Best truck dog breeds?
Posted by the_big_stew@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 105 comments
Long time dog owner, and have always trained to have well behaved dogs, but have almost only ever had mutts. I'm curious however, as to what specific breed would fit my life best.
I drive truck for a living, as most of us do, and as a result I'm not anywhere near as active as I used to be, with about 60-90 mins split between 2-3 outings per day. I spend most of my time alone, but would need my dog to be friendly enough to be able to take out around other people and to public places without issue, but also be able to be protective of my truck at night, or if I have to step away from it for an hour or two. 40-120lbs is a doable range, as that's well within my abilities to lift and lower from the truck. Must be both heat and cold tolerant as I run across the entire lower 48, Canada, and Alaska where I see temps between -60f to 120f. Training difficulty ideally between easy to moderate, and high intelligence is a major plus.
In other words, I'm trying to find this perfect dogs purebred equivalent for after she inevitably breaks my heart.
Ms. Biscuit for reference pics of my current beautiful road pup, as well as for your attention/enjoyment.
Robjla@reddit
She looks like a good doggie
I want a bulldog I hear they are lazy AF like me
MegaDuck71@reddit
I have a German Shepherd. I see you are worried about temps. There isn’t one dog that is going to do well in all those temps. My guy doesn’t love the heat too much. -30 F is when he starts not liking the cold. I am considering a heeler mix. My guy is 80-90lbs and would like the next one to not shed as much and be a bit smaller.
Onefoot199@reddit
Heeler's shed so fucking much
MegaDuck71@reddit
The other dog in my house is a heeler and it’s not as bad as a German Shedder.
HotJelly8662@reddit
German Shedder lol
Auquaholic@reddit
I've got a Shep, too. This is my second one. The first one was on the truck for 12 years. This one for 2.5. My Dyson gets wore out on the yearly, lol.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Mine is good down to abt -40, once we start dipping g below that she stops playing in the snow and just goes and potties and comes back, and she seems to do fine in any heat shes been out in up to abt 125 in phx, but she also wears booties in anything over 90 and under 0.
MegaDuck71@reddit
I wish I could get my dog to get booties. I live haul in the south now so at least we don’t have to deal with Arizona summers anymore.
Auquaholic@reddit
She's precious!
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Ty!
Zaphod-Beebebrox@reddit
Get one that is lightweight. So you don't kill yourself lifting them up....
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
I routinely toss 50-60lbs 8-9 feet into the air, usually with one hand. Tossing 20' ½" chain up onto containers maintains muscle pretty well.
Zaphod-Beebebrox@reddit
But loads and chains don't have 4 legs and can suddenly decide they don't want to be in your arms ..Good luck...
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Training. That's a very important part of life with an animal. I, after a bit work, can now pick up my dog and toss her belly up into the air, and she won't flail or move. Training my dog to be handled like such took me about 2 weeks of constant work, and was a very important point that I made sure to focus on so I don't have her jumping out of the truck and potentially catching a nail in my steps or hurting her joints from the jump over time. I appreciate your concern over my health, but that's not a point of concern for me.
HotJelly8662@reddit
Staffy
legollama88@reddit
i don’t have my own but staffys are one of my favorite breeds they are so so sweet
derpmcturd@reddit
Chihuahua, as long as you dont have a freightliner and dont drive on i70 between indy and columbus, they're great.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Yeah, but I run up deep into the artic circle and back year round. -60 would be a death sentence.
Ur_Fav_Step-Redditor@reddit
Are you Canadian? If not how do I get into that in the US
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Pm me, I gotchu
december151791@reddit
You should do an AMA
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Maybe on my next reset I will.
Pitiful-MobileGamer@reddit
Pug.
24/7 guard dog. Body built for being a couch potato, easy enough to yeet up and down.
nasaglobehead69@reddit
pugs are awful, inbred abominations. their existence is constant suffering from birth. breathing problems, mobility problems, chronic health problems... I love dogs, which is why I hate pugs.
Ur_Fav_Step-Redditor@reddit
They are like re-breeding pugs now to get them back to their original nose. That should honestly be mandatory atp and kennel clubs should help by changing breed standards
SnakeandNape5000@reddit
Came here to say this. I have two. I'm a local driver though but if I do decide to go back on the road I feel that they would be perfect in the truck.
Riyeko@reddit
No. They have huge health issues all their lives. Not just breathing issues but also skeletal issues and joint problems.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Extreme cold would be a major issue for them though.
Pitiful-MobileGamer@reddit
I live in ontario, I'm taking my boys all over. Get a onesie
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
I mostly run back and forth into the artic circle year round. I have cold weather gear for my dog as is, and she doesnt really care about the cold until we hit -40, but we've also seen way lower than that regularly.
Pitiful-MobileGamer@reddit
Maybe not pug then. My boys were miserable when we got down to -30. A lot of it is conditioning and having the right gear.
jumpingjakflash@reddit
Im fixing to start taking my pug on the road with me and I cant wait.. be a blast..
GiantEnemaCrab@reddit
Unironically yeah this. A small dog handles smaller spaces pretty well. Also they look funny and for some godforsaken reason live twice as long as a wolf. Who's the king canine now you caribou eating fucks?
warwgn@reddit
Pugs are the CabOvers of the dog world. 🗺️
Wizard_with_a_Pipe@reddit
I have a Cavalier King Charles. She's the perfect truck companion as far as I am concerned.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
How does she do with extreme cold/heat?
Wizard_with_a_Pipe@reddit
She has a jacket and boots when it's really cold. They like to play in the snow. 😆 I don't care for extreme heat but she seems to tolerate it better than I do.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Gotcha, my dog handles heat and cold better than I can until we cross -40, and at that point I do better than she does.
BuddyTrucker@reddit
Boston Terrier.
b0dk1nc0de@reddit
No dog deserves to live the same unhealthy lifestyle as its owner, especially if the owner is a truck driver.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Go through and look at my dog. Coat is perfect, weight is perfect, has a job to do and is mentally stimulated, and is very well loved. Not all truck drivers pull van from distro to distro.
HortonHearsAJew26@reddit
Lab
floopy_ears@reddit
Pitbull with a calm temperament. You can find a dozen of em at any shelter. They can be couch potatoes or run a marathon with you. People tend to stay away from em just based on looks (unfortunate for the breed but fortunate for your truck). Just don't get a puppy for any breed, on the road I don't think you'll have the time to manage it.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
They dont do well in extreme cold tho
Junior-Credit2685@reddit
The coldest I ever had my bully mixes in was -18. They had booties and jackets. They would just do their business quickly, or play in the snowdrifts for a few minutes, and then want to go back in the truck.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
I see -60 and occasionally lower regularly
Junior-Credit2685@reddit
Oh wow. Well, there’s a lot of huskies and husky mixes in the California shelters at the moment. Some of them are really small, somehow. I would ask the husky rescues if they have any lazy ones 😅
Parasite76@reddit
I own Husky’s. They are so high energy and would absolutely run the first chance they got
floopy_ears@reddit
Little booties and a sweater and they should be fine, as long as they're not kept outside all day or all night
Tripalicious@reddit
An old ass blood hound like from Smoky and the Bandit
CryptoStef33@reddit
Chinese hot dog 😜
Excellent_Pay_8782@reddit
Crazy how your dog is hosting open mic night in Michigan
Bogey01@reddit
That's not a Hitachi?
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
It vibrates like one when we're climbing a steep grade 🤣
Bogey01@reddit
Dual purpose, I like it!
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
🤣
DepressedDragonBorn@reddit
Crazier you just didn't invite us. You hurt me man.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
I got you next time fam, she was nervous and didn't want a huge crowd for her first performance.
Tmama187@reddit
I’m trying to find a driver to take my black pug off my hands. He’s a good dog, all black, pure bread 3 years old. Jumps in and out of my truck. Not much of a guard dog, but he is extremely friendly and social. And he’s very toned. Not fat or chunky. Eats anything you hand him but takes him a while to go through 1.5 cups of dog food a day.
Apart-Ad1652@reddit
None.
MostOriginalNameEver@reddit
A lazy pitbull
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Extreme cold is an issue though.
MostOriginalNameEver@reddit
They make thermal vest .....that your dog will defiantly rub against a fence and destroy it.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
🤣🤣🤣
MostOriginalNameEver@reddit
She's around 12 or 13 now. Still getting around ,slowly and gray now 😔
Far-Implement3231@reddit
Boston terriers.
Riyeko@reddit
Heinz 57. Mutt.
Adopted from a shelter.
Less health issues. Possible separation anxiety which isn't an issue since they're next to you 24/7 damn near.
Other behavioral issues can be taken care of with training and love, which all drives do anyway.
Adopt. Don't shop.
Plenty of pets on PetFinder and at your local shelter.
Small to medium breeds are best.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Heinz 57 mutts are almost all I've ever had, and for all the reasons you have listed here. Whenever the time comes, I'll be going to a shelter anyways, Im mostly looking for breeds/mixes to keep an eye out for so I don't end up with a high energy dog that would wind up miserable with me until better a placement could be found.
Before I got into trucking I had an extremely energetic pup that I had for 6 years, and she was a blur until her last 6 months where cancer took everything from her at 14. I know she would have hated being on the truck, and I will always give any dog of mine the best life I can.
Anglammaroth@reddit
For me, a cat was the better option.
I agree with the other replies though. Small to medium short haired. Depends a lot on how often you're able to stop and exercise them with your gig though. That's partly why I went with a cat. I can't always reliably get a dog a fair amount of exercise.
theastro_not@reddit
How’s it like having a cat on the road
Anglammaroth@reddit
I've had zero problems, honestly. Small learning curve at first by not having a top entry litterbox, but that was an easy fix. Get them a scratch pad, play with them a bit, and just feed them good food like the other reply said. My co-pilot is old now, so she doesn't care about exercise. Sleeps 16hr a day.
Some ppl worry about the smell of the litter box, but I just scoop at every fuel stop so it's cleaned daily. Ppl don't say the truck is stinky unless I'm to blame for recently eating chorizo, heh.
I definitely recommend all drivers with any pet at all get a GPS tag for their collar. In 7 years my girl has climbed out once, but I found her almost immediately cus of the gps tag.
Riyeko@reddit
It wasn't too bad for me.
Just as long as you allow them to climb on the top bunk, clean the box regularly, and feed them a good diet (so they don't get fat), they're great.
I came off the road a year ago and the only thing Tom ever did differently was run around more.
tabascotazer@reddit
Basset hound named Fred
bob696988@reddit
I have two chihuahuas and no one gets close to my truck without me knowing.
flergityberg@reddit
I don’t keep dogs, but a former housemate of mine had a Rottador and she’d be a perfect truck pet. She’s basically the best of both breeds; Lazy, mellow, smart, goes with the flow, and comes back when you call her. an incredible guard dog (more than once I came into his room to turn off his TV because he’d passed out drunk with it on, and she went full Cujo, baring teeth and growling—then suddenly crying out of guilt when she realized it was me and I meant no harm). They are kinda big though.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
This seems like a potentially good mix for me actually!
flergityberg@reddit
She’s a pretty great dog, ngl. Basically everything good about both breeds in one.
Another breed that might work is a greyhound. Despite being bred for speed, they’re actually really low maintenance animals (they make great apartment/city dogs for that reason). They spend most of their time napping.
The only thing is that they have strong prey drive, and they’re FAST. Not an animal you want to lose track of when you’re on the road.
AstlerFox93@reddit
Cat
Jeepinthemud@reddit
Gordon setter. He owned that seat on the right. Super smart, loyal, friendly and one hell of a bird dog come home time.
DukeBradford2@reddit
shih tzu. the most affectionate breed, does not need crazy amounts of space, can be a 100% indoor dog.
MarcFlower@reddit
Aibo Robot Dog.
I hope I was able to help, friend.
FlobiusHole@reddit
I work at a mine, load trucks everyday. I feel like I’ve seen every kind of dog there is. All seem super chill.
AutumnBrooks2021@reddit
I had a pitbull for 13 years. He passed away from cancer in 2024 and know Im battling cancer as well so I won’t be getting another dog. He was the greatest friend I ever had.
Simple-Department-28@reddit
Not a trucker, but a Havanese might be a good match. Happy, friendly, doesn’t need a lot of exercise (compared to a terrier, for instance). Small but sturdy.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Imma have to do some research here, but how do they deal with cold?
Largofarburn@reddit
I was gonna suggest a Havanese too. When you google them you’re just gonna see a bunch of little fru fru looking long haired things. But that couldn’t be further from the reality.
They handle cold really well being long haired, and heat better than you’d expect, being that they’re a Cuban breed. Mine loves playing in the snow. They don’t shed hardly at all. They’ll do just as much or as little as you want to mostly. Mines on the bigger side and weighs 13lbs. She eats about a fist full of food per meal. Blew my mind coming from having labs and a Great Dane. They don’t really have any major health problems.
The only down side is they get really attached and always want to be near you. Like if I take mine in the car she wants to be in someone’s lap. That’s partially due to her being a covid puppy too though, someone was always around her first couple years.
Simple-Department-28@reddit
Shouldn’t be too bad with it. Worst case, buy it a little coat. 👍
keytiri@reddit
6 words, golden retriever double coat
Waisted-Desert@reddit
Small to mid sized, short to medium haired, non-sporting breeds.
Too small and they're bladder may not last more than a few hours with all the bumps in the road. They also might want to be a lap dog, getting in your way while you're trying to drive safely.
Highly intelligent can be a negative. I had a foster dalmatian that was too smart. She figured out by day 3 that if she pretended she had to go to the bathroom, I'd stop so she'd get to run around and play,
The best I've had was an older black lab. She needed a hand getting in and put of the cab, but otherwise would be down for the ride, could easily hold it for 5 to 6 hours, and would only occasionally ask for head pats while I was driving.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Biscuit is extremely smart, and unfortunately so at times, but the downsides of a smart are well worth the positives of her being intuitive and understanding, as well as able to make her own decisions based on info I may not be privy to like not allowing me out into some sagebrush in wyoming, specifically bc she noticed a snake i hadn't, or barking at me for trying to get out bc I hadn't noticed a moose outside the truck in Yukon when I woke up.
Junior-Credit2685@reddit
Awe, she sounds amazing! I’ve never had a dog that was that smart!!!
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
I really hit the lottery with this one tbh lol
Junior-Credit2685@reddit
I always have a dog with me! Try some dog rescues. The real ones in your area, non-profits that are 5013c. They will have a good history on their dogs, a full medical work-up, and a little training. They will be able to tell you which of their dogs is lazy, loyal, and friendly, because they have usually spent time in a foster home. I think you would be best with a small Cane Corso mix. I had one once that was an English Bulldog/Corso. She LOVED children, loved riding in cars, was lazy and was double coated. She only weighed 90 lbs. Another great mix might be any pibble mixed with a small breed like chihuahua. Pibbles usually love riding in a truck. I have a rescued exotic bully atm, but he is very selective with strangers and I don’t trust him. But he won’t let ANYONE near the truck and loves to be a couch potato and stare out the window. He also can’t handle extreme heat. The cold doesn’t faze him a bit.
nasaglobehead69@reddit
a cat
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
No ty
budtokinbarber@reddit
Pomeranians! Get a male if you want a chiller one. They do great in the fl cold. Or find a smallish husky mutt
HangoverGang4L@reddit
Bullies enjoy the cold more than you think. My last one refused to come inside during the ice storms in Texas during covid. She just hung outside in her vest and booties and loved it. They're couch potatoes that will also expel energy quickly...leading to more potato time. Easy to train, just dumb as a box of rocks. Well associated, they love most people and other animals. Perfect truck dog tbh.
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Ty!
Automatic-Brother770@reddit
I been looking at getting a cat myself. Someone at my company has a great Dane as their truck dog. Not idea how this little woman gets that dog in and out of the truck xD. But that Dane has been with her I that truck for 3 years and loves it
skos18@reddit
Short hair chihuahuas
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
Extreme cold, as in -60f and lower, would be a horrible thing to do to a chihuahua, especially a short hair.
skos18@reddit
True… I didn’t read that part.
GiantEnemaCrab@reddit
The smallest breed you can find. Smaller dogs = more space comparatively. Dogs love space and all too often I see super truckers cooping their dog up in a box for 95% of their lives.
If you want a big dog, do not get a dog. Medium or smaller, anything else is animal cruelty.
adidaman@reddit
None. Keeping animals in such an enclosed space is cruel to them. I know I'll be down voted and I'm fine with it
the_big_stew@reddit (OP)
HEAVILY depends on the specific animal. I'm not here to down vote you, bc I get your pov, but my dog for example prefers the truck to being at home.