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'.

If you were living in the US then getting a dog for internal travel would be okay.

Yes I think hiking with your dog in north America is more of a "thing" than anywhere else- you can buy backpacks etc for them.
Native wildlife being evolved to deal with large carnivores- and also fewer sheep over there than here or Aus/Nz.
(Bear in mind your hiking dog ought to have great recall and be rock steady with livestock).

I have a giant breed dog in Canada. We camp in our trailer tent and have explored many lakes and provinces together.

We are looking at probably £2500 to get him back to the Uk on a flight, and that doesn't include the vet costs.

Some airlines will not fly bracephalic (sp?) ie snub nosed breeds, including boxers, pugs, Staffies - so that is worth baring in mind. It is expensive and they require vet visits within 48 hours of flying. They also need a wooden flight crate built to certain specifications, ours in costing over £500 and a German shepherd's wouldn't be much small due to the prick ears and long tail.

Consider specific areas' dog restrictions. Some areas in Canada may question a Staffie as pit bulls are a banned breed so any dog looking similar may be queried.

On the whole, although your plan sounds idyllic I have no idea how it would work out practically.

As one who has travelled through Europe, India, South-East Asia, Australia & NZ (more than once) and who has also travelled with a dog from Greece to UK, believe me when I tell you it will
a) cost you an absolute fortune
b) put the dog through a LOT of stress in quarantine/trying to survive gangs of local dogs/unsettled lifestyle
c) seriously mar your enjoying travelling in other countries as it will be restricting. If you go on a week's trek, you will have to carry the dog's food too. The less touristy places don't sell dog food/have vets, etc.

Mind you, Benedict Allen had to eat his when he ran out of food in Venezuela so it could be a lifesaver (in that case GSD better than chihuahua)