It’s hard to imagine a world without man’s best friend. They’ve been by our side through thick and thin, and have been bred and trained for numerous tasks. Even now, where dogs aren’t as crucial to our survival as they used to be, we still keep them around. We just love our dogs, and they love us (probably).
But that doesn’t mean we won’t depend on them in the future. If the grid goes down, they will be just as useful to us then as they were in prehistory. They will help us hunt, alert us to intruders, and fight for us when the chips are down. They will be one of our indispensable tool, and anyone with a dog after the SHTF is going to have a huge advantage, especially if that dog is well trained.
However, there are a few items that would not only make your dog a more effective survival asset, but would make both of your lives easier. Below are five products no dog owning prepper should go without.
Saddlebag
Anytime we go for a hike or a run with our dogs, we have to carry the things they need like water dishes, treats, toys, and bug repellent (we’ll get to that in a moment). But why not let your dog carry some of the weight? They can handle a few more pounds without any problem. With a saddlebag, they can carry everything they need, while also getting a little more exercise.
Nylon Muzzle Loop
If you’re in a dangerous situation, you’ll definitely want to have your dog by your side. However, there will be times when you need to keep your fuzzy friend quiet. Dogs don’t always understand that it’s in their best interest to stay silent, so you may need to intervene. A good muzzle will go a long way towards stifling your dog’s bark.
On the other hand, it’s not a perfect solution. They can still make a few vocalizations, they just won’t be as loud. If you want your dog to stay quiet, then there is no surrogate for training. I’d suggest a getting a clicker. Not only can you use it to train your dog to stop barking on command, but the sound is vague enough that it won’t garner any unwanted attention.
Musher’s Secret
Have you ever seen your dog play in the snow, and wondered how they can stand it without any shoes on? Well, they do have a hell of high pain tolerance. I’ve seen dogs play until the pads of their feet bleed. They just keep going and going like the energizer bunny.
With that said, you’re not alone if you’re worried about the health of your dog’s feet, especially in extreme environments. There’s two things you can do. You buy some dog shoes, but most pets hate wearing those. Or you can try Musher’s Secret. It’s a non-toxic wax that you can apply to the feet, and will usually last about a week. It protects their paws from ice, hot pavement, sand and salt. It’s kind of like an invisible shoe that your dog won’t even notice.
Natural Bug Repellent
There are few things as bad as coming home from a walk and finding ticks on your dog. The only thing that’s worse is using toxic bug repellents, which your dog may lap up when you’re not looking. If you’re worried about bugs infesting your dog, but you don’t want to use any nasty chemicals, there are a few natural oils you can try. Neem oil seems to work best for flees and mosquitoes while rose geranium is particularly effective against ticks. If you place a few drops in a spray bottle, you can keep your pets safe while still getting the most bang for your buck.
Paracord Leash
I’ll admit, this is more for you than your dog. But preppers take to paracord like dogs take to pig ears, so this list wouldn’t be complete without a paracord leash. Plus, you never know when you might need some paracord, and you can never have too much.
Speaking of which, if you already have a ton of this stuff lying around, you can always make your own paracord leash. With a few basic tools and a little bit of time, you can have an extremely durable, adjustable leash. This way you’ll always be prepared, no matter what climb or place your dog takes you.
This article was originally published at Ready Nutrition™ on May 3rd, 2015
Think those saddlebags will fit my five pound maltese?
I’ve never seen or used that “Musher’s Secret”, but in a post apocalyptic situation or in any emergency, a set of dog boots would be a good idea and they may eventually have to be replaced, but they should last longer thus being a solid reusable item they offer greater longevity and sustainability when resources are minimal or resupply is not possible.
Second thing is that it’s easy enough to build a cart even for tiny dogs to pull and carry a light load.
As long as we’re protecting the dogs paws, it might be necessary to provide a set of goggles to protect their eyes from smoke and airborne debris. In addressing this point of concern. I’d recommend a brush to quickly deal with anything that may attach itself (get stuck to) the dogs body or longer strands of hair. The more hair a dog has, the more grooming it will require.