Dogs and Survival

Reasons to think twice before eating your dogs in a survival situation:
(In no particular order)

1. They can help locate (sniff out) animals for food
2. They can offer a significant moral boost, extra reason to live
3. Possible beasts of burden
4. Can help you fight off animals and other people, especially when you are wounded
5. Keep you warm when you sleep
6. Dogs are likely to be able to survive on their own, you can watch and learn
7. All but eliminates the need for an untrustworthy human companion
8. Can be trained to hunt, track, seek and destroy, attack etc.
9. Excellent as an early warning to many types of danger
10. They can always be eaten if they die or if there is nothing else!

Those are some reasons I think it would be worthwhile to keep your dog alive. I don't think you should sacrifice yourself for your dog but they can be very valuable long-term when they are alive, instead of short-term when dead. Please comment and share your thoughts!

 

Yeah I addressed this a while back but I couldn't get the document to upload.

I've got FM-7-40 scout dog training and employment in pdf form, for any who want it.

It's 5.72 MB.

I'll give it one more try, otherwise PM me and I'll email you it.

Also a great (the best) dog training book is "THE KOEHLER METHOD OF GUARD DOG TRAINING" 1967, 1962
ISBN # 0-87605-552-8

Oh well once again "upload of file failed"

 

It's all about "training"!
I have my newly acquired 2 year old "queensland heeler" working already with just my hand signals!
In as little as 60 days....
Barking can be controlled, and mine won't bark unless someone is too close to the house now....
I won't try to stop that behaviour, as long as I am surrounded by illegal immigrants...
And I mean a LOT of them.
95 families here, and now only 5-6 families are NOT illegals!
We have had a considerable amount of thefts, and attempted break-ins...Now, they don't come around with the dog...
(even though he is not trained in any form of security/attack modes)
They even ignored my 8 outdoor cameras, that THEY know are working 24/7!

 

My dog (Shepherd) barks like a mother when animals or people are within 20 feet of the house. I'd like to train her more though, she went after a rabbit today and saw her first turtle (LOL).

 

I think I'd better devote more time to training now, while it's still possible!
Tomorrow may be too late!
Bill

 

LOL!
Yeah that might be like hand feeding a pet alligator...
( Dad tried that when I was 6....It's still funny!) to me anyways!
Seeing that a dog has much more developed sensory abilities than we do, I have to say a dog is a number 1 in security....
Sight, hearing, and smell-wise, they are number 1 in my book!
Now there are a few problems....
Like being in a place where there may be bears, ( so I have been told) being "natural" enemies, the bear would travel a distance of 20-30 miles to attack a dog ? Not sure about that one! ( best left to the hunters out there for the answers!)
Also, a dog attracts other species, such as coyote's....Now that I know as fact! They are even more so attracted to puppies with those squeals they emit! ( great coyote calls!!!)
Not sure about big cats, but I'd say no way....(need advisory on that one), seems cats are NOT so fond of dogs in even their large economy sizes!
Despite their few shortcomings, I'd go with dogs...batteries NOT req'd!

 

My twelve-legged golden weinermon pinchser came with several tasty sounding recipes but so far, they have all escaped the dinner pot. I am very attached to my puppies and they are very protective of me.

 

I'm jonesing for a pair of Rotwiellers.
That and a high fence around my property would be good to have in the bad times ahead.
Up to my gills right to deal with it though - maybe someday.

Just an FYI - I advise against an adult "rescue dog" to be put to work.
We have got one 5 years ago and within 2 weeks realized why she was abandoned.
It is truly natural selection at work. Most of the adult dogs are there for a very good reason.
Great if you have patience and just want a pet. Not good for any other use.

I'm thinking that maybe (and that's a big maybe) I can teach her to track rabbits but I can only guess what she'll do when the shotgun fires!

 

I had adopted an older (3-4 years) golden retriever...he was not at all happy about the shooting. I started him out with sounds from a bb gun, then a pellet gun, then a .22 and went from there to my 12 gauge.
He was not happy at the beginning, but once he saw a bird hit the ground, his shyness disappeared! He became a great hunting dog and would not move until I said the word "bird" to him.....he was the first in and the first out of the pickup, when he saw me get a gun from the closet!
I think it all depends on the breed as much as the age of the dog....
Some take to it like water, others never will get over the gun shy stage.

 

Yep, make sure the pooch can carry his own 'survival gear'.....

 

I was really close to posting a new thread on certain overlooked animals for SHTF. All you have to do is visit a 3rd world country to find out what is the easiest, most reliable, low maintenance food source.

Here in Iraq, dogs are not treated as pets as they are in the states. For the most part, they are wild. They get stomped, kicked, and occasionally shot. At most Iraqi posts, the Jundis will feed the dogs they treat like sh*t. The only reason I have come up with is that the dogs are a good alarm against bumps in the night. The majority of these jokers don't have NVDs and so dogs fill that gap for now. I don't think they would eat dog but other cultures have no problem with it.

Chickens, turkeys, and ducks are raised here as well. For the most part, they are not penned or looked after. They eat scrap and stay close to homes for protection. When it's dinner time, they go grab some chickens. There are a few coops around to supply fresh eggs.

Rabbits are raised here. I see "domestic" rabbits living in the wild here frequently. I started poking around and found out that the Jundis have been keeping a cage under a guard tower made out of Hesco barrier. All their rabbits appear healthy and fat. I am sure they were raised out of a necessity- Jundis usually only get a bowl of rice and some tomato soup for chow... chicken occasionally.

In having a discussion while hunting doves with my terp, I found myself trying to explain the difference between a dove and a pigeon. The Iraqis eat both. I looked to wiki for info so I could show my terp the difference.... turns out there isn't much difference. Most of us think of "city doves" as a nasty animal. In reality, there isn't much difference other than habitat. Both forage the same stuff when given the chance. Columbidae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Rock_dove_-_natures_pics.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Rock_dove_-_natures_pics.jpg/250px-Rock_dove_-_natures_pics.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/2/2b/Rock_dove_-_natures_pics.jpg/250px-Rock_dove_-_natures_pics.jpg

Just some random thoughts I've had here as I start to think about home.

 

I raise rabbits and fish for meat. My dogs love it when I process them because they get goodies. I have eaten pigeon on several occasions and find it quite palatable. We live near the Bay and get fresh crab and flounder a bunch. There is also a really great oyster bed there. Shrimp are abundant here, as well as most other seafoods. There are wild pig, deer, bear, groundhog, nutria, alligators, turtles, crawfish, and more squirrels than I have ever seen. Foraging around here is like a smorgasbord.

 

Sounds like heaven. Got to get out of suburbia...

I raise rabbits too. I question how well they'd do in hard times since they have such delicate digestive systems. You'd have to have good quality forage material and in hard times - who knows?
Right now I feed pellets, but I'm thinking about re-seeding my lawn and feeding them clippings - just an idea.

As far as eating dog. I would only eat a varmint as a dead last resort, and feral dogs are varmints. They'll eat anything from big game to roadkill and carry all associated parasites.

I know it's done, but in times of desperation, I'd rather forage for grubs, earthworms and crickets (which also carry tapeworms, so cook well!)!

 

My PitBull "Simba" is part of the family. He's 72 lbs of "IN YOUR FACE!" when given the command. 2 years of obedience training and 2 more of advanced training makes him a keeper. But, "Coco" the Chihuahua? he's headin'n to the Crock Pot! Yo Quiero Taco Bell
Call me Snake.

 

Basically, city pidgeons are larger and more aggressive than doves - at least here in Tallahassee. Once the city began their pidgeon eradication program, the doves are making a comeback in town. I know it's aesthetics more than anything, but I'd still favor dove over pidgeon. But the big 'king' woodpeckers and well-fed robins make very good eating too! Just don't let the authorities see ya kill them...!
Squirrels here are fairly plentiful - I am trying to keep the danged feral cats at bay to preserve my 'tree rats'. Saw my little 'blonde' squirrel yesterday. Real cute one with literally golden-blonde fur!
Lots of folks hereabouts have dogs, but they are basically useless 'pets'. Not trained for anything, they just bark at anything and everything. There is a certain annoying little JRT next door that I have mentally measured for my grill.......