed I feel is the best dogs for us. They are pit bull, German Shepherd and blood hound. You get the aggressiveness of the Pitbull, the intelligence of the German Shepherd, and the tracking skill and size of the bloodhound.
I love my Doberman he is a natural protector ain’t no raccoons, squirrels, possums or snakes ever getting out of my yard alive
Excellent information and advice sir! The most important aspect is training the animal to do the jobs it is acquired for, while being a well behaved pet.
Like humans, they rise to the level of their training, not the level of expectation! Well said!
We went with a Pit bull/ mix and a Rottweiler, both over 100 lbs.
Another great video Bear! Much appreciated! Thanks Survival Dispatch!
I have dobermans. Have had them for 45 yrs. The one I have right now is a rescue and has floppy ears. She is frikn awesome. Not a guard dog at all. I have my chihuahua for that lol😂❤
Great video. Would love to see a pic of Sam. We have a Great Pyr/Anatolian mix as well. He was the best dog. He was 178 lbs of muscle and able to look inside cars without stretching his neck. He did the body block thing with my wife when she was pregnant to keep our Lab away from her. Great protection. He was trained and nothing entered our property. Highly recommended!
A cocker spaniel mix with a staffy would be a great dog for urban and rural areas. Would pack a punch and be a good swimmer.
Appreciated your comment on Giant Schnauzer. The hearing and alertness of schnauzers and terrier breeds ( wire fix, border, airedales) is outstanding as a group. You'll have a superb early warning system with a couple of those dogs.
As for LGD, their proclivity to roam is pretty breed specific. Anatolians will roam the farthest as a general rule while Maremas roam the least. If you have a 5, 10, 20 acre patch and plenty of neighbors in your rural area I'd advise against an Anatolian. Too many issues of them straying onto neighbor's place. Straying dogs end up on the receiving end of SSS.
Last, please don't highlight or promote crossbreeding LGDs. You're destroying thousand years of intentional skills selection and environmemtal adaptation. I'd imagine less than 2% of US owners of ANY LGD breed know how to to select and promote a bloodline outside of 'it barks and kills coyotes'. Those attributes are actually pretty thin gruel to build and develop a breed.
I've had good experience with Ridgebacks, independent , they don't need constant attention, smart , healthy, loud , intimidating, territorial .
My 2 Chihuahua males are just enough thank you
Something to consider is your climate for the breed you pick. We have a Doberman pit mix. She likes to keep an eye on things but not dangerous to anyone we bring over. Doesn't excessively bark. But she can't stand the cold. Factor in if you want your dog to be able to stay outside at times. Ive never heard of huskies being guard dogs ours is protective in a good way. She keeps and eye on things. She would destroy someone if she knew something wasn't right. She enjoys being outside at night if we let her but she does wander so stays in at night now. We live in a neighborhood so can't allow it. Her dad was husky. Mom was lab corgi mix. Boerbels or African Mastiffs are cool butva big dog like that needs to eat a lot.
You had me at "no whining". Great info. I have Dobermans. Always have, always will. One does have to "alpha wolf" the big dogs, otherwise they will eat you one day. Even as a little old lady I can snap my fingers and point (my dogs are hand commanded) and my Dobermans will drop immediately to the lay down position. And yes, they do detour idiots from coming on my property simply because they ..well..look like Dobermans.
We raised AKC Dobermans when I was a child. Very loyal, super smart, visually intimidating, not huge barkers, generally, but never get one from a puppy mill or you could get a bad tempered one. They are not cold hardy so should not be left outside in winter overnight unless you're in a warm climate. I'd love to have one again as I approach 65 years old. They can learn to get along with chickens, as I know many who have them around their chickens, but again, training is paramount. The dog of my childhood.
They are great dogs. Unfortunately too many of the wrong folks buy them. My ex had an awesome one. I was luke warm at the prospect too start with. That dog turned out to be an awesome dog. He earned titles in show, agility, jumpers, obedience and passed his disposition test with flying colors. He earned a Registry of Merit distinction from the breed group. He could literally do everything. And he was a sweetheart. He was very fit and had shredded shoulders from the agility and jumpers courses he frequently ran. When we took him for a walk cars would literally stop so the drivers could ask what kind of dog he was. We'd answer "A Doberman". People would answer " I thought so, I just never saw one that gorgeous." They always made him run the agility course last because he frequently destroyed some of the obstacles. He was so fast and strong that often the fabric of the shoots they ran through would split or pull off the mounts. And the stakes holding the curved tunnels would pull out of the ground. The hardest part of agility for him was that he preferred to jump straight to the top of the A frame. If he was going fast on the A frame, and you were in his way, he'd just jump over you. His nick name in our group was The Terminator due to his destruction of agility courses.
In our experience nanny's are the best description of a Doberman trait. Ours nannied all the family and animals till her last day. With training wonderful family and farm dog. For sure hates to be cold but extremely active their first 5years. They are not for the faint of heart or a couch potato lots of energy to burn.
Thinking about a jacket Russell terrier. I find small dogs more likely to wake up quickly and a good terrier would possibly feed itself in a pinch. But great information thanks.
Good choice. Smart, family focused, active. They need to be trained since they are restless due to their intelligence.
Have mix, Jack Russell, Britney, Corkey. Got him at shelter. He is excellent to train. Calm but territorial enough to train boundaries. He even works with cats to get squirrels. Keeps coyotes away from our house.
I have a mountain Curr...he is loveable...but protective
Dog side - always go GERMAN.
GSD.
If you can deal with the slobber, Rottie.
Doberman a second to GSD. A pair preferred.
Hip Dysplacia more evident in "Pedigree GSD's" then crosses.
Love em.
GSD all the way babey........
Or maybe a Sarf African Ridgeback!
it may have been said already, but I'd like to mention having TWO (or more) dogs is far superior than a single animal.
Companionship for each other, warmth in a shelter, and pack menatility among other things. YES it will cost more food, space etc, but thats a given with anything that you have more than 1 of.
Pack mentality: 1 + 1 = MUCH more than 2. 3 good dogs can keep a large predator occupied at the very least, and kill it in an optimal situation.
Stay gold.
Great timing on the video! And good video as well
I have 4 APBTs.. they are trained n are ALOT of work.. they are a great early warning system n they are fearless.. i fully trust them..
Blue heeler. You need a tough, smart, strong member of the pack.
You need to consider the life span of these breeds. My choice is the Black Lab, which can live up to 20 years, and be productive for at least 15 years.
Yup. There is more to the Lab than hunting.
Australian sheep or cattle dogs. Always had one or the other. Suckers practically train themselves. Amazing dogs. Great watchdogs .
Excellent video! Had to laugh when you listed the critters your dogs have taken, ours have many of the same...but, ours always lost to the skunks.
A tried and true, proven dog that has spent many thousands of years in harsh isolated living conditions with its human companions is the Australian Dingo. They are a wild dog that knows how to look after themselves, so aren't a burden on their human companions.
Hello and thanks for the info. Always enjoy your videos bear
My female shepherd listens and i never trained her but she is protective of kids and me especially. I wish I had trained her to work though as a shtf dog. She just had puppies though and I’m training the one I kept and my friends to be working dogs.
Have an 11 year old Tibetan Mastiff and a 6 month old Caucasian Shepherd. Investing in the future. Grandma is very much helping in training Jr.
I have a Belgian Malinois!