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From a survival/preparedness point of view a dog offers a series of advantages that should not go unnoticed, yet at the same time we have to consider the disadvanteges as well.
Feeding a dog during an economic downturn can be a problem. Proof of that is the ammount of abandoned expensive dogs we see in cities becuase of the crisis. At the same time we may want a dog for security and need a certian size and intimidation factor which the smallest pets will not deliver. Their keen senses alert them and they can bark so as to warn you but sometimes you will want a dog criminals will have respect for.
Maybe their most important real world role, a dog means fun and entertainment for both adults and children. At the same time a needy dog will take up more of your time. A dog that sheds too much hair will also force you to clean more if it sleeps indoors.
For these reasons I feel that a Bull Terrier is an interesting alternative, mostly for people with time and space restrictions, a good comprosmise between feeding costs, intimidation and friendlyness towards kids.
The Jack Russell is also an interesting choice, especially if small game hunting is in the picutre, but it lacks the size for a security dog.The Bull terrier isnt very big, but still big enough o bite and scare would be robbers.
Take care,
FerFAL
10 comments:
Chow.
Isn't aggressive, yet would attack and die for it's owner if they were threatened. Doesn't eat much, doesn't require much exercise and doesn't require much training.
The only downside is it isn't a patrol dog. It will stay right next to it's owner, yet it will track all movement and sounds in a larger perimeter around it's owner.
Chow. Protection, not intimidation.
I second a Jack Russell - my family has owned 4 over 20 years and they are superb at a number of tasks. The first is that they have an incredibly high loyalty reflex; this makes them difficult to subvert and bark at EVERYONE who is not in their immediate family. Second is the Bark - it's obnoxious and loud - easy to hear over long distances. Third, they are superb hunters. My stepfather's original Jack Russell, Lucky, was blind with cataracts in each eye.. but could still go tearing off into the woods to catch small game on a frighteningly regular basis. That dog was an outright killing machine. Another nice plus is the small size means minimum food requirements... not that it matters - a Jack Russell will eat anything. And I mean anything. Sticks, bones, rabbit poop, you name it.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2027286/Darla-Napora-Pregnant-woman-dies-mauled-pet-dog-living-room.html
she was a member of a pit bull
support group.
Good choice. In the U.S. a similar choice is the Pit Bull Terrier. The breed has been maligned as fighting dogs (not the dogs fault) or as belonging to gang members etc. A well bred, trained and loved Pit Bull, or good mix is a wonderfull dog with many traits of the Bull Terrier, but much more available in the U.S.
I agree with anonymous, the Chow has a lot to offer from a protection standpoint. They are fiercely territorial and very quick to go into action when they feel they need to.
Fernando makes a good case for the bull terrier. All of the bull terriers (the pitbull, Staffie, Amstaff and the Bull Terrier) all pose an intimidating threat to criminals without taking up much space or food in a shtf scenario. However they bull terriers don't have much territorial instincts (i.e. they won't guard property) so your stuff may still get stolen.
I would get a small Rottweiler. 90lbs maximum size. A Rottie will do everything well. Intimidation, property protection, family protection, and even will hunt (within limits). Consider the Rottie carefully because a tough Rottie needs an experienced owner.
I want the biggest, meanest looking dog I can find. If he looks bad enough, he'll turn 99% of aggressors away without so much as curling his lip back. I'm 250 lbs and can stomp most dogs under 75 lbs to death but put me up against a 125 lb+ dog with an attitude and I will walk away every time.
The bads: They have no "off" switch. This is why they *eat* children, etc
The goods: They're nice and meaty.
A big 125lb dog with an attitude is a lot of work. A ton of work. If you've never owned a dog before, they will be far too much work for you. Even if you've owned a big dog before, getting one with an attitude is more work than a nice big dog.
If you don't have the free time to train a big or aggressive dog, then invariably that dog is going to grow up mean, and end up biting one of the innocent neighborhood kids. Even if your neighborhood kids aren't innocent, the police will treat it as your fault, kill the dog to autopsy it's brain to check for rabies, charge you for that expensive rabies test, and arrest you for assault.
If you've never had a dog before, don't start with an aggressive or big dog.
Bull Terriers are GREAT dogs to have, family/child friendly, but intimidating to those that they SENSE mean harm. I have 4 Pitbulls now...subserviant to me and the rest of my family (5 kids) but no one wants to mess with them. Don't eat alot, fast learners and highly protective of 'theirs' without training. I had a contractor in my house after Irene and my 5 month old female pit paid him no mind until he came into the house and she wanted a piece of him immediately...turns out the guy was a crook and she 'knew' it.
Bull Terriers are GREAT dogs to have, family/child friendly, but intimidating to those that they SENSE mean harm. I have 4 Pitbulls now...subserviant to me and the rest of my family (5 kids) but no one wants to mess with them. Don't eat alot, fast learners and highly protective of 'theirs' without training. I had a contractor in my house after Irene and my 5 month old female pit paid him no mind until he came into the house and she wanted a piece of him immediately...turns out the guy was a crook and she 'knew' it.
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