If you don’t have a true survivor for a furry bestie, then it becomes that much harder to thrive in an un-fur-givable environment. In a survival situation, you will need a pooch that can not only hold its own, but one that can help you thrive. Depending on the situation that you must face, there are several different tasks that a top survival barker could help you with. In the list below, and in no particular order, our focus is on the top dog breeds that have the following survival traits; threat deterrent, early warning system, companionship, and can assist in finding and catching food.
The Rottweiler is a dog of German origin bred to herd livestock and pull carts with farm products including meat to the local store. In terms of hardiness and protection from external threats to their owner, they are second to none. Additionally, they are highly intelligent, extremely trainable and have great senses of smell and hearing, making them the perfect early detection system.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback was reared to hunt lions in Africa and be a general companion in the homestead. With this breed of dog, you will get a double dose of bravery and companionship. Some of the other attributes furtastic for survival include the following; speed, stamina, hunting prowess, athletic build able to traverse difficult terrain, great senses, low water needs, and heat tolerance.
The Labrador Retriever was bred to help fishers retrieve fishing nets, as well as assist in hunting expeditions. Affectionately called the ‘Lab,’ this dog species is compassionate, loving, and kind to their owner. As a top survival breed, the Lab has the following traits; hunter, endurance, strong work ethic, a strong swimmer, intelligent and easily trainable, great senses for early detection, and a good companion.
The Akita is a very territorial dog that is also known for its loyalty to friends and family. This survival breed is large and powerful, and is quite intimidating towards strangers. Akitas are difficult to train, but they have pawtacular endurance, great senses, are very protective, and are built for cold weather due to their thick fur.Â
Alaskan Malamutes are large dogs that are also built to survive extremely cold weather. Despite their large stature, they are not known to be very protective. That said, their size and reserved attitude towards strangers can be intimidating enough. The Alaskan Malamute is great at hunting arctic wildlife like seals, and can be trained to hunt or defend against larger animals like bears.Â
The German Shepherd is a breed of the hunting class thas was originally bred to herd sheep. This dog breed is extremely versatile in different roles, including military and police work, as well as being a service dog. The German Shepard’s survival traits include intelligence, easily trainable, strength and stamina, loyalty and dedication to the owner, great senses, and an all-weather fur coat.
This large dog weighs in at about 200 pounds, can be territorial and therefore very protective of its master. The English Mastiff will usually place themselves between a stranger and their owner. They are also easily trained, have great senses, and are extraordinarily devoted in protecting family, children and other small doggies.
The American Pit Bull is a muscular dog that was bred to bait bears and bulls. Although known to be more aggressive than other dogs towards children and some adults, if socialized at a young age, they can be dedicated family members. Some of their other survival traits include a high endurance, hunting prowess, guarding trait, and a long lifespan.
The Jack Russell Terrier was bred as a fox hunter due to their tenacious and relentless work ethic. They are small, generally have good health and consume very little food as compared to larger dog breeds. Although they provide minimal protection against external threats, they make up for it in terms of work ethic, hunting prowess, and good companionship.Â