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PaperclipPerfector  1d ago (text post)   1434 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for February 2, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

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If you were living through a societal breakdown/apocalypse (well, the kind that doesn't immediately kill you) and you had to pick a canine companion, what would you opt for?

It would definitely be a German shepherd for me. Loyal to a fault, smart and intimidating to strangers without being bloodthirsty. I miss mine a lot, but he had a good life and that's what counts. I'd expect a GSD would do a good job keeping you safe.

It certainly wouldn't be my lab, I tell you. An absolute lovable doofus who traded brains for brawn, turning out 50% larger than the average lab.

If I could disable friendly fire against my party and me by training it (because everyone who’s not a doggo racist knows it’s the owner, not the breed): a pitbull.

Not only would it provide excellent deterrent and defense (offense can also be the best defense), it would be a constant heatseeking missile for small game animals, thus providing recurring sources of food. And well, perhaps an occasional baby or child here or there, but hey, meat can be scarce in this apocalyptic wasteland; if they didn’t want to get nannied, they shouldn’t have triggered my sweet velvet hippo by making a sudden noise or movement, or breathed. Even if we don’t consume the long pork, we can use it for trading.

I’d name it Zeus, Rocky, Nala, or Luna and forage for a flower crown for it to wear. It’d be so cute and wholesome 😊

If I had time to train them before the SHTF, a female Rottie.

The well-trained Rottie bitches I have met have been the sweetest, most caring, best behaved dogs I have had the good fortune to spend time around. I didn't piss them off, and I don't want to know what would have happened if I had done, but I am well aware that some ne'er-do-well who threatens the owner's family is going to piss the Rottie off, and have a bad day as a result.

I don't know how much harder it is to train a male Rottie, but I haven't met one I felt entirely safe around.

Generally, male dogs are more territorial and female dogs are more people-protective, with male dogs having the edge in aggression and usually a higher prey drive. That makes a female dog a better choice for a mobile apocalypse survivor but a male a better choice for a determined homesteader.

They were bred to hunt semi-independently, so they don't have the temperament for military/police work that German Shepherds and Malinois are prized for, but Rhodesian Ridgebacks are be another good breed in the "won't freak out and attack family or other non-threats like a pit bull might (I don't want to come across as overly anti-pit bull), but would protect family 95% as effectively as a pit bull" category.

German Shepherd is a good, overall choice. I'd go for a Husky if I'm in a cold region.

I think a German Shepherd is a really strong choice for the reasons you've mentioned. They're also great pack carriers - I have a friend who backpacks with his. A pitbull isn't going to be able to travel long distances with you as well, and border collies / Austrailian shepherds just aren't vicious and powerful enough as a defensive weapon.

Probably a good yeller dog- trainable, loyal, mostly look after themselves, and boy howdy do they tree game. I had one in high school, just a bit gun shy.

Belgian Tervuren/Malinois.

That's just a GSD with a French accent, but I can get behind that choice haha*

*Assuming original GSDs didn't pick up a mix from living in Alsace.

Behaviorally and mentally, they're completely different dogs, with completely different issues that need to be accounted for.

Plus, I tend to 'click' better with Malinois and Tervurens, from experience. Dunno why.

My lab actually seems like a pretty good choice. She's easily trainable and has natural hunting instincts that are useful with almost zero prey drive. While she's surely not as adept in a combat situation as other dogs, I'm probably already in deep shit if I've arrived at that point, but she's large enough to make someone else an easier target. Their cold tolerance is impressive, they're great swimmers, and they're about as adaptable and flexible across a wide variety of roles as any breed. Ultimately, I think flushing and fetching prey is probably the biggest thing a dog can bring to the table after protection.

Dogs: companions during good times, food during famine. That's what I tell my mutt. She'll have to learn to share the voles and frogs she hunts, if times turn bad.

A poodle. Not as smart as a border collie, but smarter than the vast majority of breeds. At the same time, no one will try to shoot or steal a fucking poodle.

An interesting choice.. I admit that if I ran into a lone survivor in the apocalypse who had made it that far with a poodle for a companion, I'd be second-guessing myself.

Standard Poodles are hunting dogs. Not miniature or toy Poodles of course, just the original ones. Their silly haircut was to keep them cool when running, but with warmed joints.

That's why I'll be the guy going through the apocalypse with my bunny. Anyone who'll see me will think "If this guy hasn't resorted to eating the bunny yet, he's got his shit locked down tight and isn't someone to fuck with".

The bluff is worth skipping one paella.

Wait we're skipping paella? What kind of hellscape apocalypse are we expecting here?

A really bad one, for anyone who tries to eat my bunny.

I have no idea of how dogs work. Must I really? I'd probably pick the first one I managed to cooperate with.

Someone please explain how to dog.

A beginner's guide to dogging.

A more intermediate guide can be found here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=MXzaVOk_Ydk

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