Dog vest?

[Dahitman44]

I am thinking about getting a dog vest for my 10-year-old and the puppy. Any thoughts to brands or types? Do they make a revesible? Orange and camo would be nice.

How about sizes. Do I have to measure the dog or would most fit a lab?

Thanks!

[stretch]

it depend on what type of hunting you are doing. for duck i have a 5mm neopren vest with armor gaurd on the chest and belly with added foam on the back. i got that one at sportsmans wharehouse. you will just need to figure out what thickness you want.

for pheasant's i have a remington blase orange vest that is made out of nylon or cordura. can't remember and that has a double layer on the belly also. and that open on the back to keep them cool and it just has velcro straps to hold it on.

for sizes you need to measure you dog. just like humans each dog is different in sizes. just take measurements around the neck, chest and waist. make sure when you measure to keep it a little loose and then bring those measurements to cabela's or some place like that and find someone to help you and tell them the measurements and you should be set. good luck

[Dahitman44]

Does the camo one help them float a little? Like on a long swim?

[stretch]

yes it does. mine has foam in the back that helps a lot. especially on those long retrieves. it's like a life jacket.

[SSSTaxidermy]

Any Brand over another? Do you pretty much get what you pay for and are all manufacture brands nearly the same? What would you say is the best bang for your buck in water dog vest(s).

[stretch]

yes you pretty much get what you paid for but not all the time. what i look for in a vest is, that the zipper has to be on the back with some sort of flap to cover up the zipper, it has to have add floatation some where and the big thing is it has to have armor flex on the chest. i hunt just about 4 days out of the week chasing ducks and my lab has put her vest threw everything. and that armor flex seems to help alot. ya their is getting a few tare's here and their but it's still holding up. the best bang for the buck vest would have have to be one with added floatation, armor flex on the chest, a zipper on the back with a flap to cover it and it has to be 5mm. i go mine from sportsman's warehouse.

[SSSTaxidermy]

Thanks Stretch, I know exactly which ones you are talking about....On my work lunch break, I head over to Sportsman's Warehouse about 3 times a week, it is very hard to come out of there without going to the pay counter first. But anyway, my lab pup is only 16 wks so I have some time yet...Maybe can pick one up on clearance at the end of the season. But if I can't, I don't have a problem spending money on one a few week before 2007's hunting season, as I want to, first and foremost, make sure it fits comfortable for her. Thanks for the great info again...

[stretch]

hey hunting_24_7, no problem with the info. i was in the same spot trying to figure out what to get. also you can trim the vest so it isn't rubbing on your dogs legs and neck. ya i would wait till the the end of the season to pick one up then you can introduce it to your dog during the summer so it can get use to it.. good luck and happy hunting.

[Dahitman44]

Great info guys!

Thanks

Hitman