Question on Dog Vests for duck hunting

[MUSKIE11]

I have Black Lab and was wondering if any of you have an opionon on those Neopreme Dog Vests for duck hunting. I know that last year hunting late season it was pretty cold out and didn't seem like he was as eager to get in the water after a few retrieves. I'm wondering if this will keep him alot warmer, or if there is any negatives to getting one of these vests. thanks

[Eric Wettschreck]

I like the vests. Yeah, it helps keep the dog warm, but it also acts as a life vest for the dog. I've seen dogs that will go and go and go and borderline drown cuz they were tired.

Also, they act as protection if the dog is breaking through thin ice.

Be careful during the warmer early season to moniter your dog. These vests are warm, and if it's warm out your dog can get pretty hot.

[B@ssmaster]

A long time ago I had a dog get his ribs pierced by landing on a cattail that a muskrat or something had chewed off just below the waterline when he went in for a retrieve. Since then I have learned to be much more careful when selecting a blind location to be sure it is clear of obstacles, and I started putting a vest on the dog for some protection against the bumps and bruises of the activity. Don't know if the vest would have deflected the sharp cattail, but I figure a little help is better than nothing. That was about 15 years ago, and I have had no repeats of that incident with any of the dogs since.

[Ole #1]

I use the vest and would highly reccomend them, keeps the dogs warm on those cold mornings and they do help them float.

Also breaks up the pattern a little, camo never hurts.

[bigdog]

I have used the vests for many years. They keep the dog warm, keep them cleaner and help deflect things that may poke or scratch. When it is really cold you can see the steam escaping from around the vest. Use the heavier ones instead of the 3mm thick ones.

[bmc]

I have a 2 year old female yellow lab and she weighs in at 69 lbs. I have a Hodgman vest for her, but if I'm hunting day after day she tends to get rubbed raw in her front arm pit areas and along her belly where the vest stops. Anyone else experience this? She's got a real deep chest, so the vest fits wierd. Anyone have any tips for trimming the vest in the areas where it rubs her raw?

Brian

[bigdog]

I just trim the vest with a scissors. When you cut the stitching you can seal it up with Neoprene wader repair glue. Have not had any problems with the trimed vests.

[MUSKIE11]

Thanks to all for the info, i'll have to pick one up, Thanks

[Bushwacker]

bmc,

My female sounds about the same as yours with a barrel chest and weighing about 63lbs. I had to order a large vest because of her chest, but the rest of her body would have been a small size. We just cut the neoprene away until the whole thing fit snug and there was no spots that rubbed her. We used a scissors and just make sure you get smooth edges, no loose strands or jagged edges. I have a Cabela's brand vest and it showed right on the package how to do it.

Another positive of the vests is that it really protects female dogs' nipples. My female can get pretty cut up in the cat tails pheasant hunting, but once it gets cold enough for her very she never had any cuts at all.

[FISHER ED]

Not much better than a good neoprene dog vest. They keep the dog warm, adds floation and helps keep their chest protected while running through the thick stuff. the thing I like best about a vet is you have a place to grab your dog to help lift them into the boat. I just grab the front and back of the vest and lift my Lab into the boat.

Hodgman's deluxe vest has a tough coating over the neoprene so you dont' have to worry about your dog tearing the vest up. You can even get them for $20 if you don't care if they are a Hardwoods or Nat Gear camo. Man I can't wait to go hunting.

[island guy]

I've had to trim the vest also. Another thing I do is rub vasaline on likely rub areas.

[mille lacs muskie bum]

I am going to get a cabelas vest and wont be doing many long water retrieves but I am wondering if I should get the floater or the origional. I am not worried about the price.

[B@ssmaster]

I have a Cabela's vest and a 100# lab. He's got a huge barrel chest too, so I had to trim it. I actually got my wife to taylor it to fit him. She trimmed with scissors and sewed it up on her sewing machine. Fits great! Seams have held for 6 years of use now.

[GoodToGo]

Anyone know of a source for vests that are sized for pointer shaped bodies? I have a GWP, deep chest, skinny waist. I have to overlap the velcro to the extreme to get it tight enough around the waist. I have a cabelas now that I trimmed, but it is wore out and need a new one this year.

[FISHER ED]

GoodToGo: I sell a lot of vests each year and have yet to run across any brand that has a different "cut" to them. Even at this past years SHOT Show in Vegas, all the vests I looked at were all a standard shape.

I would think your best bet would be to get the vest you like and cut the belly seam and trim the material on each side to fit the thinner body. Then get some Fireline and sew it back together. The Fireline holds a lot better than regular thread.

[buffalomark]

I had a similar problem getting a field vest to fit. I took the dog with me to Game Fair and went through vest until I found one that fit. I have had the same camo vest for duck hunting since I got the dog. I have thought about taking it to someone who sews canvas to have a handle sewn on the back to help the dog back in the boat.