To get a German shepherd for safety?

[Claeiai]

I'm currently converting a van into a portable home with a shower, bed, kitchen and toilet and am planning on travelling around lots of the world for about a year in a couple of years time. I want to do a lot of hiking and being out in nature generally.

As a single, female traveller in my 20s, I am concerned that I am quite vulnerable to attack both when out and about alone in nature and also when parked overnight at campsites or in the wild.

I have come up with the idea of adopting a German shepherd or another breed (open to suggestions) both as a companion, but one which looks 'fierce' enough to intimidate men from trying to attack me. I love dogs and grew up with one and would be adopting this dog to care for it it's whole life. After I return, I will work from home and so will still be able to give the dog the care it needs for the rest of its life.

I've thought that this way, I can adopt a dog that needs rescuing from a shelter and would also feel much safer when travelling. I would put a lot of work into training into before we left and would not be training it to attack or be agressive, rather to be well behaved and perhaps snarl or whatever if someone tries to attack me to scare them away.

Please don't flame me, I will take on any thoughts and really consider them so please don't feel like you have to phrase things in an agressive way to 'get through to me'.

My first thought was that it sounds like quite a small space for a German shepherd.

The main thing that strikes me is that if you're going to be traveling round the world you'll need to do some very specific research about which countries will let you bring your dog in with you, what legal requirements you have to satisfy for each country, and also about whether your dog will be able to come back to the UK with you at the end of it.

German shepherds are certainly a very loyal and protective dog. We had one when I was growing up and as a teenager, I never worried about being alone in the house as I knew he would look after me. They have a loud bark which is generally enough to put miscreants off.

Ours was so lovely - really loyal, had a proper character, loved walks and his toys and he was a real family pet. If I had the time, I'd have one in a heartbeat.

The only possible issue I can see with your plan, particularly if you are rescuing, is that a German shepherd may not like living in a van. They are a big dog and need space. My parents had a caravan and we tried to take ours away with us - he didn't like it at all! Even though it was a large van , there just wasn't enough space for him to be happy in it. He also seemed to think he owned the site and barked at everything that moved so from that point of view, a German shepherd may not be the right bread - that said, some shepherds do go on sites and love it so you might get one that does.

Also, if you're thinking about doing lots of walking you might actually want something small and hardy like a terrier rather than a GSD - they are lovely dogs but prone to dodgy hips, and you might get a bit fed up with hoicking them over stiles and walls...

I don’t think German shepherd’s are the easiest first time dog. Otherwise, it doesn’t sound ridiculous.
I’d maybe investigate other breeds.

It's actually quite a lot of hassle travelling with a dog in tow...I've done it (used to live in another European country and regularly drove back to the U.K. with my hound in the car!). You need a Pet Passport that is up to date with vaccinations (rabies especially), a microchip, and for each visit you need to have tapeworm tablet within a very tight timescale before travelling (this is date/time stamped in your pet passport). Your dog is scanned and passport rigorously checked at border control before you pass through.

Other than that though...great company 👍

Does anyone have any recommendations on which other breed of dog might be more suitable? I saw the terrier suggestion but don't think they look 'scary' enough really to keep away those who seek to do me harm!

I have a gsd not in a van but a small house he does take up an awful lot of room and the mess he makes mud, fur ect is horrendous but I wouldn't be without him

Consider how you will access the van shephards are prone to hip problems if they have to hop up and down lots it could cause problems

our boy can only manage 2 good long walks a week at 8 yeas old and a pootle round the block the other days

I think you’ll probably find it more restrictive than liberating. Dogs are a bind and not welcome on all campsites etc.

Actually I have 3 german shepherds currently and have had 3 others in the past and every single one of them would have loved this set up.

Contrary to popular belief they are happiest with their human, mine are happy to walk all day or snuggle all day depending on what we are doing that day and certainly don’t care about space.

My friend has a boxer, she is very loyal and territorial, they hold rather than attack and she is lovely but all the workmen who visit my friend are terrified of her as she has a terrific bark and looks intimidating.

Thank you for the information @NorthernKnickers, very helpful!

It sounds like a German shepherd may not be suitable as I intend to do to lots of hiking!

In terms of the size of the van, I plan to spend most of the time outdoors and really only use the van for sleeping and cooking. I will attach a shower head and curtain which could be used to watch the dog's muddy paws before it comes into the van so should be able to keep the van fairly clean.

What other dog breeds are both 'fierce' looking but also capable of and enjoy lots of walking? I will look into this lots more myself of course but any points in the right direction will be much appreciated!

Also worth considering heat and how long you’ll need to leave a dog in a van, no different to leaving them in a car.
I think unless you have a dog that can bark on command it may not deter people. My sweet, innocent looking spaniel is a cow for going nuts at people and they give us a wide berth whereas my parents have had German shepherds in the past that will just wag their tail and go all soppy when people approach them x

Sorry for all the misspellings, I'm typing on my phone

If you are travelling around "lots of the world" you will be very restricted by taking a dog.
We don't know what effect leaving the EU will have on the pet passports scheme for European travel. You will be unable to take your dog to some places without quarantine. You'll need to ensure the dog is vaccinated against UK diseases and Rabies. In some places you will need to treat with specific parasite control to prevent, for example, leishmaniasis.
I'd invest in some self-defence lessons or buddy up and travel with a friend instead.

If you were attacked, would a pet dog actually protect you?

I'm installing a fan into the ceiling of my van but even still, I would be very conscious of not leaving the dog in there for long periods of time at all

Had you thought of a rescue staffy op ?
My staffy boy gives me so much confidence as he is so protective of me and always looking out for anyone who may hurt me .
Sounds daft but when on walks he is like my security, anyone or anything different and he stays so close to me checking things out .
Walking him in the dark winter evenings gave me the courage to go stomping through the woods and in the dark isolated lanes that I would never have done on my own .
Never scared if I have my boy with me .
Good luck on your travels .

An active breed that looks fierce (but be warned is actually soft) would be a husky. They are prone to seperation anxiety though.

I'm currently thinking of travelling new Zealand, Australia and South East Asia currently and will look into all of the requirement re vaccination etc. I don't mind so much being limited in regards to have a smaller selection of campsites because I do think that the peace of mind of knowing I have the dog besides me will be invaluable. I just want to make sure that I'm thinking about the needs and wellbeing of the dog first and foremost.

In terms of whether the dog will be able to protect me in the case of attack, I'm not sure really. I'm thinking that a scary looking dog that growls would be enough to intimidate most would-be attackers and I know most dogs are protective of their owners so likely would try to protect me if it came to that?

Avoid greyhounds/lurcher type dogs in a small enclosed space as they 'sleep snap'. Lovely companions, but when asleep if you accidentally disturb them they can snap or bite in their sleep (they obviously don't do this on purpose!). So if you were close, because of the space, you might find yourself bitten in your sleep! My friend took her greyhounds in her camper and was bitten in the face in her sleep as she turned over and nudged one of her dogs.

How about a German short haired pointer?

What if you get a dog and it’s soft as anything?

Staffy, every time. Happy to doze or hike.

Don't think Australia lets you take anything in, and I'd be very wary of flying with a dog.

Even a soft as anything dog will warm you if someone tries the door of your campervan.

If your travel will practically allow you to take a dog with you, I'd recommend a Doberman. Ours was soppy as you like with people he knew, stand-offish with strangers, and fiercely protective of our home (open the door and invite someone in and he'd be all tail wags).

They love to be active and are short haired so don't moult much. They do not like the cold at all though and ours used to refuse to go outside if it was raining.