Survival Dogs Insiders Track

What makes a survival dog special? Find out this and more with your subscription to the Insiders Track for Survival Dogs Ltd.

· What Breeds to Avoid and why.

Survival dogs can conjure up all manner of possibilities. Some breeds may come to mind as natural choices when in fact there are very good reasons to avoid them. A German Shepherd, a Doberman Pincer, a Rottweiler, a Chow, and Pit Bulls. These dogs are popular among some for certain reasons. Also some of these breeds have served well in various rolls. The German Shepherd is well known as a police dog. Doberman Pincers and Rottweilers have been used as guard dogs along with Pit Bulls and Chows. Pit Bulls have a reputation that precedes them. While some people may be extra fond of the Pit Bull, and may also have been responsible owners the Pit Bull instills fear and is a high profile dog. It may be accepted on you own personal property but you will encounter serious difficulty trying to have your dog accepted among the general populace. Cardinal Rule #1 a survival dog should have a low profile and the largest range possible of acceptance among the general populace. If you are not able to have your dog with you in most situations, neither will your dog be available to assist you when you may need the assistance. Also, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and Dobermans are large dogs. These dogs are large enough to be considered man stoppers which is a plus. However, a survival dog has many capabilities which outweighs the one major plus of these breeds. The large size of these breeds presents a traveling inconvenience to the owner along with a higher profile than desired for the survival dog. A Chow may have more desirable characteristics however it is not proven as a survival dog and in the minds of many a chow instills a certain amount of fear which is totally undesirable in a survival dog. Only the most canine phobic individuals should show any fear toward your survival dog. You want your dog to be accepted and invited where most dogs will never go. The Insiders Track will put you on the fast track to achieving this goal.

· What is the best Breed and why.

The breed of choice for a survival dog is either a Border Collie or an Australian Shepherd. These dogs are of superior intelligence. They are able to quickly achieve a large recognizable vocabulary. Properly trained, they will be able to charm their way into the most recalcitrant hearts. It was a rare individual that did not warm up to Sadie, and usually an individual that was better avoided when possible. Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are median sized dogs. They are not large enough to be a real man stopper, but they are large enough to make most think twice while being small enough to easily travel by many means. See "Death Came Calling Like a Hurricane". As for as being a man stopper, one Australian Shepherd belonged to a rodeo cowboy. The dog traveled to all the rodeos and usually laid back by this cowboys horse trailer while the cowboy did the things he did at the rodeos. One rodeo he won a particularly large prize purse. While returning to his trailer in a dark secluded spot on the rodeo grounds, two perpetrators stepped out of the shadows to relieve him of his take. His alert Australian Shepherd quickly discerned what was taking place. The dog seemed to materialize from out of no-where just in time to send the two hoods packing. Even if the perpetrators were savvy enough to recognize this dynamic package of energy as not being a real man stopper, the distraction would have given the dogs owner a definite edge. The discernment displayed by Border Collies and Australian Shepherds is truly amazing. When it comes to survival dogs this is a feature of these breeds you will be glad to have on your team.

· What Gender and why.

A genuine survival dog can only be female. While Border Collies and Australian Shepherds are remarkable dogs from which there have been many great male dogs, a female dog is generally more compliant and easier to train. Male dogs can be particularly pigheaded especially when the urge to mate sets upon them. Neutering may make a male dog more compliant, but even if this is the case there is another aspect about a female dog that may make all the difference in a serious survival situation. If worse comes to worse and you were on the brink of starving you may out of dire need end up making a meal or two out of your male dog. People have eaten worse in serious survival situations. In some cultures dog is a delicacy. However, even if I could bring myself to eat dog, feasting on my own loyal companion would be particularly difficult. But, with a female survival dog, you are practically assured of being able to fill your freezer or jerky stash twice a year when your dog comes in heat and any male dogs come around to answer natures call.

If your female dog becomes pregnant, this can crimp your traveling style for a short time when the puppies arrive. For your dog's maturity it is good to let her have one litter. Ideally this takes place during her second heat. Once this litter is delivered and parceled out to other inspiring survival dog owners it is time to have your dog neutered. HOWEVER, you want to maintain your dogs ability to fill the freezer twice a year. So, do not let the vet do a hysterectomy on your dog. Instead find a vet that will only do a tubal legation. There will be more later on how to deal with your dog's bi-annual heats. When Sadie had her tubal legation I called it a poor mans cut. The vet offered to take everything out while Sadie laid sliced open on the operating table, however I said the tubal would be just fine. Tubals may eventually end up costing more if and when this best kept secret is out of the bag. Also some vets are reluctant to do only this. Many female dogs seem to gain wait after a full hysterectomy. A big negative. The tubal keeps their body as close to normal as possible so they do not experience the weight gain. The bi-annual heat is considered as a negative among some. It attracts other dogs, it may be slightly messy inside, the dog may take off seeking male company and thus providing a meal to someone else. However with a survival dog, all of the drawbacks can be minimized. and turned into a plus. More on this later. But for your full-fledged survival dog, plan on one litter of pups at her second heat and a tubal legation before the next heat.

· What Time of Year to Get Your Dog and why.

Shortly after getting your survival dog there is some special water training you will want to do that is imperative for proper survival dog development. This training also requires you to get wet. Therefore, you want to take delivery on your dog during the spring and summer months when you can comfortably carry out this training.

· How Old a Dog and why.

To develop the strongest bond possible with your dog you want to be the transition element for the dog as it departs the litter. If you get a dog that has already been separated from the litter for a time it will have already gained a certain amount of independence in which the dog will view you as somewhat insignificant. This independence will prove to be an obstacle to the quality of bond you want to develop with your dog. The young pup views its mother as a security blanket that supplies all of its needs. During the transition period from litter to you, you want your dog to now perceive you as her security blanket that is able to provide all of its needs. Food, nourishment, water, comfort, playmate, etc. This is a crucial developmental period of time in which you will want to structure your life to where at least for the first two weeks you and your dog are practicably inseparable. Your dog needs to be a priority during this period. This two weeks is also considered the kindergarten stage where your dog gets to be a puppy, but a puppy where you are a major part of her life. If you have a regular job, this is a good time to take your annual two weeks vacation. I will present a lot more information on this crucial development stage and how to do it later, but it is of the utmost necessity that you become the next major event in your dogs life when she leaves the litter.

· Commitment Levels and Attitude Necessary for a Successful Survival Dog Owner

The odds are that a dogs owner will almost always out live the dog. When it comes time for your dog to go the way of all the earth hopefully this sad event will be ameliorated by the quality of life you two experienced in the survival dog relationship. To be a real survival dog owner requires a serious commitment for the whole life span of your dog. You can sell her first and only litter of pups, but you two are in this for the long haul. If you are not able to make this commitment you should not attempt to rise above the rest and have the best that only a survival dog can truly offer.

In my youth I had various pets that I ended up loosing early because I neglected my full responsibility toward them. Most dogs were poorly mannered and I really had no desire to own one until I saw Sadie's mamma. When I made the commitment to take on a dog I also made the commitment to not neglect my responsibility toward this animal. Cardinal Rule #2 If my dog is not welcome then neither am I except for the rarest of circumstances. My relationship with Sadie faced a serious test early in her life. I had been working summer seasons in Alaska and decided to get Sadie between seasons. This was an ideal situation in that it allowed me to discover many of the initial bonding secrets that help make a superb dog which I will share with you in this Insiders Track . However for the majority of us, life places other demands upon us which seem to require the priority position. It did not seem practical to be a bush pilot with a dog in tow so I was attempting to be placed on a hospital contract in which I could live like a more normal person in an apartment with my dog. In this situation it really would not have been any of the company's business as to what kind of pets I had. But then my boss asked me, "Dave, would you mind going back to Alaska?" This proposed a dilemma for me. I had already made my commitment to Sadie. Would my need to work negate this commitment? I said, "I can go, but I have something that has to go with me." He said, "What is that?" I said, "A dog." He said, "Well bring her on." So I did.

Sadie and I passed this test, but it would not be the last. I returned to the same job and same camp I was in the previous season. The company we were supporting had a rule, no dogs in camp. The construction crew that built the camp were able to have a dog. Rightly or wrongly I viewed myself as part of a support team that did not fall completely under the same guidelines. This had been the case in other job situations. Sadie was only three months old when we left for Alaska. Even at this young age the majority of her obedience training had already taken place. She was very well behaved. Part of this was the natural bonding that had taken place by going from litter to me. Prior to going to the camp we stayed in a hotel in Palmer, Alaska. Sadie was able to go anywhere in the hotel except the restaurant. One day eating my lunch in the restaurant with Sadie placed in a stay outside the door I listened to comment about what a good dog she was. Then another patron who could not see her got up to pay his bill. From the checkout counter he saw Sadie for the first time. His comment was, " I thought they were talking about a full grown dog. That is only a puppy. " Survival Dogs are meant to stand out above the rest, which brings up Cardinal Rule #3 It is not a right, but a privilege to have your dog in places most will never go, so you must insure that the dog will always be on its best behavior with proper manners so that she will be appreciated otherwise you should remove yourself and the dog from the area in question.

Our first two weeks in the bush camp was great. I told the main camp bosses and everyone else that if the dog caused any problems to please let me know so that I could deal with the problem behavior. Sadie did not receive a single complaint. But then one day a BIG BOSS visited the camp from Anchorage. Sadie was on my heels when I entered the operations tent that this boss was in. He looked down at the dog and asked, "Who's dog?" I said, "Mine." Then he told me that they had a rule that no dogs were allowed in camp. Planning for contingencies can be an important part of survival situations and other situations, so I looked down at Sadie and spoke to her where this boss could hear me, "Well Sadie I guess you and I will have to set up a tent on the other side of the lake so that you won't be in camp." I paused long enough for the boss to respond to me before exiting the tent. He said nothing. In retrospect, he may have viewed me as being a smart-aleck. I had no intentions of being such, but I was firm in my commitment to my dog. About an hour later one of the regular camp bosses found me and relayed that this big boss was serious, that he wanted the dog on the plane with him when he flew out this afternoon. I immediately found him and requested that we have a talk about this. Basically our discussion boiled down to the fact that if Sadie was on the plane with him that afternoon when it departed, then so would I be on the same plane. He left without the dog, but the dung really hit the fan when he got back to Anchorage. After our discussion I immediately composed a letter to his boss explaining my situation. This letter palliated the situation somewhat, but my boss contacted me and explained that they wanted to live by their rule and not make any exceptions. This was their right and prerogative. My boss told me to make up my mind. They would be flying a plane in to take the dog out. I could stay on this job if I wanted to, but if I wanted to go with the dog I needed to let him know so he could also fly another pilot into the camp. Because of my commitment the choice was easy. Another pilot flew in and Sadie and I flew out. This pilot swap cost my company about two grand. Since I had been upfront with my boss about my dog prior to agreeing to go to Alaska, I felt bad about this regrettable situation but not bad enough to regret my commitment to Sadie.

Sadie and I had a wonderful season. In the Outsiders Glimpse I share the story of how death came calling like a Hurricane. This was one of Sadie and mine most poignant moments. If you make the commitment to your Survival Dog, as I did with Sadie and will make to my upcoming Survival Dog, you are sure to have your own unique memorable moments that you will cherish for the remainder of your life as priceless.

Even if you are given a dog in today's world there is a significant financial commitment that is necessary. Anyone who has been to the vet lately knows that they are not cheap. Timely puppy shots are a must. Annual vet visits for at least the bare minimum rabies vaccine are required. Most likely you will be interested in more than just rabies prevention. You will need to consider heartworm prevention, flea and tick control, and diet. I will have more to say on diet later, but basically a good dry dog food is the most convenient, economical, and best way to go with feeding your dog. In the overall sum of things the price of this information is one of the cheapest components in your dogs expenses while providing some of the richest source of achieving a superior quality relationship between you and your animal. If your dog is not important enough to make the kind of commitment discussed here, you are better off abandoning the thought of owning a real Survival Dog and if you have a dog at all being content with less than the best.

· Training Tips and Tricks that make your Dog Superior!

A survival dog is able to develop and extraordinary usable vocabulary. In the Insiders Track you will learn how this is done. On command a survival dog will climb stairs, walk a log, mount up on a pointed to object, stay, come, sit, hide, say hello, go to a mentioned object, kennel, get a specific object and bring it to you, relieve herself on command when necessary and more. A survival dog is a utility dog that provides a plethora of useful skills to the man dog relationship. Throughout the ages dogs have served man in many useful and specialized capacities, now Survival Dogs Ltd. presents clear-cut useful methods to make your dog an extra special Jack of all Trades that can fit in many situations, from exotic banquets to the back woods. A survival dog can be at home indoors or out, comfortable in the city or the country, and is almost always a welcome guest wherever you two may go.

· Follow the actual making of a survival dog

Those in the Insiders Track will get to experience along with us the making of a unique survival dog as I document our journey from puppy selection through all the fascinating phases of training. While it does take a special commitment, you will be able to see first hand the rewards that come along with having a highly trained dog. You will be able to see common problems that a dog owner may face and how to successfully deal with them. You will be able to see techniques for preventing potential problems ubiquitous to dogs. For instance if you come home from work and your dog is sitting on the porch with a dead chicken out in the yard it is too late then to deal with this problem. Chicken killing, cat chasing, automobile chasing, or digging in the trash are problems that are better anticipated and dealt with before they are able to get out of hand. Puppies will go through a stage where chewing is important. A young pup can destroy a valuable piece of furniture or a shoe, but if your are ready this does not have to happen. Insiders Track will guide you along the way to developing a superior dog. Survival situations do not take place everyday, hopefully our society will not break down to a full blown survival situation. Regardless of the situation, peace or war, feast or famine, as the owner of a fully trained survival dog you will have an edge over the rest!

Scenario: The public beach sign says no pets. You witness someone who's poorly behaved dog has gotten off of its leach. The owner is embarrassingly trying to recapture his pet as the miscreant dog traipses across peoples beach towels creating a fuss. It is owners and dogs like this that caused pets to be unwanted in most locations. You confidently watch with amusement as the scene unfolds from the comfort of your own beach towel. Your survival dog is obediently watching everything unfold from her secluded hiding position on the out skirts of the beach. Tempers start to flare as the miscreant dog spreads sand across towels.

Introductory subscription price $100.00 U.S.