If... If...
You were the beneficiary of an alien intervention like many of the cmsix tales, https://storiesonline.net/a/cmsix
And the aliens allowed a couple dogs to go back with you. Which breed would you choose?
Which exact one would I choose? Too many good candidates to decide. Maybe a male/female from several different breeds,from guardian to herding.
What's your favorite?
I'd want to know something about the conditions I'm going into. If I'm going into a cold climate, I'd concentrate on arctic breeds. If I'm going into a hot climate, short haired breeds would be the priority.
How many native people will be near by? If I have to deal with a lot of natives, Mastiffs to act as guard and war dogs.
If I can take more than one breeding pair, One of the hound breeds for hunting and mastiffs as guard/war dogs. Mastiffs can also be trained to pull a cart. In a cold climate, I'd want a team sled dogs.
In considering which of the hunting breeds you want, you need to consider what kind of game you will be hunting.
Herding dogs will not be particularly useful without domesticated livestock. So unless I'm allowed to take my own livestock with me, I probably would avoid herding dogs.
Another consideration is how are you going to keep the dogs. If you take more than one breed, you have to be careful to keep the different breeds separated.
Why? Because free breeding dogs the world over all look about the same. If you take multiple breeds and allow them to freely interbreed, you will end up with medium sized dogs in the 30 pound range no matter what breeds you start out with.
If I'm limited to one breeding pair, definitely mastiffs. They can be used as guard dogs, war dogs and beasts of burden. Mastiffs would be the most versatile.
I happen to love the looks and Intelligence of Rottweilers. However I would chose to take a pair of those 30 lb medium sized heinz 57 dogs. Bigger dogs tend to have bad hips and/or don't live as long. Those medium sized dogs are easier to provide food for, and can act as warning systems as well as auxiliary warriors.
and can act as warning systems as well as auxiliary warriors.
I'd agree with the former, but not the latter.
I'd agree with the former, but not the latter.
If medium-sized dogs can be trained to attack foxes and deer, why not humans too?
AJ
why not humans too?
Because dogs that small wouldn't stand much (if any) chance against armed humans. Sure, if you want to sacrifice your dogs for the sake of a distraction. There's a reason why modern police, armies, and security forces don't use dogs that small. Nor did ancient armies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_Corso
Cane Corso
Other names
Cane Corso Italiano
Origin Italy
Traits
Height
Males 62–70 cm (24–28 in)
Females 58–66 cm (23–26 in)
Weight
Males 45–50 kg (100–110 lb)
Females 40–45 kg (90–100 lb)
These are the modern descendants of the war dogs used by the Roman legions.
https://fenrircanineleaders.com/blogs/articles/history-of-the-cane-corso
The Early Roman Empire conquered Greece in 146 B.C. Roman soldiers were intrigued by the Molossus Hounds and took some of them back to Italy when they returned home.
They crossed this newfound breed with native Italian dog breeds and created their own war dogs.
These fearless canines are direct ancestors of the Cane Corso and eventually the later developed Neapolitan Mastiff as well.
Polybius, a Greek historian, reported that these war dogs were used by the Roman army to push enemies back on the front lines. They called these dogs the Canis Molossus.
They were sent charging towards calvary with flaming buckets of oil on their backs. The dogs would run under the horses and cause them to throw off their riders.
The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was possibly the first to formally employ the Canis Molossus in legionary warfare. The dogs were equipped with spiked protective collars and mail armour as well as chest plates.
They were even trained to run in attack formations.
They are credited for their role in helping secure many Roman victories in battle and even then were renowned for their extremely protective demeanour.
Pay particular attention to this bit:
The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius was possibly the first to formally employ the Canis Molossus in legionary warfare. The dogs were equipped with spiked protective collars and mail armour as well as chest plates.
Mail armour as well as chest plates, not gonna work with 30 pound dogs.