K9 Preparedness Guide, FAQ & Link Thread

Preparation, Preparedness & Prevention Disaster Preparation & Planning
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K9 Preparedness Guide, FAQ & Links

Share your plans/advice to prepare for your dog’s welfare in the event of SHTF.

I thought we could benefit from having a location to share information on helping to prepare for our four-legged family members. Between the M4Carbine.net community, I know there is an immense amount of practical knowledge to be shared.

Many of us here share a love of dogs. Some may work with their K9 partner, participate in schutzhund activities, hunt with them, share time on hikes & walks or make room for them next to you on the couch. Whatever it is, many of us count our dogs as family members. I can tell you I value my dogs as much as any loved one. :slight_smile:

Post up your training tips, gear reviews, breed insight, etc. Dealt with a medical issue that might be helpful to others – post it. Food storage, medical prep, gear? Good place to post pix and show off da pooch too!

Helpful Links – If you want to post a web link you think would be helpful, I’ll do my best to keep up with the thread and copy your link back here to the top. This way we compile the good links all in one spot. (The following categories are just my first go. Any suggestions? )

Medical Links:

General vet info http://www.vetinfo.com/category/dogs/

General vet info http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/symptoms/default.htm

Dog syptoms diagnosis http://www.helpmyhound.com/

Drugs listed alphabetically http://www.petplace.com/drug-library/all-drugs-listed-alphabetically/page1.aspx

Gadsden11’s K9 DFAK Link http://www.elitek9.com/K-9-Tactical-...ductinfo/F030/

Nutrition & Dog Food Storage Links:

Dog Food Recall Alert Emails (Free) http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall-alerts/

Purina Pro Club (Rebate Program for those who purchase large amounts of food). http://purinaproclub.com/

How You Store Dry Dog Food Will Affect Your Dog’s Health http://naturalpaw.wordpress.com/2007/11/19/how-you-store-dry-dog-food-will-affect-your-dogs-health/

General Training Links:

Guide to Dog Packing (Training and Conditioning) http://wolfpacks.com/products/dogpacks/guide.html

Bill Tarrant’s Gun Dog Training Books http://www.gundogsupply.com/bill-tarrant.html

“Problem Gun Dogs: How to Identify and Correct Thier Faults” http://www.gundogsupply.com/b79710.html

“Super Puppy” http://www.amazon.com/SuperPuppy-Raise-Best-Youll-Ever/dp/1886056013/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347228429&sr=8-1&keywords=super+puppy+book

Schutzhund Training Links:

Schutzhund Training Info http://www.schutzhund-training.com/

United Shutzhund Club of America for German Shepard Dogs http://www.germanshepherddog.com/schutzhund/index.htm

Gear Links:

Ray Allen Professional K9 Gear Supplies http://www.rayallen.com/

Dog Back Packs http://wolfpacks.com/

Fitting Your Dog for a Back Pack http://wolfpacks.com/products/dogpacks/fitting.html

Police, Military & Schutzhund Working Dog Training Equipment http://www.elitek9.com/

Gun Dog Supply http://www.gundogsupply.com/

Scout’s (VooDoo6Actual) EliteK9 Molle Cobra Buckle Dog Vest/Pack Foundation http://www.elitek9.com/Special-Operations-K-9-Harness-with-Cobra-Buckles/productinfo/MH025/

Scout’s (VooDoo6Actual) VIP Adventure Beacon Strobes

Grooming/Bedding/Cleaning Links:

Great, great coat brush http://www.furminator.com/

Breed Info Links:

American Kennel Club http://www.akc.org/

Chesapeake Bay Retreiver http://www.cbrrescue.org/information.htm

Breeder Links:

Dog Rescue Groups Links:

Military Working Dog Adoption Program (Lackland Air Force Base) http://www.37trw.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120718-079.pdf

German Shepard Dog Rescue/Adoptions http://www.gsdrescue.org/

Belgian Malnois Rescue http://www.malinoisrescue.org/

Chesapeake Bay Retriever Rescue http://www.cbrrescue.org/

Miscellanous Links:

Home-Again Micro Chipping http://public.homeagain.com/

Electronic Dog Door http://www.solopetdoors.com/

Existing M4C Threads:

Athena’s Thread – “Looking to get a guard dog” https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=106408

“(service) Dogs in bugout/civil unrest/decay” https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=98662&highlight=dog

“SHTF/Guard Dog Breeds” https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=87233&highlight=dog

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Purina Pro Club

Purina established this club for members who were either breeders or operated a rescue group. Essentially you cut out the “Club Points Logo” from the bag and save them up. You then are able to redeem them for $7 Cash Equivalent Checks or gear. I opt for the $7 checks which you may redeem at a rate of 1 per bag.

I typically purchase 4 each 34# bags of their Purina One Large Breed or Lamb & Rice Formula a month. I live in a rural area so access to higher end and more nutritional dog foods is not cost feasible. They actually do quite well on the food with no skin reactions, good digestibility (low poo size compared to other higher brands), etc.

I typically redeem my points about every 10 months. I typically receive back anywhere from $240-$270 in checks at that time. I then use four checks per month which gets me 1 free bag!

http://purinaproclub.com/

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The Wrecking Crew :stuck_out_tongue:

All seven of mine I picked up as strays/dumped dogs. Doom the day I catch the SOB’s in the act of dumping.

They are now enjoying the good life with 3 fenced acres and unlimited access to the home and my bed. :rolleyes:

Left-to-Right: Raine (Black Lab Bitch), Cheyenne (Black Lab Bitch), Tay (Cheasepeake Bay Retriever Dog), Elijah (Fiest Squirrel Dog), Hunny (Black Lab Bitch) and Teddy (Fiest Squirrel/Hog Dog).

Salli-Belle (Fiest Squirrel/Hog Bitch) the baby of the bunch and hell on wheels. Guys around here breed these smaller hound/terrier dogs to be the chase/harrassment dogs for hunting hogs. She is a little badass! The bell is to help keep track of her around the place. The faster the bell the bigger the trouble. :mad:

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redacted.

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Gotta love the labs. He’s a damn good looking dog doing exactly what he was meant to do! :slight_smile: Man how I miss living by the beach and dog beach days:cray:

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How 'bout a try at a communal D-FAK project for a bug-out type event? What might a combat K9 handler carry in theater?

I’ve got a good amount of First Aid stuff I’ve been acquiring for the dogs, but I really do need to get it compiled properly. Good thing most items in my IFAK/FAK are common to man & beast - so not everything will be duplicated (or should it?). However, I wanted a dog dedicated kit. Not sure of the size yet or short term vs. long term situation. (I plan to Bug In and hold fast, but…)

For my use I’d have to plan for a larger number of dogs :rolleyes: than the one dog household. My W.A.G. would be to place this in one of my dog’s back packs which would maybe take up 1/2 of 1 side - mostly bulk vs. weight.

So far off the top of my head and rummaging through my med. Rubbermade box I’ve got or want:

(1) Nail clippers (dog type - for torn/split nails)
(1) Stiptic Powder (not the stick version, I use Remington brand)
(6) Deramaxx/Rimadyl (dog pain meds)
(6) Panacur Powder (broad spectrum paracitiside - i.e waterborne)
(1) Razor (cut down handle)
(2) Frontline (flea/tick)
(1) 4" OLAES Bandage
(1) 6" OLAES Bandage
(1) ACE Elastic Bandage Wrap
(2) Gauze Rolls
(6) 4"x4" Guaze Pads
(1) Provodone/Iodine Solution (transferred to small travel squeeze/spray bottle)
(12) Anti-histamine pills
(1) Triple Anti-biotic lotion (small bottle)
(2) Dog Booties, Large (for protecting bandaged paw)
(2) Dog Booties, Sm/Med.
(8’) Duct Tape (wrapped around gift card)
(1) H20 Purification Tabs (bottle)
(1) Small fabric collapsible H20 bowl
(2) Quik Clot

Edit: Adding VooDoo6Actual’s good advice (“Your Canine FAT kit looks pretty good. Superglue, Tampons, Hydrogen peroxide, Electrolytes are all that I have different in mine basically”

(1) Superglue
(3) Tampons (damn bitches, I kid, I kid - get it?)
(1) Hydrogen peroxide (I’ll swap for Provodine/Iodine solution?)
(6) Electrolytes (powder?)

What did I miss? What might I be able to leave out?

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My roommate and I have a six year old chocolate lab (mine) and a five year old red heeler (his).

I adopted my lab four years ago off a family who couldn’t keep him because they were gone all the time and he was spending 80% of his life in a dog kennel. Roommate found his dog while he was on patrol, took him to the humane society and adopted him once all the paperwork cleared and they got him up to date on his shots. The red heeler is pretty skiddish and doesn’t like it when I play guitar (acoustic or electric, doesn’t matter), put away the dishes, listen to music at pretty much any level, etc. He always runs and hides in the closet, so I’m assuming he was abused and then dumped on the road somewhere.

My lab doesn’t really care for guns I don’t think (he was in the room when I got shot a year after I got him and ever since if I pick one up and yell bang he hauls ass ) and the heeler will shake and shiver if you even set a gun down next to him… but they make an excellent early warning system. :smiley:

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redacted.

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:secret: I think I have a dog-crush on your dog:p Beautiful, simple beautiful. I love those big block heads.

Dead on right about trusting your dog’s opinions of others - I’m with you there. Does the inevitable fart surpass the sound of the snore too? I know its true for a couple of mine:p

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redacted.

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Great thread I have been think about this for a while and voila here we are. Thank you.

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Cheers! Cold beer and all that:alcoholic: Give Scout a scratch and a little extra scraps tonight.

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Dog’s Life - Pulley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqpXwc4D9kA

[i]My cases sit right in front of me
waiting for someone to take me away.

Alone again, my pills are kicking in…
See I’m a dog and I’m locked in my cage.
Eyes are red, tongue is hanging out,
I’m thirsty as shit… and I’m still a dog,
fleas don’t itch I had a bath the other day
before this trip wonder where we’re going.

My toys are packed and
I see my bed is in,
And my two bowls are somewhere in reach.
Scratch with rage
until I find a way to get through this
cardboard that sits under me.

It’s cold down here…
A bumpy ride and my seat’s not first class,
man’s best friend I feel befriended this is a
dogs life
ok were here, things are ok again
brand new lawn just to welcome me here
scratch my ears and I’ll chase down your ball
looks like this new place will be home
for now. Won’t take long,… to go to sleep
after going through all this.
Wake up tomorrow and we’ll
do it again…
This is a dog’s life.[/i]

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Can’t help but to think of this song every time I watch a GSD, Mal or other dog practice Schutzhund.

Maybe Cairo the Seal Dog on the UBL raid was rocking to this tune? :smiley:

Wardogs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V98wvcHDhJg

[i]We’re a bunch of desperados, a brave and fearless crew.

We will work for anyone, we’ll even work for you.

Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war.

Money is the cause we fight for

We don’t mind facing the dangers, when we’re fighting for strangers.

Have no conscience who we kill as long as you can foot the bill.

We’ll get your country out of any crisis, as long as you can meet our prices.

We just kill and then get out, march into battle hear us shout.[/i]

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redacted.

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You gents have awesome dogs. I have a GSD/Retriever mix, and he’s a rescue as well. Bubba is very, very loyal. Maybe it’s the bacon I feed him? :wink:

I really do appreciate the tips on supplies and first aid. It’s something I had frankly overlooked.

I’ll second the ability of him to judge strangers. The Chechens that live down the street found that out the hard way.

He got extra bacon, AND cheese that day.

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Thanks for the knowledge and the laughs gents! :cool:

Good thread idea for this particular sub-forum for sure.

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No doubt I have put a lot of thought into the subject myself and never come up with a solid answer. I have 3 dogs 2 of them are easily controlled and quiet, the last one how ever will kill you if given the chance and he is anything but quiet. Ya that’s great for scaring people off, but what about when you don’t want to be seen?

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My unit buys a lot of equipment from elite k-9.
http://www.elitek9.com/
They have quality gear and good prices.
Our local emergency vet put together basic first aid kit for all our vehicles that has stuff to treat non life threatening injuries. I would use my ifak for those. I have been thinking about a k-9 specific one though. Like this.
http://www.elitek9.com/K-9-Tactical-Field-Kit/productinfo/F030/
Contents:

4 xS-Rolled Gauze 2 xETD™ 4 in. Emergency Trauma Dressing 1 xETD™ Abdominal Emergency Trauma Dressing 1 xCombat Gauze™ Hemostatic Bandage 1 xNAR Needleless Saline Lock Kit 2 xARS® Needle Decompression Kit (14 G x3.25 in.) 2 xPetrolatum Gauze (3 in. x18 in.) 1 xSAM® Splint II (36 in. x4.25 in.) 1 xTrauma Shears (7.25 in.) 1 xEye Wash Solution 1 xSplinter Forceps 10 xBear Claw™ Nitrile Trauma Gloves (5 pr.) 1 xHydrogen Peroxide (8 oz) 1 xDigital Veterinary Thermometer 1 xTactical Black Muzzle 2 x2 in. Veterinary Elastic Adhesive Tape 2 x4 in. Veterinary Elastic Adhesive Tape 1 xBlack Flexible, Self-Adherent Bandaging Tape 1 xVeterinary Tissue Adhesive
Here is my partner Aegis. He’s a 2.5 year old Mal.

And just for fun…
as far as long term prepping things, aside from the med kit, I keep a few months of food on hand and have a years worth of basic stuff like hartworm, frontline, and a few weeks worth of antibiotics from the vet just in case.

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I love dogs but suspect that they would be a liability and a drain on resources during a time of extreme need. Now I know dogs are considered a member of the family by many here but they are still just a animal and being such unpredictable in nature and disposable in a serious emergency.

Being a multi decade LEO in a major city I have encountered thousands of dogs and have been able to observe common behavior traits which are not desirable when trying to live under the radar (Stealth) or travel. Dogs have a inherent need to protect their owners and territory and many here would say that during a time of emergency this is a force multiplier. But this same behavior also is a liability for those once again trying to lay low if the dog reacts to outside stimulus by barking or trying to run to the location of the disturbance giving your location up. Now if your on top of the dog maybe you can control him but if the dog or dogs are not immediately by your side then the jig is up and they are making a lot of noise.

Also mostly one would not wish to allow your dog or dogs to venture out side to relieve them selfs if possible hostile were in the area so what measures have to taken manage dog waste and smell from inside the bug-in location?

Dogs depending on size but especially service sized dogs need a good amount of food and water which may not be such a problem in the short term if your bugging in and have stored a large supply of dog food with your food stores but this planing falls apart once you have to bug out on foot or in a vehicle as now you have to hump additional weight to support a dog/dogs over the needs of yourself or family members.

Now some may say while on the move I would just share my food and water with the dog, Really? Your are going to use food to sustain a dog over yourself and family? And what if you have more then one large dog with limited resources? Some may say they would hunt and gather supplies on the move but this action is unacceptable unless you have a silent mode for such (Bow, Crossbow or a “Can” for your weapons) and the movement to locate game would also expose you to contact with the bad guys or other hunting parties which is poor tactics.

So my question to the multi dog owners is how are you going to over come all the liabilities of your dogs to were they are a positive advantage and not just a drain on resources and a sanitation issue over time. And once things get hard supply wise what would you do with such dogs that did not place addition risk to your parity.