Worth having a 4 legged truck alarm?

Met a guy yesterday afternoon, while I was dropping off a trailer at the tank wash in Walbridge Ohio, and he was traveling with his new companion. I looked in my mirror as I started to back up, and saw an incredibly tiny dog. After i parked, I walked over, and the dog turned out to be a Jack Russell pup, abiut 10 weeks old. He was out watering the grass, and his owner was overjoyed that they had just made a 5 hour run without a bathroom stop. Cute as a bugs ear, friendly as could be, he was a little sweetheart of a puppy.

If you can do it, they do tend to make life on the road easier. Just take some precautions and make sure they are safe, remember that tyey have a different diet from you, and bring them along some of their home comforts. I take my smallest one with me, she travels quite nicely at 15 pounds in size.

 

I had my beagle with me when I worked at Swift. It made things a little easier having her with me. I got out of the truck alot more. She wasn't much of a guard dog but she made a great companion.

 

West highland terriers are great dogs, I grew up with my mother breeding them. We have one now but its a yippy little jerk hah. I wouldn't want to be locked in a truck with him one of us would not come out alive!

 

We have a basset hound. He's the family dog. I wouldn't recommend one because he tends to drool. I have a pitbull rottweiler mix that rarely leaves my side. All the stength, aggressiveness, and loyalty of a pitbull in a 120lb rottweiler package. His name is Mack. He's a excellent guard dog. I leave him in my Pete or Ford dually and I know my truck will be there when I get back. He even comes with me to construction sites. I chain him in the truck bed (use 3/8" chain), make sure he has water and shade, Check on him during lunch. He's good to go.

 

My roommate has always had Miniature Schnauzers on the road with him and highly recommends the breed for trucks. Schnauzers don't shed (their hair won't clog air filters and such), they are very adaptable to their surroundings, very smart and small enough to lift up, yet big enough to not look like a pushover. Some companies not only require a deposit when you have a pet on the truck, they will charge you to replace anything that is damaged -- including pet hair in air circulator and filters -- this is why it is important to have a dog that doesn't shed (plus, it can get really old having everything in your truck covered with dog hair). My roommate is currently on the road by himself, but as soon as I get my CDL, he and I will be teaming and taking our Schnauzer with us. As for keeping your dog safe on the road, I would recommend getting one of those chips implanted on any animal that is taken over the road. They cost about $60, but the peace of mind if the dog gets away from you is worth much more than that. Plus, I have read many stories about dogs that were stolen and when the owner found them, the dispute about whether or not it was actually their dog was settled by simply scanning the microchip the dog had implanted.

 

Min pins shed too. my wolf dog,shes 3/4 timber wolf and 1/4 chow used to go with me alot. now since my wife had eye surgery,she keeps the wife happy at home. My filters used to clog completely up with hair,you cannot believe how much hair I removed from vents and filter on a mack and freightliner. min pins shed small hairs not so bad. A great dog for you is a rat terrier,they are hearty, tough as a mineature lion,afraid of nothing. They are alot less costly to buy. You can buy a purebred rat terrier on the road for 75 to 125 in small towns in your travels. Just pick up a local pennysaver free paper,they are always in there. I have a habit of looking at classifieds everywhere I have time,alot of old car parts for sale cheap too,and cycle parts. good luck . Let us know what you get,thks for questions.

 

Forgot to mention,match the local telephone number of a breeder and call them from the truckstop,they will probably gladly meet you there with pups to pick from.