This Guy Says It Is Usually 'company Policy' For Dogs To Be Required To Be Fixed.

You're right. Housebreaking a puppy, especially in a moving vehicle, doesn't sound like a great idea. I got my aussie as an adult from a show home who needed to downsize on dogs. My instructor breeds Shiba's and Siberian Husky's and she has placed several of her retired show dogs in homes as well, otherwise they stay 'on the farm' until they pass. I'm sure she would be thrilled to see one of them go over the road , however, Siberian's are too vocal for me. I think maybe the Shiba's are too feral for that sort of environment. It might be beneficial for you to check out some local show folk and see if they have any retired dogs that could use a home. It's my understanding that most of the smaller breeders do not kennel their dogs and they are mostly housetrained and crate trained.

I also don't think I want a dog with an undercoat.

I personally love a hound face but am more fond of the coonhounds and beagles. Though an aging beagle is never a pretty beagle lol.

When my Aussie crosses the bridge to doggie heaven, I think I'm going to try a GSP or a Shiba. I love my herding breeds but mine is fairly shy. My uncles boxers are absolute clowns, I'll bet you'll love them.

Michelle, I have been asking questions about dogs for truckers on CL as well in that site's Pet/Animal forum lately.

Some people there don't recommend a boxer, not for trucking reasons, but claim this breed has trouble breathing and cannot tolerate hot weather well because it is a blunt-muzzled breed. I must now set my sights on long-muzzled breeds. I need a healthy animal as well as a trucking dog.

Next I will consider the Rottweiler.

Lab retrievers might be OK. I have owned them in the past. But they really don't make the best guard dogs or watch dogs. They are too kindly to most strangers. A good security dog should be aloof of people they don't know.

The trouble with German Shepherds these days is that many of them are imported and cost an arm and a leg as puppies. I can't fancy paying over $1,000 for an AKC pup with no training and housebreaking.

A trucker should try to get an adult dog that has already been trained and housebroken if he can. Who wants to deal with a nuisance pup on the road?

I am a bachelor. No wife. No children. Nobody can take care of the animal at home except somebody I pay to pet-sit, perhaps. This could even be a responsible roommate who could pet-sit and house-sit (in lieu of paying his share of rent) for the bachelor trucker while he is on the long haul. If he works, a telecommuter (work at home person) would even be ideal.

Thinking this whole dog thing thru and how to make it work for truck driving is gonna take a lot of research and homework on my part.

Basset hounds and bulldogs, though popular in the cab, are too lazy and too ugly for me. The bulldog also has breathing troubles.

Personally, I think the small terriers make great trucking dogs. I've got a rat terrier that loves to ride. Also a West Highland terrier hardly sheds at all, is extremely intelligent, playful, and a great companion.

But... don't get the cart before the horse! About 90% of the folks who can't wait to be truckers give it up in the first three to six months. Concentrate on being the best at this you can be, then you can figure out what type of canine to bring along with you.

Forgot about the wire haired fox terrier. My favorite terrier of them all!

Personally, I think the small terriers make great trucking dogs. I've got a rat terrier that loves to ride. Also a West Highland terrier hardly sheds at all, is extremely intelligent, playful, and a great companion.

But... don't get the cart before the horse! About 90% of the folks who can't wait to be truckers give it up in the first three to six months. Concentrate on being the best at this you can be, then you can figure out what type of canine to bring along with you.

For those who have dogs are more like guard dogs, what is your plan if you are having a medical emergency and incapacitated? Will the dog prevent rescuers from getting close?

I have a pit/pointer mix on the truck with me. She's only about 50 lbs but she's enough to deter anyone who might think about entering my truck without permission. She was already about 14 months old when I adopted her from the shelter and already potty trained. For a dog as young as she is, she's very calm and laid back lol. She also pretty much trained herself for the truck. She holds up and down on her own, thankfully. When I put the truck in gear she heads into the back and lays on the bunk, never gets in my way.