Howards and I start water in April or May with a couple weeks to a month of them wearing vests. They don't mind one bit! Just cut the leg holes to fit so they don't rub raw...

 

Just cut the leg holes to fit so they don't rub raw...

I've never thought about that. I'll have to check that on Friday.

 

I hunt mine all winter with a vest and have no problems. Retrieves are short... less than 100 yards mostly, although last year I had a couple of blinds over 150 yards. After those long retrieves, I do let him run around a bit behind the blind to shake good and generate some heat.

 

Yes, we throw happy bumpers on land in between water retrieves also...

 

Kristie, what's your water temp like?

I don't like to put them in for training in less than 44 degree water. Hunting is way different. Between 44 and 54 I pretty much vest them.

I'll hit a corner every now and then colder than that but I want some land running warming them up before and after.

 

I didn't measure it today, but we've had freezing or below temps for about 4-5 nights now... It's got to be getting below 50 -- which is my typical cutoff... We did have a lot of rain, so there's a chance it's colder. I didn't put the thermometer in bc we were keeping it short, with vests and figured we could throw the heater on in the truck if anyone seemed really cold -- which didn't happen (just a few shivers as they were drying off in the sun).

 

I think the vests help some, but for me, especially hunting in cold water is to use one of those light camper towels that absorb a ton and get them dried off. Then they warm back up fast.
Nate

 

I really think the vests help, I have used my lad and his vest for a handwarmer on more than one trip out!
I guess a lot depends on the dog, mine would go till he died. It is my responsibilty to insure that doesn't happen.
I always vest him in cold weather or ROUGH water, the extra flotation provided by the vest results in less energy expended to stay afloat which I think equates to more energy to stay WARM.

The vest needs to fit, no rubbing, and I like the ones that have the flotation pockets. I think it helps them ride the waves a little better.

Mildot

 

This weekend will be the first time I'm using a vest for hunting. Temps will be 11 degrees in the morning Saturday. The last couple of weeks it's been in the low 30's and 40's in the mornings and getting into the 50's and low 60's for highs. My dog has been fine the whole time without his vest. I do wipe him off with a towel after a retrieve or series of retrieves though. He'll shiver even when the temps are in the 70's. I think most of it's being excited. Last Saturday he did get a bit cold though. Water temps in the low 40's and we were guiding a hunt for a group of 5 hunters at a managed impoundment. They all killed their limit of birds so he had to make 30 retrieves. The last 5 or 6 birds you could tell he was tired and cold. I couldn't dry him off as usual because the shooting was pretty fast. At times there were 5, 6, 7 birds at a time on the water. My mistake though I should have put a vest on him in the first place. The reason I didn't was it was supposed to be in the low 60's that day. He'll definitely have his vest on the rest of the season.

They do work. There have been quite a few times he's had ice on his necks and tail and when I reach under his vest he's dry and very warm.

 

The reason I didn't was it was supposed to be in the low 60's that day. He'll definitely have his vest on the rest of the season.

We don't hunt the kind of serious cold many do, but I no longer wait until I feel a vest is needed for warmth to employ one. I figure calories not burned for warmth are on deck for other use:

That, and a vest cuts way back on how much water gets shaken on me.

(Sorry about reposting a recent photo, but it was a handy example.)

 

You folks have it nice down south, even when hunting. We commonly run our dogs hunting where breaking ice isn't abnormal. I think the vests aren't as important while swimming, other than the boaters vests with the floatation. The biggest benefit of the vests is once they're back on land or in the blind. Their body warms up the water between their body and the vests and the vests keep the cold wind off them.

 

I run the dogs with vests once its below 40 degrees. I have hunted them to 5 degrees before with no problems. I usally get the vests with the floatation built in just for extra warmth in the late season. Its suppose to be -6 here tonight and I'm going in the morning, theres only 3 days left.
Joe

 

I use the vest on mine when it's below 30. This is my first season with this young dog. The coldest morning we hunted was about 17, and she did fine.

 

Hi Kristy,
The vest's are great to keep the dogs warm. I look at it like this, When I'm hunting in my wadders I can stand the cold water for a long time. My waders ars 5mm. The vest I put on my dog Is 3mm, it does not cover his entire body of course. Part of the dogs body is wet but not the vital's. The dog should stay dry under the vest. Dogs do loose body heat quick in cold water but not nearly as fast with the vest.Being from Michigan I hunt my dog often in the cold. The total time with the vital's are under water has to be limited. Dry them off when they get out. My dog loves to hunt as much as he loves to train. I dont see his attituide decline at all when it's cold. You've been at this a long time and If you see a dog not enjoying itself you'll no it's to cold, otherwise just watch how long they are in the water.
Were froze up now and I would give just about anything to do some good training again.
Have fun.

 

Try this, after your dog has a good swim in cold water with a vest on, unzip it a bit and run your hands down on both sides of the body. Warm ain't it. I have used a vest training on cheating singles with cold water and air temps. My dog didn't seem to notice the cold. I did, but she didn't.

 

Make sure your vest fits the dog firmly otherwise you are allowing cold water to get closer to the vitals you want to keep warm

Any vest can be easlily altered to fit the dog correctly.

Simply cut off the excess material around the shoulders and chest and then put the vest back together with acqua seal

I put a small piece of neo on the inside of the trim to reinforce the cut

I am still using a vest I altered 5 years ago