Dogs in the bush

**The Koda** · 01-12-2008, 04:50 PM

I'm getting a chocolate lab puppy soon and I'm wondering what kind of dogs you all have and if/when you've taken them out into the bush with you. Are they useful or more of a nuisance?

**nell67** · 01-12-2008, 04:55 PM

Heres a great thread on this topic!

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...highlight=dogs

**Sourdough** · 01-12-2008, 04:59 PM

They are both Useful and a nuisance, kind of like a "Wife" in that respect. I have a Standard Poodle (62 Pounds), and I would rather be in the wilderness with him than any Human. Humans talk to much. Two raw squirrls a day keeps him happy.

**nell67** · 01-12-2008, 05:00 PM

I have a Pomeranian that loves going into the woods with me,but I hate brushing the sticktights out of her hair,gave up last summer and gave her the "lion cut" yuk!
Would love to have another rat terrier,but maybe too hyper for the woods?

**wildWoman** · 01-12-2008, 06:33 PM

With a lab you shouldn't have too many problems because they're so people-fixated. We live in the bush with an assortment of 4 dogs: one village mutt, one chinook, one poodle-shepherd cross and a German wirehair. I think the sooner you take him out into the woods camping, the better. What I would really recommend is teaching your puppy the hunter's version of the down command - making the dog drop instantly to the ground on command, no matter what he's busy doing. We got the wirehair this summer as a puppy (he's supposed to be my partner's dog

) and my boyfriend has been teching him this drop-down-at-once command. we live right in the wintering grounds for moose so there's lots of wildlife around. If your dog learns from the get-go to drop down when you whistle or call, it'll be a huge advantage when he's older and tempted to chase game. The come command of course is good in that situation too, but dropping the dog might be preferable in some situations. When he's turning to come, he's still running and might be more tempted to just take off after game again.
Our other dogs all have different backgrounds, from city life to trapline dog. The poodle cross has a really strong hunting instinct and the only way I managed to snap him out of chasing and come is with an electric collar. That works really well but it's a lot of money for a decent one.
The trapline dog is, hands down, the best. I got him when he was 6 years old, he'll be 15 this year. He's very sweet-natured and calm, and incredibly gutsy. Once you've seen a dog carefully herd a grizzly off the place, it's hard not to admire him! He lived the early part of his life in the bush and is descended from a long lineage of mutts with a similar background. He has such good instincts. Great bear dog - around the property, he will chase a black bear up a tree or keep a grizzly away, but without getting too close to the bears. He can lead me home from anywhere in the bush without fail (see the thread I posted under "Primitive technology" - "Organic GPS"). Maybe something to consider with your puppy, always tell him "let's go back" when you're turning around on your walks. Probably easier for the dog to understand if you do it when heading back the same way.
Before I go on ad nauseum here...I'd caution people against huskies and husky mixes. I'm sure there's lots of exceptions to the rule, but most are so independent-minded with such a strong hunting instinct, that what often happens when you take one for a walk in the bush is they'll take off on you for hours or a couple of days and only come back when it suits them. They seem to be very slow learners with porcupines too. But that shouldn't happen to you with a lab!!!! Have fun

**Rick** · 01-12-2008, 06:39 PM

A Great Dane and a Dachshund were caught in a terrible blizzard and wound up in a snow drift.

"My paws are freezing!" said the Great Dane.

"Quite whinin'," said the Dachshund. "I've got my own problems."

**sh4d0wm4573ri7** · 01-13-2008, 12:03 AM

I take my purebred Rottie with me every chance I get she is very well behaved and adds an element of security as well as companionship . I have had several different breeds over the years and as far as I'm concerned the Rott is the most intelligent devoted companion a man can have. I know she has saved me some probs several times once in a remote area a man showed up in a pickup truck pulled up next to us , got out of his vehicle and started walking over towards us. Could tell juss by his look he was bent on some thing bad my baby Nakita stood up in the backseat as he approached , stuck her head out the window uttered a low growl from deep down inside her 140 pound frame the man stopped dead in his tracks walked backwards slowly to his vehicle never saying a word got in and left never taking his eyes off my girl. Is no doubt in my mind he was up to something has been several such instances in my outdoor experience

**marberry** · 01-16-2008, 08:14 PM

i bought a purebreed Standard Schnauzer for the sole purpose of companionship in the bush. Hes only 7 months old now and its almost impossible to judge a dog by there actions as a puppy, but so far hes been great, evn caught me a grouse once.