Chest Protectors for Dogs

gsphunter23

gsphunter23

New member
I was wondering of anyone actually uses chest protectors for their dogs. I have yet to hunt out here and was wondering if it is really necessary for my dog to have a vest for protection.

Also does anyone throw a blaze orange vest on the dogs for protection against idiot hunters, not sure if this is an issue here, back east I always kept a blaze vest on my dog during deer season. He has a blaze orange reflective collar and will be wearing a bell, not sure if he needs more than that.
 
I dont live in colorado just saw your post looking around. As for the chest protector I would use it because sometimes my dog gets beat up out there. From the brush and thorns. The orange I would never leave without. I dont trust random hunters!
 
If you have a long haired dog like mine a golden it helps keep the burrs off. Also besides hunting safety the bright color helps you zoom in on them in heavy cover.
When it's really cold he gets the Cabelas Neoprene vest. Early season its the nylon vest. Won't leave the truck without it.
RAGIN ROOSTER
 
I'm a firm believer in the Skid Plate, but there are others out there, too.
 
A youth long sleeve t shirt works really good and they are CHEAP. I used the same one all of last season. I have chest protectors but they are noisy I like the shirts better.

Jeff
 
I bought a couple years ago from Cabelas I think and they work great. If I am walking a big field, for a long hunt, I would not leave the truck without it on my dogs. I have had two dogs, my old yellow lab male Conan had a teat get torn and then infected from hunting through all the trash and garbage. He was always pretty tall for a lab, so he wasn't low to the ground. I definitly reccomend it for females as if you plan on breeding them, it will protect their belly and teats for nursing pups.

I have hunted in KS and CO and the type of cover that is around can be hell on our dogs. I mean, would you hunt in shorts??:eek::p Out in a CRP field?

Greg
 
raginrooster said:
If you have a long haired dog like mine a golden it helps keep the burrs off. Also besides hunting safety the bright color helps you zoom in on them in heavy cover.
When it's really cold he gets the Cabelas Neoprene vest. Early season its the nylon vest. Won't leave the truck without it.
RAGIN ROOSTER
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neoprene on a Golden?? I have 2 and have never had to put a neoprene on them. I think they would look at me with the " Youre friggin kiddin me" look !
How cold are we talkin here?
 
Gsphunter I have never used a chest protector on my gsp but he seems to never notice cuts or scrapes (even the time he ran through a barbed wire fence at a park). It never hurts to help protect your dog. I would definitely have some orange on your dogs if you plan to hunt public land on colorado's opening weekend a lot of people out there that only get the shotgun out once a year and its that weekend. Good luck in NE this weekend I wish i was going to to make it out.

Chris
 
I used to use one on my springer all the time to keep the burrs at bay. The only time I use one on my wirehair is if we are hunting corn stubble. That stubble has some sharp edges and can cut a dog in a heartbeat. It is nice to have one with blaze orange on it to help see your dog in the cover.
 
We haven't used a chest protector on Dakota, he's a tall guy and usually is above the stubble. Some friends of mine have used them before and I hear stories of their dogs getting vests stuck in thick cover, then having to go in to "rescue" their dog.

I did feel bad after I looked at this picture when I got home. But that was after a full day of hunting.

PS. I like to shoot two before 9:00AM, then hunt until sunset trying to get my limit. :laugh:
 
CO_Weimar said:
We haven't used a chest protector on Dakota, he's a tall guy and usually is above the stubble. Some friends of mine have used them before and I hear stories of their dogs getting vests stuck in thick cover, then having to go in to "rescue" their dog.

I did feel bad after I looked at this picture when I got home. But that was after a full day of hunting.

PS. I like to shoot two before 9:00AM, then hunt until sunset trying to get my limit. :laugh:
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I can say that I have used chest protectors on m labs for over 10 years now and I have never had any issues with them. There are several types to choose from and the ones I like from Cabelas have straps that allow you to adjust it to fit your dog. Once you get it sized and adjusted you are good.

I would suggest do not put it on your dog for the very first time when you guys head out to the field for the first time :eek:;) I am just saying, it isn't like I ever did that :rolleyes::p

Greg
 
I've used the Skid Plates on my labs for years with good results. When I see all the cuts and tears on the heavy nylon I think what they would look like if they were on unprotected dog chests instead. I wish they went farther up on the sides so that there was more orange. I've added hunter orange duct tape strips to help with the visibility. I also picked up some orange T-shirts at the thrift store for a few bucks and will use those this season as long as temps are cool. I used some T-shirts and sweatshirts with success last year while Parker was healing from barbed wire learning sessions (on his front legs).
The T-shirts don't last more than a day or two as they get ripped up.

Parker-Yuma010RSm.jpg


IMG_1101.jpg

Tom
 
If you're interested in a vest for your dog I recommend checking out www.sylmardogwear.com. They are a small locally owned company making the vests right here in Colorado, and they support pheasants forever. Might as well support the small guys.
 
theres a couple reasons why i dont use them. if they dont fit right they can leave rashes and create hot spots on the dog. and by having them work tough cover there skin becomes stronger and more resilient. simply put they will become tougher without one.
 
Shorthair Hunters said:
your decision on to use a chest protector or not i don't, just be careful if you are using one on a hot day they hold body heat in.
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I have had a couple of small dogs who really needed the chest protector in plum thickets and heavy brush/briars but I don't use it when the cover is mostly grass and/or weeds, but I am very considerate of the temperature.
 
I am going to this year. My female has had her nipples torn up and rubbed raw in the wheat & corn stubble the last two seasons, so I am going to try one this year and see how it works. She had a litter this past winter and one of the nipples was so scarred up it was way bigger than the others and did not milk as well, so that convinced me.

FYI...her son sure doesn't like his yet!! She is used to having a neoprene on for waterfowlin so she is fine with the skid plate, but he is gonna need some more work over the next two wekks.
 
I've used a few and thought the "skid plate" was probably the best and most adjustable. Even so, sometimes these cause other issues namely chaffing under the arm pits, that was as bad if not worse then the scraps they were made to protect.

Sizing is the important thing if looking into one of these units and generally you only have a few sizes to pick from and each breed of dog is built a little different so ideal fit is not always possible.

FWIW
 
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