How To Prepare Your Dog For Survival? Surviving is an extremely important thing to do as a dog owner, especially if you are thinking about training your dog to perform certain tasks or tricks. If you ever have to evacuate with your dog, it’s going to be very difficult unless your dog is prepared.
Many people get nervous when they think of evacuating with their dogs because they don’t know what kind of situations that would put them in.
The key word here is “survival.” Dogs only understand three things: food, water, and shelter. Once those three essentials are guaranteed, then everything else is irrelevant.
So even though it may seem weird, buying toys and trays for your dog to play with during this time will actually not matter. Because once those three basics are guaranteed, then your dog will have enough entertainment.
And hopefully, you already know how to take care of your pooch when he/she needs to go to the bathroom or eat, so these tips will be easy to apply. Breathing exercises are also helpful since air is essential for most animals.
Overall, being prepared for evacuation is just common sense, but sometimes we lose track due to other commitments. That is totally okay, though! Life goes on, and you will see your dog again soon.
Never forget that your furry friend is still probably more scared than you.
How to Train Your Dog for When SHTF?
When SHTF hits, it’s important to be prepared. That includes having a well-trained dog by your side. Here’s how to train your dog for when SHTF:
1. Start with the basics. Make sure your dog knows basic commands like sit, stay, come, and down. These will be essential for when SHTF and you need to give your dog commands in a high-stress situation.
2. Socialize your dog. A well-socialized dog will be less likely to be scared or aggressive when SHTF. Start socializing your dog early, and expose them to as many different people and situations as possible.
3. Teach your dog to be quiet. In a survival situation, you’ll need to be able to sneak around without being detected. That means teaching your dog to be quiet on command. Start with basic obedience commands like sit and stay, and then move on to more difficult commands like “quiet” or “speak.”
4. Train your dog to walk on a leash. This is important for two reasons: first, you’ll need to be able to control your dog in a survival situation, and second, you’ll need to be able to travel quietly. Start by teaching your dog to heel, and then move on to walking on a leash without pulling.
5. Teach your dog basic first aid. In a survival situation, you may not have access to veterinary care. That means it’s important to know how to treat your dog for basic injuries and illnesses. First aid for dogs includes things like knowing how to control bleeding, how to treat shock, and how to recognize and treat common illnesses like diarrhea.
6. Get your dog in shape. A well-conditioned dog will be able to travel farther and handle more stress in a survival situation. Start by walking or running with your dog every day, and then gradually increase the distance and intensity of your workouts.
7. Be prepared to protect your dog. In a survival situation, you may need to protect your dog from other people or animals. That means knowing how to use a weapon and being prepared to defend your dog if necessary.
8. Have a plan for when SHTF. When SHTF hits, you’ll need to be able to act quickly. That means having a plan in place for what you’ll do and where you’ll go. Include your dog in your plans, and make sure you have everything you need to care for your dog in a survival situation.
The best way to train your dog for when SHTF is to start preparing now. By teaching your dog the basics and getting them in shape, you’ll be better prepared to handle whatever comes your way when SHTF.
How Do You Bug Out With Pets?
You’ve probably seen the term “bug out bag” before, but what exactly is it? A bug out bag is a bag packed with all the essentials you need to survive in the event of an emergency. It’s also known as a 72-hour kit or a go bag.
If you have pets, you’ll need to take them into account when packing your bug out bag. Here’s what you need to know about bugging out with pets.
The first step is to make sure your pets are microchipped and up to date on their vaccinations. This will help you reunite with your pets if they become lost during an evacuation.
Next, you’ll need to pack food and water for your pets. Consider packing canned food for your dog or cat, as well as a water bowl and a water bottle. You should also pack a leash, collar, and ID tags.
If you have time, you can also train your pets to respond to basic commands like “sit” and “stay.” This will make it easier to keep them under control during an evacuation.
Finally, make sure you have a plan for where you’ll go and how you’ll get there. If you have to evacuate by car, plan your route in advance and make sure you have a way to transport your pets. If you’re evacuating on foot, consider carrying your pets in a backpack or pet carrier.
Bugging out with pets can be challenging, but it’s important to be prepared. By following these tips, you can make sure your pets are safe and sound in the event of an emergency.
Practice your plan
After you have gathered all of your supplies, it is time to practice your survival skills with your dog! Start by playing a game together using these rules:
You must do either of the following two actions consecutively for at least five seconds before moving on to the next action.
For example, if you run away from home, then come back, you will not go forward until your dog does an appropriate amount of barking after you leave.
If you take a walk outside, your dog needs to stay in the yard while you are gone. Once you return, they cannot enter the house unless they are fine and know that you are coming back.
This process can be repeated as needed until your dog has learned how to survive alone! If your dog shows signs of separation anxiety or fear, this may be too much for them to handle. You may want to look into other ways to help them deal with this.
Check your equipment
It is important to check your dog’s gear before heading into the wilderness with them. Make sure that they have adequate food, water, shelter, safety devices (leash, crate), and appropriate outdoor clothing.
Does your dog like certain toys? Can they tell you when their toy is gone? You may need to make do without until you get back. The same goes for treats!
You can also test your own supplies by having a backup set of clothes, snacks, etc. in case something happens. This way, you are not wasted time looking for what you need while waiting for your dog to calm down or find an empty spot to potty.
Provide food and water
Even if your dog does not go outside, he or she must be prepared for when they do! Luckily, you can prepare your dog for survival by providing them with adequate food and fresh water.
Most dogs are an average of one to two years old and at most risk of surviving a disaster due to either natural disasters (e.g., thunderstorms, earthquakes) or man-made ones (like house fires). During this time frame, many dogs will eat and drink regularly.
However, as your dog matures, so too should their need for sustenance. At that stage, chances are they won’t want what they’re given and may even lose interest in it. This could mean leaving some food behind or having to get rid of it completely.
In fact, there are cases where people take away the plate their dog was eating off of and their dog just looks at it like “what is that? I don”t understand…”
This could cause weight gain which could potentially lead to health issues later on. So, make sure you keep an eye on your dog’s nutrition and see how they’re doing overall.
Tell your family
If you are ever forced to evacuate with your dog, then make sure that your loved ones know about your pet. This will prevent people from trying to re-home your dog or even taking them away when you return!
Some things to tell people include: your name, breed, if they are vaccinated, any health issues, and whether or not they need to be put up in a kennel or isolated room while traveling.
People often worry about leaving their house with an animal inside, but most shelters have plenty of opportunities for socialization so this is less important than it seems!
Shelters are very organized so your dog can find food and shelter there as well.
Teach your dog what to do
The second key component of prepping with dogs is teaching them what they should be doing if needed during an emergency situation. This can mean anything from learning how to protect their home or retreat, to educating them as to when it’s okay to eat food that may not look delicious!
Some common scenarios where this could matter are if there was a power outage so you cannot access food, water, or shelter, or if someone intrudes on your property. In both cases, knowing what to do can keep your dog alive.
You also need to know what kind of dog your pet is so you can determine whether or not they would likely survive a crisis. For example, some breeds have higher body temperatures than others, making them more susceptible in a disaster setting.
Luckily, there are many ways you can teach your dog survival skills. You can start by having them meet other dogs of their breed to see who their peers are and learn about pack behavior. Then, use these concepts to help educate your dog on what to do during an unexpected event.
Practice rescue techniques
Even if your dog is not prepared to survive alone, it is still important to prepare him for survival. You can do this by practicing basic rescue skills such as leading a dog outside or downstairs, getting his paws off of slippery surfaces, and encouraging him to climb up steps.
You should also practice putting food and water bowls away so that he has to work hard to find them. This helps condition your dog to keep searching even after you have given up looking!
Finally, make sure your house is safe before leaving him unattended. If necessary, add safety equipment like blankets, towels, and empty plastic bottles to reduce the risk of injury in case he gets too hot or needs to protect himself from other dogs or cats.
Equip your kit
One of the first things you should do before prepping for survival with dogs is to make sure you have all of the necessary supplies. You’ll want to be certain you have enough food, water, shelter, medicine, and equipment for caring for your dog while she recovers or until you can bring her home again!
You don’t want to forget anything because there may not be anyone else around to help you take care of her. Luckily, most veterinarians are familiar with how to treat canine patients so you shouldn’t worry too much about buying medication or equipment at this time.
Once you have everything, go ahead and organize it into something that makes sense to you. For example, many people put together bowls, lids, and towels in one group to form what they call a “dog wash station”. That way, you don’t need to spend money buying separate pieces, which could also prove to be expensive if you run out early.
Know the location
Knowing where your dog will seek shelter can make a big difference in his or her safety. If possible, know the area your dog lives in and the surrounding areas so you can determine if this is a safe place or not.
If there’s nowhere close by that you feel your dog could survive out of food and water for an extended period of time, then it’s better to let him go rather than risk injury trying to save him.
You can also teach your dog some survival skills like how to scavenge for sustenance, find freshwater sources, and learn about first aid.