Duck Hunting Dog Vests???

[twmoore]

Going to Arkansas in late December to Duck hunt. I am considering buying vest for my two labs. I understand that it can be cold...

Two questions:
1) Do the dogs need vests?
2) If so, suggesstions about which brand to buy - I have looked at Avery and Drake...

Thanks!

[limiman12]

Do they NEED them, most probably not, but I always put one on mine for two reasons. They camo in better and the vest themselves have some bouyancy. I Hunt big water and feel safer both from the Temp aspect but also if they were to get into trouble the little extra bouyancy might give me time to get out there and help.

If you can find the ones, I forgot which brand, with a ZIPPER on the back and a handle to help pull them in the boat on the back along with some extra floatation I would get it. I have seen VELCRO vests come off, kinda embarrasing to have to send the dog back after its vest But the velcro can gget weeds seeds in it or just plain wear out.

Most importantly though, make sure the VEST FITS RIGHT, and don't be afraid to trim it some to make it fit better

[frogs97]

Do they NEED them, most probably not, but I always put one on mine for two reasons. They camo in better and the vest themselves have some bouyancy. I Hunt big water and feel safer both from the Temp aspect but also if they were to get into trouble the little extra bouyancy might give me time to get out there and help.

If you can find the ones, I forgot which brand, with a ZIPPER on the back and a handle to help pull them in the boat on the back along with some extra floatation I would get it. I have seen VELCRO vests come off, kinda embarrasing to have to send the dog back after its vest But the velcro can gget weeds seeds in it or just plain wear out.

Most importantly though, make sure the VEST FITS RIGHT, and don't be afraid to trim it some to make it fit better

I believe those are Avery vests. Trying to decide right now between those and the Cabela's ones.

[huntinlabs]

Go with the avery boaters vest a little it more expensive but worth the price 5mm neopreme and floatation with handles the best buy ever plus the protection it provides...

[Rick Hall]

Ditto on the importance of fit! And I'll add that calories not expended keeping warm are available for other work, and that the extra mesh of whatever it is on "armored" versions really does afford great puncture protection. My armored Cabela's has several gouges above the armored section but not a scratch in that protected bottom half that's taking the real beating.

But having owned both Avery and Cabela's vests, I much prefer Cabela's wide Velcro fastener over zippers, and see trying to use a handle to help a large dog into the boat as more disadvantage than advantage. (Easier on man and beast to pull the dog's front legs over the side by lifting on the nap of its neck and then let it lever itself into the boat with the back of its head against that hand than to hoist on the vest.) Though I can see where a handle might be useful if one is in the water with the dog and helping it up onto a stand.

My Cabela's Velcro fastened vest has made it through four seasons in some pretty funky habitat without pulling off:



But I'd think the fact that Velcro would likely be easier for a dog hung on a staub to pull open than a zipper is just another plus to add to the ease of putting one on and taking it off with cold hands and the adjustability afforded by the wide Velcro strip. Might look like the vest pictured above is coming undone, but that's actually just the overlap created by using a vest originally fitted to a dog that was 10 or 12lbs larger. Even with only half(?) of the Velcro's width fastened, floating "black dirt" that can hold an airboat doesn't pull it off.

[twmoore]

Thanks for the feedback. Any other brands that are good? What about Drake?

[limiman12]

I will agree that the velcro does allow some adjustability, but I must have more nimble fingers cause I don't have trouble getting the zipper done. I can see how it woul dbe a problem, of course the vest goes on in the house for my dogs.

Agree that pulling on a dogs head to help them in the boat, but the zipper is the real reason I got it, and the handle has just come in handy a time or two.

Ditto on the armor on the chest.

Like I said though I much prefer the zipper

[Mike Kennedy]

Did my invitation get lost in the mail? Your welcome to use mine if you don't want to buy 2.

[Devlin]

I think vests are a good idea for several reasons. I have two Avery vests for my Sadie...one is 3mm thick and the other 5mm thick with the little extra flotation added to the sides. When we hunt Montana waterfowl, she almost always wears the 5mm because the water is so cold, it also gives her good chest and under-body protection protection, I like the little bit of extra flotation on those long retrieves, and the camo helps hide my black dog! I also like the combination zipper and velcro closure. I'm still not convinced about the "handles" on the boater-style if you don't hunt from a boat...I'd be a little concerned about stuff getting caught in the holes, but my friend I hunt with in Montana really likes that style.

[twmoore]

Mike, I thought you were in??? What size are they???