What is the best bushcrafting dog?

[Chris the Cat]

Hen Dog,our Lab. She's the best bog-snorkler & illicit pheasant poacher. Totally at one in the woods where we live, but hopeless in town or at the shops (bit like Chris really).
(Hen Dog's real name is Hennie - this is one of her slightly less rediculous alternatives!)
C da C's SWMBO

 

[scottishwolf]

Bullmastiff for me. Scares away the chavs, hardly barks...gives me a nudge and a slight growl if he hears anything, carries his own food on a pack, very protective, carries his own jumper when it's cold and is hard as nails....err maybe not lol

 

[dogwood]

I used to have Old English Mastiffs -- the biggest one was 180 pounds -- and they're great dogs, but kind of wimpy on the trail. They're so big and powerful that they wear out easily I was never, ever, able to get one of them to go more than 10 miles in a day, usually less.

Plus they require a TON of food. All the same, I love 'em.

Currently I have a cockapoo (cocker spaniel and poodle mix, horrible name, though "cockapoo..."). At about 24 pounds, he's easy to deal with and boy, all poodle mixes I've run into are absurdly smart and woodsy. Unflappable. Because he comes from hunting breeds, he's a helluva good bush dog and sweet of temperament.

However, I find myself fascinated by mountain curs -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Cur -- which are legendary bush dogs. They are said to possess all the perfect attributes you want in wild places: they are THE dogs of the American frontier.

(That said, Lewis took his Newfoundland on the Lewis and Clark expedition and the beast made it over and back. Even though they ate a lot of dogs, they loved that Newfie too much to eat...)

Mountain Curs can be pretty hard to find in the US and I imagine well nigh impossible to find in the UK. But one of these days, I think I might have to get one...

 

[Adze]

Nuff said...

 

[scottishwolf]

I used to have Old English Mastiffs -- the biggest one was 180 pounds -- and they're great dogs, but kind of wimpy on the trail. They're so big and powerful that they wear out easily I was never, ever, able to get one of them to go more than 10 miles in a day, usually less.

Plus they require a TON of food. All the same, I love 'em.

Currently I have a cockapoo (cocker spaniel and poodle mix, horrible name, though "cockapoo..."). At about 24 pounds, he's easy to deal with and boy, all poodle mixes I've run into are absurdly smart and woodsy. Unflappable. Because he comes from hunting breeds, he's a helluva good bush dog and sweet of temperament.

However, I find myself fascinated by mountain curs -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Cur -- which are legendary bush dogs. They are said to possess all the perfect attributes you want in wild places: they are THE dogs of the American frontier.

(That said, Lewis took his Newfoundland on the Lewis and Clark expedition and the beast made it over and back. Even though they ate a lot of dogs, they loved that Newfie too much to eat...)

Mountain Curs can be pretty hard to find in the US and I imagine well nigh impossible to find in the UK. But one of these days, I think I might have to get one...

But that's why they bred the english bulldog with the old english mastiff to create the bullmastiff. More stamina and were used as a gamekeepers night dog. Fast enough to catch anyone, strong enough to knock them down and hold them there, runs silent..ie: doesn't bark hardly ever and doesn't have the ferocity to maul anyone once caught. And he can carry a ton of food, including mine. The British Bullmastiff is a cracking dog. The breed does have it's faults however. SLOBBERS while watching you eat, flatulence , tendancy to clamber on top of you while you're sleeping. lol

 

[peachy]

our king charles spaniel would be good i think..quiet dog,stays very close, would keep me warmer,does have some skills..not sure if he would be good in low temp though and i would feel a dick walking round with a coat on my dog..maybe not...
i too have thought a dog would be a good companion when out for a few days but its getting him to places thats the problem..i have no car.
there are lots and lots of dogs to choose from too.

good luck

p.s..he may dump in your camp and scare wild life etc

 

[dogwood]

The breed does have it's faults however. SLOBBERS while watching you eat, flatulence , tendancy to clamber on top of you while you're sleeping. lol

I hear you brother! Until you've lived with a mastiff or bullmastiff, you don't know what slobber really means... Ropes of it everywhere

And it's true, all mastiff breeds do like to sleep with you... At least you can roll over on them and they don't care!

 

[scottishwolf]

I hear you brother! Until you've lived with a mastiff or bullmastiff, you don't know what slobber really means... Ropes of it everywhere

And it's true, all mastiff breeds do like to sleep with you... At least you can roll over on them and they don't care!

As Tom Hanks says in Turner and hooch...."you look like you've swallowed a god damn tennis shoe". Always cracks me up. Although, the dog in that film is a douge de bordeoux It's a mastiff breed and they are all pretty much the same. Ie: smelly, farty, slobbery....

Bruno lives in the hall of the house most of the time, I've had to decorate 4 times a year so far. He like's to decorate with slobber

 

[moocher]

hi folks long time no post
anyways i just purchased a male norwegian elkhound pup
should be a good outdoors companion.

 

[Goatboy]

I would have to say a jack russel but then it's like most things bushy it's down to personal prefrence.
scott

Well I would come in on this one, and Belzeebob and I are leening to the Russell camp slightly as my mut Snoop is a wee star. Is friendly, well behaved Look at this quote from Toddy - Made me very pround that the great lass said this about my mutt "Having met your dog, and happy to truthfully report that it is exactly how a dog ought to behave I have no worries." Made me feel like a pround dad on sports day. I've always been worried about bringing dogs along.

Snoops a Jack Russell. Much maligned, often snappy little buggers. Snoop has been trained since I got him as a rescue dog at 1 year old to behave. He likes folk, wanders about, but usually comes back when called. Provides the odd meal of bunny or squirrel... really hates tree rats... though I only let slip the dog of war on grays. Has been known to take down hares... though was in his youth. Likes his sheepskin blankie as the "Achrey" crowd can attest too. He's cosey in a tent / sleeping bag. And he likes me no matter what the day has thrown at us.
He's a good friend, provides the odd meal ( for us both) warns against bad guys, and is an icebracker with other folk due to good behaviour.

An all round good pooch, more fun than my old Wolf hound as he's more rounded.

GB.

 

[dboles]

One that pulls its own weight and helps out-like the ever important holding down the front end of a canoe when solo paddling

Or better yet carries the rain gear and extra water on a long dry hike

Somebody else said this a different way-
Ive had lots a dogs and which ever one happens to be sharing its life with me is the proper bushdog breed.
Dan'l

 

[gerryg]

Here's my bushcrafting sidekick...

as you can see she hates every minute of it and can't wait to go home

, gerry

 

[BorderReiver]

Nice one Gerry.

 

[Cael Nu Mara]

I supose my main Bushhound has to be Riszla, my hungarian Vizla She sleeps in the tent with me, sleeps in the canoe with me, sleeps in the landy with me, and most of all is a grand foot warmer. However at home I also have Jeeves and Wooster, the springer brothers, who i use for all my rough shooting. But they are too spainel like for bushcraft. Just remember the old hunters saying... labs are born half trained, springers die half trained, and cockers, they never know what the word means

Sam

 

[ocean1975]

This is my dog harry who always comes with me,not the best bushcrafting dog loves to try and catch rabbits i say try as he aint got one yet but he tries bless him.Sleeps in the hammock with me and keeps me warm in the winter,great companion when out on a solo Getting him a backpack for Christmas so he can carry he's own food and water

 

[Rebel]

Sorry soloman...my bad!
So far in the uk only four dogs have been banned from council owned property!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Dogs_Act_1991

Here in Ireland 11 have been banned...I thought that the laws were similar! Sorry

The Irish laws are pretty tight. My Doberman wouldn't be very happy going for a walk there! Did they have problems with German Shepherds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and Dobermans attacking people in Ireland?

Irish law:
The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 place controls on 10 breeds of dogs, namely the American Pit Bull Terrier; English Bull Terrier; Staffordshire Bull Terrier; Bull Mastiff; Doberman Pinscher; German Shepherd (Alsatian); Rhodesian Ridgeback; Rottweiler; Japanese Akita; Japanese Tosa and to every dog of the type commonly known as a Ban Dog (or Bandog).

The controls, which must be observed when the dog is in a public place, require that these dogs, or strains and crosses thereof, must be securely muzzled and kept on a strong short lead [only up to 2 metres long] by a person over 16 years of age who is capable of controlling them. Dogs that are not kept under control will be euthanized.

 

[slammer187]

The Irish laws are pretty tight. My Doberman wouldn't be very happy going for a walk there! Did they have problems with German Shepherds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and Dobermans attacking people in Ireland?

Irish law:
The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 place controls on 10 breeds of dogs, namely the American Pit Bull Terrier; English Bull Terrier; Staffordshire Bull Terrier; Bull Mastiff; Doberman Pinscher; German Shepherd (Alsatian); Rhodesian Ridgeback; Rottweiler; Japanese Akita; Japanese Tosa and to every dog of the type commonly known as a Ban Dog (or Bandog).

The controls, which must be observed when the dog is in a public place, require that these dogs, or strains and crosses thereof, must be securely muzzled and kept on a strong short lead [only up to 2 metres long] by a person over 16 years of age who is capable of controlling them. Dogs that are not kept under control will be euthanized.

Oh my mistake again only 10 breeds haha. We have had a few attacks on small children from these breeds and some have resulted in death which is ridiculous when you think about it because these tragedies shouldn't happen because the owners should be trained properly.

The laws are very tight...I've heard about people under 16 walking Alsatians which have been seized from them because of these laws but it is important that they are in-place to prevent danger to citizens.

 

[tsitenha]

I am not sure that there is a "best breed". Size of the animal not withstanding it is the size of his "heart" that matters most.
Oh yes as long as it doesn't bite me to hard or often I am OK with it, want a dog that will not back down.

 

[firecrest]

As a teenager my cousins had a rough collie. when we went walking along cliff paths in wales, she used to herd us. She would walk from the front to the back of the crowd and check everybody was there. (actually nearly used to knock us off the cliff in the process) anyway she got very distressed if anyone went missing (read hid from her for a laugh!) So Id certainly recommend the rough collie if you have kids and are out hiking.

As for other dogs, well don't bother with chihuahuas, they are always cold, nick brews and everything wants to eat them. You can however, shove several into your sleeping bag and arrange them one on your feet and another on your back so they do have their uses.

 

[gloomhound]