I need your opinions on which dog to get for the outdoors.

[mummummum]

The Queen of Off-Topic here...

[Mia101]

Originally Posted by Melinda

my horse was like a dog, loose in the yard, he'd walk into the damn kitchen by pulling open the screen door *L*, he would follows us to the bus stop at the end of the driveway and then go back to the house when we left, when the grandparents passed on and the farm was sold, he moved next door to the farm there and we had to go see him weekly because he'd get depressed....he lived to be 32....I still miss him.

and as for outhouses...........we won't go there *LOL*.......*grumble grumble grumble damnspiders*....................

Mine died of depression. When his horse lot closed, where he had 14 mates, my father put him out somewhere alone until he fenced his new house. I still hold a grudge that he never built that fence.

20 yrs.later he built one for my sisters horses, but he won't keep dogs fenced so they don't get lost/run over/attacked by the pits up the road.

Argh!

[Mia101]

I don't think there is anything wrong with working dogs - in fact some breeds NEED a job.

I would only say to do a lot of research and make sure of what is appropriate and yeah, if it's built for winter do not work it in the summer. Rotate in summer dogs.

Mine is mostly Akita and it would be cruel to even walk her too long in the summer. She LIVES to walk, but gets overheated very quickly May-September.

For this particular poster, the work sounds to me like too much for a dog, but I really don't know that for sure - not my area of knowledge.

Since most people here have pets-as-family-members, I doubt there will be much we can contribute in terms of specifics.

[Mia101]

Originally Posted by Goldfields

I agree with that. Hasn't anyone asked themselves, wouldn't I be stronger than either of those dogs? But there again, Benmax, a draft horse would make very easy work of something I'd find impossible.

My dog is stronger than me. Only apparatus allowed me to control her, and now only the desire to obey keeps her from walking me, etc.

Also, I assume the human is working too.The OP says she wants animal assistance, not to work it to death while she rides along.

[Goldfields]

Mia101, it was man who built the pyramids. We're pretty strong really. I've had a woman comment, after only holding my male ACD at ringside for me , on how strong he is, , but even when my bitches have been in a fighting frenzy, wanting to kill each other, hubby and I have had no trouble separating them. I worked fulltime with horses when I was young so know how strong I was then, and how strong I still am, regardless that I'm no spring chicken and have a number of health problems. I could not see myself ever making a dog work hard to make life easier for myself. I do see sense in using dogs for light work , as trackers, seeing eye or hearing dogs, and other types of aide work, customs work etc. but if the OP mentions exhausting daily work and the possibility that the mastiff is fatigued, I still feel wouldn't it be best to upgrade to a 'beast of burden', a horse?

[Mia101]

I totally agree with switching to a horse. And not giving a dog too much work. But some say they shouldn't work at all, and I don't agree with that.

Mine would love a job. Obedience and agility have to suffice. No bears to hunt here, and I don't like her killing possums

[Goldfields]

What breed is she?Something big enough to hunt bears?? Can't guess.

[happycats]

Originally Posted by Goldfields

What breed is she?Something big enough to hunt bears?? Can't guess.

I believe she said part Akita, and they are Japanese , bred to fight and hunt bear ( I believe the Asian bears are somewhat smaller then ours) I believe.

[Mia101]

I didn't know they actually fought bears, wow. I thought they just assisted in hunting. Like more than tracking but less than physical contact. I'm pretty sure all my dog would do is bark at a bear while I dragged her away!

[Goldfields]

Thanks, happycats, I was imagining it tackling a grizzly there for a minute. LOL.

[happycats]

Originally Posted by Mia101

I didn't know they actually fought bears, wow. I thought they just assisted in hunting. Like more than tracking but less than physical contact. I'm pretty sure all my dog would do is bark at a bear while I dragged her away!

Akita's are a beautiful breed, but not for everyone.
here's some history on them;
http://www.moellgaard.dk/English/Dog...s_and_GJDs.htm
not all agree on the history though;
http://www.arvonakitas.com/akita%20history.html

[Choochi]

I know a huge Akita that now lives in Toronto. She was the runt of the litter (the breeder was going to put her down because she was deemed useless due to her small size). She came from Yukon from a line of dogs that were bred specifically for hunting bears. Apparently her father actually brought down a bear that attacked his owner, so these dogs are certainly capable of it.

[kandy]

I don't really have anything against using dogs to pull a load, but I think it depends on the dog and the load. Newfs are certainly strong enough to pull a cart along with a few other breeds, and they would be able to withstand the winter weather. However, no matter which breed is being asked to perform a task, the dog has to be prepared to perform the task. When pulling some kind of a load, that means starting out slowly to get the dog used to pulling, and allowing time for the muscles to build up to being able to pull heavy loads. You can't just take a dog and hook a harness and a cart onto him and expect him to know what he's is supposed to be doing. And of course a growing pup should never be used in this type of work - it could put too much pressure on growing bones and create skeletal issues later on.

I would also suggest a vet visit for the Mastiff - if he's been pulling loads that he was not trained to pull and allowances for the proper muscle development given, it may have pulled some muscles or even torn tendons. The whining makes me think he might be in pain. Your thought that he is scared of you might be correct too - especially if something about you or your way of training him reminds him of the abusive home. Most dogs don't take well to negative reinforcement training, especially one that has been abused. If this is the case, and your living arrangement is permanent - then rehoming the dog is probably a good idea. Dogs need to be trained in such a way as to make them happy to do what you are asking, not because of their fear of punishment.

[Melinda]

very well put Kandy

[Telamonian]

Okay here we go, lemme explain my self. i can kinda understand the confusion. when i say pulling tree i didnt mean chaining a 500lb tree to the back of a dog and whip it till it started to move the tree. Just because we've chosen a lifestyle thats out of the norm doesnt mean we're savages

a few days ago, a tree collapsed onto the road. This was a really great oppertunity for us. it was great fired wood it would keep us warm for a long time. like i said, we're not savages, we think of easier solutions. we had a small chain saw back at the cottage. we cut it up into reasonable pieces and we worked on moving it back to the cottage Both Dogs helped us move. Even the Mastiff helped, being friggin huge and all. He's not sick or anything. i just think he misses being with our relatives' kids. The kids spent much of their time at our old house with him. Always play and pet him, they would even take turns getting on him, we'd always yell at them but bubba didnt seem to mind at all. Even tho we dont want to get rid of him, but we see it as it would be the best for him and the kids. His previous owner abused him far enough, so we dont wanna do the say even if its only fetching water from the well or a river down the road I understand what your all saying, if we can get rid of him that fast than we never really loved him but thats not true, we'll truely miss him our boxer (rocky) will miss him dearly. both of them are inseparable. Anyways, i just thought i need to further explain myself, so you guys didnt think that we're animal abusers or we're expecting to much of our pets. But the way i see it, If my pet and I are working together as one for a common goal, We'd only get that much more attached to one another. If i require him for my survival, and he requires me our bonds will be stronger than ever. Thanks for understand. Bye

[erykah1310]

I'm sorta going to go off topic here a bit
In one breath members here are so concerned about the working dog having vet care in the event of illness and seeing as this is such a desolate area by the sounds of it some one recommends a horse??? they too need vet care and some may need a considerable amount of it. How does one get a farrier there to keep up with hoof trimming every 6 weeks? Its not like grey roots needing a dye job here but properly trimmed and angled hooves on a horse is something that can NOT be left.
In the horse world yes many of them are baught and sold. Sure everyone wants to keep their pets for ever BUT, in reality when you have a bomb proof horse that is push button for riding but you aspire to compete in level 3 dressage or something, the beginner horse is not the one that is going to take you there. That bomb proof horse that may be 20 ish years old would be more suitable for someone who is just starting out. So you sell it and purchase the one that is where you are for riding. Thats just one example, other examples could be the lack of bond between you and a horse you have. Me and Beauty for example, we never bonded, we were never going to go anywhere together so I sold her, her new owner and her have bonded like me and Fe are. Horses are NOT cheap animals to share your life with and hanging on to one just because dog people say its the right thing to do makes no sense.
horses like dogs can be sold on contract ( as beauty was) and the same rules apply. If her new owner can no longer keep her I buy her back, no questions asked, I loved that horse enough to let her go and at any point in her life would take her back again to ensure she found another person like her new owner to bond with.

Back on topic though.
A work horse LOVES to pull, they are bred for it, like a border collie to herding, a draft is to driving. It is in NO way cruel to work them. It is however more cruel IMO to deny them of what they are BRED to do.
Forcing an animal who loves to work to be a couch or paddock potatoe is IMHO more cruel.
I have no advice in bred suggestions to the OP, but for anyone to even be hazarding guesses on what you should get truely depends more on YOUR ability as a dog owner, what you expect out of your dog besides pulling branches and more for what you would be looking for as a companion FIRST.
Even animals who are bred for work need training, love, affection and guidance.

[Goldfields]

I think I could have said get an elephant or a yak instead of a horse, it just would not happen. If they are making a dog do work that I feel they could do themselves, do you think I believe they would want to look after a horse?

I have had a lifelong love of horses but do not believe they love to work at all . They are a grazing animal basically, just like sheep and cattle. Hackneys are bred solely to drive? We had a beauty, but he would swim a big irrigation channel in his paddock to avoid being caught and worked, and he was always treated kindly and well looked after. The clydesdales at a local stud, in big paddocks with good feed and water, and their mates for company, are going to be unhappy because people aren't making them work? I don't think so somehow.

[erykah1310]

I have never had a problem getting the horses to work, they come up to the gate when I call them and are more than willing to do some stuff. Fe is more than willing to leave her buddies and spends some time with me. Working a working animal properly is not cruel no matter how you look at it, I'm sorry.

[Goldfields]

I did not say working them was cruel, but you said 'Forcing an animal who loves to work to be a couch or paddock potatoe is IMHO more cruel.' Really? Forcing them to live a natural horse's life is cruel? I believe they are happier rolling in the grass, racing around with the others when they feel like it, and simply doing what horses do, eating and sleeping, and rearing foals. They look very contented to my eyes. Anything other than that is what WE want them to do for us and we are very lucky they are so co-operative. Neither way of life is cruel.

[trueworld]

Originally Posted by Telamonian

Hey everyone

I was wondering if anyone can tell me their opinions on which type of dog would be suitable to outdoor living. A friend and I decided to live at cottage up in Nova Scotia, Canada. Kinda of an off-the-grid living style. Now my best friend has had many dogs before all bigger and stronger dogs (Boxer, and Mastiffs) which might be suitable for the harsh winters and exhausting daily works. But i've never really had pets, only when i was very young so no real experience.
If anyone can list some great outdoor dogs that can tolerate this type of life style i would be greatful. And also i would like a companion dog for those lonely times in the woods..haha

A really active, loyal dog is the Rhodesian Ridgeback. They are able to walk through tough areas without hurting a paw. If trained well enough they are able to be off the leash in exciting wild places without wandering off. Google them and go to all the websites you can about these amazing dogs!