What do you think the best survival dog is? A German Shepherd? A Pitbull? Which breed do you think makes a home security system look like a child’s toy? Which breed would rip any intruders to shreds like a wolf?
We’ll get to that soon.
Getting a dog is the entire home defensive plan of a lot of people in this country. And it works for some. For those who get the right kind of dog.
Not all “survival dogs” are created equal…
Some hounds will make you feel warm, welcome, and waiting to come back. And others can be snarling beasts racing through a field to introduce you to a jaw that is about to have its way with your bones.
Which one would you want protecting you?
There’s of course, an on-going debate on what breed makes the ultimate survival dog. But I think I found what breed it comes down to, which I didn’t expect…
Criteria For The Best Survival Canine
First, let’s quickly go through the criteria we used to determine the best survival canine.
I looked at:
- Size
- Purpose
- Strength
- Loyalty
- Guts
- Intelligence
…and more.
There are a lot of boxes to tick off when searching for a dog that is going to have responsibility. All of the dogs below make good choices for their specific purpose.
Without further ado, let’s start with the best overall.
The Best Dogs For Survival
Most first guesses at what the best dog breeds for survival purposes are German Shepherd or a bullmastiff. While they do make lean and mean survival pups, they aren’t the cream of the crop. At least not compared to this one…
So what is the best survival dog?
The best survival dog is a German Shorthaired Pointer.
Yes, sir. The ultimate best friend of man goes to the German Short-Haired Pointer checks all the boxes for a survival dog
They have it all.
- Loyal
- Balls
- Intelligence
- Grit
Other Dog Breeds Fit For Survival
There are many breeds and a few of them make killer survival dogs. So good, in fact, it would seem just disrespectful to exclude them from this guide.
With that being said, here are the next best survival dogs based on specific needs that would serve you well.
Best Survival Dog For Company
- Lhasa Apso
- Chow-Chow
Part of surviving is having companionship. Even though we like to think we can do everything ourselves and we never need anyone, ever (maybe that’s just me).
Having others around for nothing else other than the company makes a difference in overall health and well-being. For a man, there’s no competition for man’s best friend.
Here are the best survival dogs that excel at being companions.
Lhasa Apso
These dogs are small and short in size. Most have a white fur coat.
I’ve spent a few months daily with one of these animals and they definitely full of energy.
Some Lhasa Apso owners turn them into beauty pageant contestants…
…no comment.
Chow Chow
If you’ve ever seen a small furry creature that resembles the size of a cat that prides itself on how much table scraps it can eat without you knowing until you realize it gained another 2 lbs…
…you probably saw a chow-chow.
I don’t say this term lightly, but this dog is as cute and friendly as a four-legged creature could possibly be.
If you’re looking for a heart-warming feeling every time you come home and an astronomical amount of attention from just about everyone in public, this dog is your survival companion.
Best Survival Dog For Hunting
- German Short-haired Pointer
- Brittany Spaniel
- Labrador Retriever
The following breeds are born for hunting purposes. If a hunting companion is what you seek, search no further than these dogs.
Since they are skilled hunters, they make some of the best dogs for wilderness survival.
German Short-Haired Pointer
As you already know, the German short-haired pointer is the best survival dog breed overall. Where this dog excels is in it’s hunting skills.
Brittany Spaniel
The Brittany Spaniel is a shock to many people, but it’s one of the top dogs for survival. Like the other breeds, they have a long history of excelling at hunting and retrieving.
Labrador Retriever
Hands down one of the most popular dogs for the American family. The Labrador Retriever makes one of the best survival dogs for hunting.
Best Survival Dog For Working and Labor
- Mastiff
- Alaskan Husky
- Border Collie
Need some extra help with work and labor around the yard? These are the best survival dogs for work and labor purposes.
Mastiff
If you’ve seen the movie Turner and Hooch with Tom Hanks that came out in 1982, you’ll recognize this hound like it’s your best friend.
And you’ll know that this isn’t the first dog you’ll go pick up at a “Family Pet Store” to be the new easy-going bundle of joy of the household.
However, if you’re looking for a true survival dog that walks, barks, and acts like it’s the baddest beast in the neighborhood; pick up a couple 20lb bags of kibble on your way to pick it up. You might want to pick up more than two bags if you plan on having enough food to last him for more than three days.
On average, these dogs eat between x and x lbs of food per day and weigh up to x lbs.
Hope you don’t have any leather furniture in the house.
Alaskan Husky
A longtime favorite animal of mine. These sled dogs are tough.
Their endurance is unmatched. Their strength is shocking, and they have the good looks to go with the talent.
These beautiful majestic looking animals are the tough as nails pups that haul snow slays in races and everyday work in multiple feet of snow.
All while making it look like a walk in the park.
Border Collie
One of the more energetic and family-oriented breeds.
The Border Collie fools many with its likeability factor, make no mistake. It’s one of the best survival dogs out there.
Best Survival Dog For Protection and Security
- German Shepherd
- Pitbull
German Shepherd
One of the most well-known dogs for sky-rocketing pulse rates and skipping heart beats.
The German Shepherd is the dog used by Law Enforcement to assist them in catching the bad guys, or ripping a new hole in their rear.
This dog was born to defend and survive.
Shar-Pei
The Shar-Pei are one of the best survival dogs for security purposes.
Dogs are loyal creatures in general. The Shar-Pei brings loyalty to the next level.
Pitbull
I lived with a pit bull for years with my father. Did I like the dog? No. But did I feel better about a potential home invasion with the dog there?
You bet.
The pit bull was mean, angry, aggressive, and strong. Are all pit bulls like this? No. But the one I lived with was.
Pits have a reputation for being overly-aggressive and hostile.
Conclusion
If you want to increase your home security and defense, getting one of these dogs will be a good option.
What dog breed do you think would make the best survival dog?
To see more of the best survival gear, tools, gadgets, and anything else, go to the Ultimate Survival Gear Guide here.
