good dog for widerness living

[owl_girl]

before i move back up north i need a dog. one that can help me hunt (silently), track, carry or pull my stuff and guard/watch and will be good with children. i know a lot of this will depend on the dogs individual temperament but breed plays a big roll as well.

this rules out german shepherd because their backs structure isnt good for supporting weight and over time could hurt their backs.

i need a dog with a high attention span

this rules out labs

it needs it to have a cold hardy coat.

this rules out a bunch of dogs

it cant be too uncommon or rare cause i dont have the $$

i was thinking a husky but i never herd of any one using them for hunting or tracking though i know they have a high pray drive but i couldnt find any info on the method they use to hunt or if its silent.

i finally decided on the elkhound which meets all my qualifications and sounds really smart and its fairly common.

http://www.puppypurebred.com/images/Norweigian%20Elk.jpg

"Elkhounds are used to hunt moose two ways, either as a loshund (free running) or as a bandhund (on an 8 to 10 foot leash with harness). If an Elkhound is trained as a loshund, the dog is allowed to try to find the elg on his own, either by open scent, or by tracking it down. This is called free-ranging. The Elkhound is taken to an area likely to be inhabited by moose, and then released off lead. The dog usually ranges around the area and sometimes finds a small knoll where he can stand on his hind legs to catch the scent. When the dog has detected the scent, he reports back to the hunter and then takes off into the woods out of sight but not without letting the hunter see which direction he is heading. The dog tracks the moose silently and reports back periodically to the hunter. When the dog sights the moose, he approaches silently; and then when he has gotten close enough to stand the moose at bay, he begins to bark. The moose, will sometimes lunge at the dog. This is where the dog's boldness, courage, and intelligence are essential - as well as such physical attributes as a short back, good leg length and the ability to bounce out of the way like a rubber ball.

On those occasions where the moose will break into a run, the dog follows along silently. He never barks while the moose is on the run. the moose eventually will come to a stop once again. If the hunter hears the dog barking, he knows that the dog has made a stand, and that he need only follow the direction of the barking. If the dog should fall silent, the hunter knows that the moose is on the run and the hunter will wait until he once again hears the barking. When the dog has found the moose, he barks and keeps it at bay for as long as it takes for the hunter to get in a position for the kill.

When an Elkhound is used as a bandhund, he is placed on an 8 to 10 foot lead and does his hunting by scent or tracking to locate the moose. The dog will instinctively use the wind when trying to locate it, always leading the hunter up against the wind. By doing this, the dog can scent the moose without the moose being able to scent or hear the dog and hunter.

When the dog finds fresh moose tracks his pace quickens and he works with intensity to locate the animal. The dog has to be absolutely quite at all times during tracking. The dog will indicate to the hunter that the moose is close, by either standing up on his hind legs and sniffing the air, dropping his tail from the curled position, or raising the hackles on his back, then the elkhound is commanded to sit or lie down, so as to be out of the line of fire between the hunter and the moose."

http://www.elkhound.net/huntingelkhound.htm

if i was stuck in the woods for a long time id want that. sorry if i was boring anyone this is a little long but i just thought it sounded like such an interesting wilderness dog

[Pal334]

I think someone like Jason can give some insight. I myself am a big bred type, but don't have enough background to give you any real advice

[crashdive123]

Yep - what Pal said. Jason can probably give you some good advice.

[wildWoman]

You will find an electronic collar a huge help if you are set on getting a dog with hunting instinct. Dogs with a strong hunting instinct tend to become deaf to all things around them, including your calling, when off on a really fresh scent. With an electronic collar, you can jerk them out of their dream and y can also train your dog to different commands with the collar. That way, you can command your dog even when out of sight and earhot, or if you need to give a command silently because there is game close by.

Jason sees it differently I'm sure, but most of the huskies I've known up here are a real pain in the woods. Tales abound (from our neighbours, friends, my boyfriend etc) of their huskies taking off after some game and coming back when it pleased them, hours or days later. Maybe less dominant and older huskies would feel more obliged to stick around, but basically, they're bred to run all day and until fairly recently in history had to often hunt for their own meal, so who can blame them. They need to be worked, that is run for hours, which most people end up not having the time for.

I know of a bear specialist up here who has two elkhounds and those two are excellent bear dogs.

I actually would recommend a standard poodle to you...I know they look kinda silly but they are extremely smart and what's even more, extremely eager to please. They are interested in doing what you want which makes working and being with a dog a lot more fun IMO. They have a good nose too and actually used to be retrievers, and are not as hyperactive as most of the working breeds are. You can teach most dogs how to track.

Be aware that moose kill dogs quite often...they are used to dealing with packs of wolves. We don't let our dogs approach moose closely. A moose usually just runs a short distance and then stands its ground. A dog that keeps bothering a moose can find itself stomped on pretty quick.

[owl_girl]

I myself am a big bred type
that is a big breed. weighs as much as a husky. its a couple inches shorter though.

[Pal334]

that is a big breed. weighs as much as a husky. its a couple inches shorter though.

Correct. I was referring to my true "love" a bull mastiff. It would not fit your crteria very well. But should not be a problem for me in New Jersey (where I live) or upstate NY where I will be going.

[owl_girl]

wildwoman, id prefer to avoid the electronic collar if i can. im very accustom to dominant dog and know how to handle them. i probably wont need the collar but ill consider it at that time if i do. huskys are very dominant, though the females aren't so bad. id assume elkhounds is about the same with dominance and i can handle that.

i would hunt on a leash so that shouldnt be a big problem. if i hunted the free rang style i wouldnt use a collar because thats not how this breed was bred to hunt. there not suppose to hunt the same style as golden retrievers or those breads. your not suppose to direct it or interfere.

this dog was bred for moose hunting (elghund) means moose dog, "elkhound" is a mistranslation. it also hunted bear and cougar and was used for this by vikings and is still used for this all the time in norway. its bred to have amazing reflexes and speed and have good judgment. so i think if i train it good it should be a good dog for what i need

i dont know if a poodle would do good in alaskas wilderness protecting me from bears and hulling my stuff. i know they are good dogs but i think an elkhound would be better suited for me. but thanks for the recommendation

[crashdive123]

Hope/Sourdough has a poodle. He might have some ideas.

[canid]

that's because elg/elk was first a name for eurasian moose, and due to a mistake became applied to the north american elk.

[owl_girl]

maybe someone should rename elk and put an end to the confusion.

ill call them screaming deer

[wildWoman]

An endless topic, dog breeds...sounds good what you've got in mind!

If you ever do want to get an electronic collar, get a decent one. Cabela's has a whole range of good ones, totally worth their money (grey hair and vet costs saved).
Hunting on a leash would be difficult unless above the treeline in my experience. One of our dogs is a German wirehair and we trained him for tracking and retrieving but had to resort to an electronic collar because it's just not feasible to be climbing over, under and around deadfall with a dog on a leash. He's very good unless he spots large game before us and starts taking off before he gets a command to stay. But that's where the electronic collar comes in.

I find most dogs will chase black bears up a tree, even little terriers. With grizzlies, they're usually better off keeping a low profile, depending on the bear.

Anyway, good luck and have fun! It's so cool once you're a good team with your dog and come to understand which bark and what body language they use for what animal species. One look at your dog, and you know if there's a moose or a bear ahead.
When are you gettin your new dog?

[equus]

yes i think that you made the right decision with going with the elkhound. they are great dogs that can hunt and pull their weight. I love the working breeds and the herding breeds of dogs.

[canid]

screaming deer, i like that.

[owl_girl]

Hunting on a leash would be difficult unless above the treeline in my experience. One of our dogs is a German wirehair and we trained him for tracking and retrieving but had to resort to an electronic collar because it's just not feasible to be climbing over, under and around deadfall with a dog on a leash.

yes good point. the website i listed said the method of hunting depends on the terrain so i guess id have to see what the area looks like before i could decide if i should hunt on leash or off.

if every thing goes according to pan in about a year or 2, shortly before i head up. i need to buy a few other things first that ill need to get me up there before i can get a dog.

[owl_girl]

yes i think that you made the right decision with going with the elkhound. they are great dogs that can hunt and pull their weight. I love the working breeds and the herding breeds of dogs.

have you had one your self? or knew a friends dog well? if you have any first hand experience with them id be happy to read it

[equus]

The other kind of dog that you might consider is the Karelian Bear Dog. They were bred for hunting big game. They are a little bigger than the elkhound. They can also pull because of their size I think a little more weight than the elkhound. I had a friend that had an elkhound it was trained to hunt and to pull. I don't think it pulled more than 25 lbs. They are very personable dogs that like to be with people and they are loyal. They are however a little strong willed. You have to have a lot of patience when dealing with this particular breed. They taught it to hunt from off leash. The bear dog is similar to the elkhound as far as the coat. They each have two coats a thick hair on top and a more softer dense hair under neath to protect them from the cold. Either way you want a dog that can do both be able to pull some weight and to help you hunt as well. Good luck on your search for your dog. Training for these types of dogs begin just after they are weaned. Most people take them on hunts with more experienced dogs so that they can learn from watching and mimicking the other dogs. Training one by itself might be a little hard not impossible to do but a little harder. Something that you might consider is to try to buy one that is already trained since this is something new to you.

[samurai steve]

I own a elky, and it is the best dog that I have ever had the priviledge of inviting into my family. Though they are a bit vocal at times, they are very easy to train, and do well in any climate. Protective, but not agressive, not to mention the best squirrel dog I've ever owened. They can be taught to hunt game of any caliber. From moose/elg to the above mentioned.
Downfall being, they shed alot, I meen alot! 5 times a year, but a frugall person could deal with that. On the plus, they have next to no natural health problems. Only thing that drives me nuts is their high shrill bark. But, all in all I think good choice for all around dog.

[Sourdough]

I actually would recommend a standard poodle to you...I know they look kinda silly.


Silly....SILLY.....SILLY LOOKING....??? Bite her "HarleyDog".:winkiss:

[wareagle69]

children???????
something we should know about young lady?????

[ClayPick]

I had to put my little poodle dog down last May, he was struggling with a collapsing trachea. I haven’t really dealt to well with that yet and am letting time do its thing. My other dogs are a Golden Retriever, a German Shepherd and a Husky. The retriever and the shepherd come from New Brunswick, the husky I brought home from northern Labrador. The little poodle excelled in more dog attributes than the other three combined.
He was always the most aware and fearless because he knew I had him covered. His only downfall was the cold and having hair not fur, he would turn into a snowball in no time. Most of Tinks winter traveling was done in my knapsack. My other dogs needed his brain.:)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/Back_Burner/lilltink.jpg

[wareagle69]

two of the best dogs i have ever owned have been poodle mixes, excellent outdoor dogs, but not much for carrying anything useful for that i would perosnally go with the akita, especiaaly for the north

[owl_girl]

children???????
something we should know about young lady?????

lol no. some day. but not yet. but they live around 15 years and by that time...

[DOGMAN]

Great thread!

A couple of replies...WW...I agree with your statements about Huskies, in general if one runs off in pursuit of something, good luck on getting it to come back! They run and run and come back when tired and hungry. Thats not always the case with all of them, but it is fairly common enough to make a general breed statement.

Like equs said, I vote Karelian Bear Dog. they can pull a sled, they hunt well, they are very protective and they get locked in on being the protector of kids, in my eyes they are a great northern wilderness dog.

Next, look into a Mountain Curr, "Old Yeller" was a mountain curr and they are known to be one of the best homestead style dogs of all time

Also, a standard poodle is a pretty all around fine dog, they hunt, a few have run the Iditarod, they are loyal and they are tough!....once you get over the fact you own a poodle- their awesome dogs I am told.

[wildWoman]

My world's best dog is yellow, does he qualify as a Mountain Curr? He has a built in GPS and leads me back home on command from anywhere in the bush, is incredibly brave, very sweet-natured with other dogs and people unless he thinks somebody wants to do me harm, and an excellent bear dog.
He's just a northern mutt from the local First Nation reserve and the best dog I'll ever have. But he's 16 now and this will probably be our last winter, from the looks of it.

[finallyME]

My malamute covers everything you want, but hunting. Basically does what WW and Jason said that huskies do. Although, she has surprised me and not run off for long periods. But then again, she hasn't been off leash when she saw a deer.

[owl_girl]

Great thread!

A couple of replies...WW...I agree with your statements about Huskies, in general if one runs off in pursuit of something, good luck on getting it to come back! They run and run and come back when tired and hungry. Thats not always the case with all of them, but it is fairly common enough to make a general breed statement.

Like equs said, I vote Karelian Bear Dog. they can pull a sled, they hunt well, they are very protective and they get locked in on being the protector of kids, in my eyes they are a great northern wilderness dog.

Next, look into a Mountain Curr, "Old Yeller" was a mountain curr and they are known to be one of the best homestead style dogs of all time

Also, a standard poodle is a pretty all around fine dog, they hunt, a few have run the Iditarod, they are loyal and they are tough!....once you get over the fact you own a poodle- their awesome dogs I am told.

the mountain curr may have to short of fur. the bar dog looks ok but id need to know mor about it hunting style. from what ive seen they dont look like silent hunters. but maybe i should investigate a bit more. i dont want the dog to take the animal down. mostly it would be silently tracking over long distances. and i dont want it to attack a bear im not hunting. would a bear dog be to zealous?

[owl_girl]

My world's best dog is yellow, does he qualify as a Mountain Curr? He has a built in GPS and leads me back home on command from anywhere in the bush, is incredibly brave, very sweet-natured with other dogs and people unless he thinks somebody wants to do me harm, and an excellent bear dog.
He's just a northern mutt from the local First Nation reserve and the best dog I'll ever have. But he's 16 now and this will probably be our last winter, from the looks of it.

thats an awesome dog WW. hes beautiful. i think thats really cool that he takes you back home when you ask. im sorry though about him being old. thats hard. i know what thats like.

[wildWoman]

Thanks, Owl Girl :-)

I used to tell the dogs "okay, let's go back" on a walk at the time we turned around when we'd go back the same way we had come. So over time, they came to understand "let's go back" means we're going home or to camp or wherever we started from. But out of our four dogs, only Blizzard, the oldie, has the leadership qualities to actually lead us back on command. All the others get sidetracked by fresh scents all the time or need reassurance they're going the right way. Actually, Blizzard never leads home the way we came, he goes the shortest route back, even in completely strange surroundigs. No idea how he does it.
But it's a worthwhle command to tech the dogs, I think.

Our "neighbour" here has a Karelian bear dog but it's an annoyig barker and moose chaser. I don't know if that's typical of the breed or just of that particular dog.

[Pal334]

Jason: That is amazing: Also, a standard poodle is a pretty all around fine dog, they hunt, a few have run the Iditarod, they are loyal and they are tough!....once you get over the fact you own a poodle- their awesome dogs I am told.

THat is something I never would have believed or though possible. I knew if I was not careful, I would learn stuff on this forum :) Thanks

[DOGMAN]

Poodles getting it done

http://retrieverman.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/retrieving-poodle.jpg?w=450&h=403


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2411/2216358991_46350d741f_m.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2132/2216358981_34b110def2_m.jpg

[owl_girl]

thats pretty cool i didnt know they were good at pulling. do you think they make good guard dogs? how do you think they react to bears? maybe if i could finde a poodle bear dog mix or elkhound poodle mix. id have to be pretty lucky to find such a mix though.

[Sourdough]

My Std. Poodle lives outside under the cabin at -25* Below, he will attack anything he thinks is going to hurt me. This spring when there was a three year old Grizzly at the cabin at the cabin, I wanted to see how he would handle it.

We dog, bear, me were all with in 10' to 15' for about three minutes, I would scoot the bear over to the dog, and tell the dog to sit, and he sat. He did not want too, but he sat. The was much more interested in the turkeys & Geese. What I should have done was turned the geese loose, to see what would happen. But I know what would have happened.

[wildWoman]

That's really cool, SD! Have you heard how any of your Labradoodles have turned out?

Owl Girl, you could also consider a different poodle mix.
We have a Standard Poodle-White Shepherd mix who is really great. I thought the poodle temperament might mellow and sweeten the shepherd disposition, and he might be a good herding/livestock dog.
I know three other people who also took pups from that litter and everybody is totally impressed with them - eager to please, bark when somebody comes but are quiet otherwise, excellent with livestock, great mousers (!), good with people, okay with other dogs. Some of them are kept as outside dogs. Mine also pulls (reluctantly though, so he's not one for skijoring but he'll pull gear) and tracks game, quietly until he sees it, then he barks.
All of them are quite sensitive though, poodles don't do well with a harsh hand. They don't need it either, a quietly and gently said command, and they'll be happy to obey most of the time.

So maybe you could look around and see what else might be a good breed breed combination for your needs in terms of poodle mixes, apart from elkhound.

[Sourdough]

Have you heard how any of your Labradoodles have turned out?


Owners are all happy. One thing that I was not prepared for is the wide range in their appearance as they got older. Some have straight hair, some curly hair. Man they ended up with huge feet, should be good swimmers, with built in snowshoes.

[DOGMAN]

thats pretty cool i didnt know they were good at pulling

its is very debateable how good they are at pulling. They can be taught to pull- and will do it. But, then again you can drive a nail with a screwdriver if you have enough time....

None, have ever finished the iditarod (but they have gone over half way before) and in fact there is a really interesting story about poodles in that race. There was a guy John Sutter who had a team of them, and one year at a check-point a reporter took a picture of his team and they were in bad shape- half frozen, emaciated, de-hydrated and near death, He was kicked-out of the race by Iditarod officals at the same time. However, Sadly, the photos made it to the media, and anti-sled dog racing animal rights groups had a field day with the photos and claiming the iditarod was cruel.

My personal opinion is the conditions of the dogs says more about the guy, then the breed though. Really if you look at it, those dogs were willing to work for their master until they perished. He was an idiot to ask the dogs to do that- but, it says alot for the breed.

[Pal334]

its is very debateable how good they are at pulling. They can be taught to pull- and will do it. But, then again you can drive a nail with a screwdriver if you have enough time....

None, have ever finished the iditarod (but they have gone over half way before) and in fact there is a really interesting story about poodles in that race. There was a guy John Sutter who had a team of them, and one year at a check-point a reporter took a picture of his team and they were in bad shape- half frozen, emaciated, de-hydrated and near death, He was kicked-out of the race by Iditarod officals at the same time. However, Sadly, the photos made it to the media, and anti-sled dog racing animal rights groups had a field day with the photos and claiming the iditarod was cruel.

My personal opinion is the conditions of the dogs says more about the guy, then the breed though. Really if you look at it, those dogs were willing to work for their master until they perished. He was an idiot to ask the dogs to do that- but, it says alot for the breed.

I have to thank you all for opening my eyes to a breed that I have totally discounted in the past. although in my mind I favor the bull mastiff for my area ( and I know there are a million arguements why it may not be a good choice). The reality is that the Poodle may be more realistic. Thanks again all

[wildWoman]

I have to thank you all for opening my eyes to a breed that I have totally discounted in the past. although in my mind I favor the bull mastiff for my area ( and I know there are a million arguements why it may not be a good choice). The reality is that the Poodle may be more realistic. Thanks again all

Yeah, I was the same, I thought of them as rather useless, silly looking dogs, especially when they had equally useless and silly owners. But then I became friends with someone who had a Standard Poodle and met some more at a dog park, and that totally changed my mind. I still wish they would look different, though...but as with all relationships, you can't just go by the looks.

[wildWoman]

Owners are all happy. One thing that I was not prepared for is the wide range in their appearance as they got older. Some have straight hair, some curly hair. Man they ended up with huge feet, should be good swimmers, with built in snowshoes.

That's funny they are so individual-looking. But then, I just know how three other siblings of my Shepherd-Poodle cross turned out (they all look pretty much the same), maybe the remaining three are more different-looking.
Must have something to do with how strong the lab coat genes are, in your case.

This is what my poodle cross looks like.

[Pal334]

WW: so true but as with all relationships, you can't just go by the looks. or my wife of 32 years would have missed a great catch :)

And that is a handsome looking dog you have there

[owl_girl]

WW, although german shepherds are one of my favorite dog breeds i cant use them cause their backs are to fragile for carrying and if i have a mix i wouldnt know if it inherited that or not so id prefer not to but its not completely written off.

german shepherds are the second smartest breed out of the ones tested. border collie is first but have shorter attention spans, and poodles come in somewhere close after german shepherds.

most shepherds ive known were already pretty sweet.

i need the dog to not bark at pray when they see it. traditionally elkhounds dont bark at pray when they are hunting unless they are off leash and have them cornered and then know to stop barking if the pray escapes and silently track until they have them cornered again. this seems very smart to me so thats why im so impressed with them, they have a very good hunting strategy. i know they have a reputation for being stubborn but im pretty good with stubborn dogs and i have the time for it.

i use to do volunteer dog walking for the humane society and for some of those dogs i was the only one who could walk them. they would do things for me that they wouldnt for any one else. like one dog who most of the people there complained about being stubborn and always pulling them, i was the only one that he would let me go first out of the pen, he would sit and watch my feet waiting for me to have both my feet stepped out of the pen before he would step out. i went slow once to test him, slowly stepping one foot out then the other and he still waited for me. i trained them to all do this for me. it took time for some but i think they all did it.

[wildWoman]

Sounds really good, Owl Girl :-) Didn't want to talk you out of your very knowledgable decision, I just love talking about dogs :-)

I'd be really interested to hear your experience, once you have the dog, on how that hunting method works out for you. Let us know!

[Sourdough]

WILDWOMAN, You got Snow.....?

[red lake]

I didn't read the whole thread, but I suggest getting a reserve dog. Most are mixed with husky, shepherd, labs and even wolves.

They are forever grateful for being rescued and can turn out to be the best dog you ever had.

I of course have no scientific evidence, just first hand experience.

[wildWoman]

WILDWOMAN, You got Snow.....?

lol No, I wish!!! It's an old picture. Just a light dusting of snow on top of the moutains so far. Still waiting for it to go below freezing at night at our altitude :-(

[Mountain Man]

You will find an electronic collar a huge help if you are set on getting a dog with hunting instinct. Dogs with a strong hunting instinct tend to become deaf to all things around them, including your calling, when off on a really fresh scent. With an electronic collar, you can jerk them out of their dream and y can also train your dog to different commands with the collar. That way, you can command your dog even when out of sight and earhot, or if you need to give a command silently because there is game close by.

Jason sees it differently I'm sure, but most of the huskies I've known up here are a real pain in the woods. Tales abound (from our neighbours, friends, my boyfriend etc) of their huskies taking off after some game and coming back when it pleased them, hours or days later. Maybe less dominant and older huskies would feel more obliged to stick around, but basically, they're bred to run all day and until fairly recently in history had to often hunt for their own meal, so who can blame them. They need to be worked, that is run for hours, which most people end up not having the time for.

I know of a bear specialist up here who has two elkhounds and those two are excellent bear dogs.

I actually would recommend a standard poodle to you...I know they look kinda silly but they are extremely smart and what's even more, extremely eager to please. They are interested in doing what you want which makes working and being with a dog a lot more fun IMO. They have a good nose too and actually used to be retrievers, and are not as hyperactive as most of the working breeds are. You can teach most dogs how to track.

Be aware that moose kill dogs quite often...they are used to dealing with packs of wolves. We don't let our dogs approach moose closely. A moose usually just runs a short distance and then stands its ground. A dog that keeps bothering a moose can find itself stomped on pretty quick.

I have a standard poodle.
The hunt in him is CRAZY.
No matter what house we are at he will find the door or window and stay there ALL day looking at birds and critters, and occasionally barking if they get to close. He is not a vocal dog, and his pain tolerance is extreme... I've heard him yelp once when I accidentally fell on him but other than that I've pulled out his hair in bunches, play with his nose making him look like Mr Ed, play with his feet, dance, pull out ticks, give him shots, bangs his head on stuff, cuts himself, and NEVER doe she comaplain like most other dogs.

He's super good with kids and loves to play and be around people.

Electric collars are awesome! He learns it, and then it stays with him for ~2 months and then he has to re-learn the zap ;) He's still relatively young (just turned 2) but for off-leash in the woods this is the only way unless your dog has no drive to track. I've seen him point a few times and raise his foot at birds at my old house, he's LIGHT on his feet and can jump about 5' up onto ledges, trucks, decks, tables, etc funny thing he won't unless I ask him or really encourage it. We can leave him in a room with a baby door thing all day and he will NEVER jump over it... yet if we tell him he would and I know he can jump things 2x as tall.

The weirdest things freak himout like plastic bags, and stuff on my head heh.

His ears are GREAT! With the TV blaring he will jump up run to the door and start to bark at a deer in the back yard. He's done this from other rooms with the radio on too.

He's SUPER protective, we encouraged this at a young age and will bark at strangers, knocks foot steps, etc.

I taught him to "read my hands" where I point he runs if he's in the field or looks if he's near me.

I am truly his pack leader he will submit to his belly if I rub / touch him, he will bath me for sometimes 15 or 20 minutes if I let him. I spend every waking hour with him almost every day of the month.. maybe 2 or 3 days I`m away.

He does NOT look like a standard poodle, everyone asks what he is. He is smarter than he should be hehe.

This is him with his hair getting LONG.
We get him trimmed to a #7 all over, and #10 on the feet and privates.
Keeping him short is KEY in the mountains.
Daily he is wiped down with a wet rag and it's brown and nasty. He has stained the carpet where he lays with dirt from his hair even.

More pics upon request.

Any poodle questions let me know.

He loves to run today we ran a couple miles keeping at least a 13mph pace, when he's fresh he often runs 20mph. This is in my yard, climbing hills, over logs, etc... (I of coarse take the ATV).

He has a huge vocabulary, and before he was even 6 months old he was understanding "sentences" which for me was uncommon with other dogs. I could say things like I have to go, I`m leaving, gotta go bud, go in your crate, and no matter where he was he'd get in his crate.
Everyplace around the house has a name... the garden the basement, "inside", he picks up on that stuff fast, and the same with people's names he knows what "go get __name__" means. In the woods 1/4 mile away I can say GO HOME and he'll run home. Stuff like that is SUPER important for emergencies, attacks, etc...

[Rick]

I've heard him yelp once when I accidentally fell on him but other than that I've pulled out his hair in bunches, play with his nose making him look like Mr Ed, play with his feet, dance, pull out ticks, give him shots, bangs his head on stuff, cuts himself, and NEVER doe she complain like most other dogs....Electric collars are awesome!"

I suggest we take up a collection to save this poor dog. :blushing:


The weirdest things freak him out like plastic bags, and stuff on my head heh.

I suggest we take up a collection and send poor MM some games, books and magazines. The plastic bag on the head game is a bit dangerous if you ask me. :blink:

He sounds like a great dog, MM.

[pocomoonskyeyes]

Yeah dogs can be pretty darn smart that's for sure. We can spell - out - and Sadie knows what it means. Same with bed. Sadie is a Border Jack - 1/2 Border Collie 1/2 Jack Russell. People think we are crazy when we tell them this....until we show them.

[Mountain Man]

I suggest we take up a collection to save this poor dog. :blushing:



I suggest we take up a collection and send poor MM some games, books and magazines. The plastic bag on the head game is a bit dangerous if you ask me. :blink:

He sounds like a great dog, MM.

Yeah, he's not to fond of bags on his head or mine... he runs and hides :tongue_smilie:

[equus]

the bear dog i don't think is to vocal. I think they were bred to stalk the bear and then to hold it there while the owner catches up. the one that i was around didn't bark that much. she barked at me when i first arrived but then she was quite once she realized that i was not going to harm her. either way if it was me i would go for either the elkhound or the bear dog.