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FeedDuds for Dogs
The best in canine outerwear
Aside from sweater-clad Scotties heeling for old ladies or the famous painting of dogs in smoking jackets play-ing poker, I've seen few canines wearing clothes. For the dogs of my childhood, table scraps passed for nutrition and medical care consisted chiefly of tying a dog in the shade where he could rest and lick himself. Our dogs slept on straw in plywood houses, and I don't remember ever seeing men bathing their dogs. Needless to say, we never shopped for dog parkas.
Then again, we didn't pay much for our dogs in those days. Today, acquiring a good hunting dog is a major investment, to say nothing of the vet bills that may result from an injury. Consequently, outerwear for dogs is no longer a frivolous accoutrement for city slickers. In the 30 years since I began hunting, I've seen numerous field scenarios where safety vests, chest protectors, boots and other garments have been of much practical value. Thorns, cactus, burrs, barbed wire, snow, ice and cold water are just a few of the potential hazards to a dog's body. Below I will look at some the top offerings in doggie armor.
Of course there are other kinds of outerwear that go well beyond necessity, and I'll look at some of those items, too . . . .
Barbour
Barbour is synonymous with high-quality shooting wear—and not just for people. The waterproof, windproof and thornproof Barbour Dog Coat is made from waxed cotton (just like the company's famous "people-wear") and has a supple corduroy collar, flannel lining, Velcro front and adjustable buckle. It comes in sizes S through XL at prices ranging from $69 to $98. It's hard to imagine a dog looking bad in this jacket.
Barbour
800-338-3474
www.barbour.com.
The Dog Boot Co.
Most dog boots might be more properly called dog "shoes," because they're short, but The Dog Boot Co. offers a true boot in 4" and 8" heights to protect a dog's lower legs from brush, ice, snow and other hazards. The Dog Boot Co. has established a reputation for making boots that actually stay on a dog. They are made of 1,000-denier Cordura nylon on the lower portion of the boot and soft neoprene on the upper. Adjustable plastic buckles release on the side. For sporting breeds, boots come in sizes S through XL (with a double layer of Cordura on the bottom for added protection) and are available in a range of colors, including hunter orange, black, brown and camouflage. The 4" boots cost $40 for a set of four; the 8" boots cost $50.
The Dog Boot Co.
785-538-2488
www.dogbootcompany.com.
Gun Dog Supply
Mendota's Canine Field Jacket from Gun Dog Supply.
Gun Dog Supply offers the Mendota Canine Field Jacket, which is built from a water-resistant 1,000-denier Cordura nylon shell and a ripstop nylon liner. These layers surround a core of nonabsorbent 100-gram Thinsulate insulation. The jacket has 5" x 9" zip-closure pockets on each side, so your dog can carry its own leash and other goodies. The Mendota jacket comes in sizes S through XL and in hunter orange or Advantage Wetlands camo. It costs for $46.95. Gun Dog Supply also carries the original Tummy Saver Dog Vest from Pointer Specialties. The vest comes in fluorescent orange and fastens with Velcro closures. It is available in size S through XL and costs only $24.50.
Gun Dog Supply
(800)624-6378
www.gundogsupply.com
Gundogs Online
Remington's Dog Chest Protector from Gundogs Online.
Another good option for brier protection and visibility is the Hi-Viz Body Guard Dog Vest. The hunter-orange vest surrounds the dog in 430-denier ripstop nylon with Velcro band fasteners at the neck and midsection plus a rustproof YKK zipper. It comes in sizes S through L and costs $37.95. Gundogs Online also offers Remington's handsome Dog Chest Protector, a chest and belly protector made of two-ply nylon with an adjustable Velcro strap system for a snug fit. The Remington chest protector has contrasting yellow and orange regions for maximum visibility and comes in sizes S through L. It costs $21.95.
Gundogs Online
(866) 448-6364
www.gundogsonline.com.
Cabela's
Cabela's Neoprene Foatation Vest witnh Armor-Flex Chest Protector.
Last November I watched a friend's aging Labrador tread water for a long time while chasing down a crippled goose. The bird dove repeatedly. The old dog's head sank lower as the minutes wore on. In the end she got the bird, but I would have felt a lot better if she had been wearing Cabela's 5mm Neoprene Flotation Vest with Armor-Flex Chest Protector. Besides helping the dog stay afloat, this vest keeps your retriever warm and protects the dog's chest from sharp icy edges in the late season. It has two side pockets with closed-cell flotation foam for extra buoyancy and a wide Velcro closure for increased adjustment. The vest comes in a variety of camo patterns and in sizes M through 3XL. Prices range from $34.99 to $38.99.
Cabela's
(800) 237-4444
www.cabelas.com.
Dog Booties
Dog Booties Insulated Jacket.
At Dog Booties, the motto is "Function, not fashion." Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this company specializes in outerwear to protect dogs from extremely cold weather. Products, which are popular with sled-dog enthusiasts, include an insulated dog jacket and Cordura booties in 330-, 500- or 1,000-denier models. The jacket combines a waterproof, windproof, breathable nylon shell with a non-pilling fleece interior—all for only $24.
Dog Booties
(218) 727-3121
www.dogbooties.com.
Ultra Paws
Ultra Paws' Rugged Dog Boots.
The Ultra Paws Durable Dog Boot is made from nylon but feels like canvas. The boot has a pliable thermoplastic sole and toe for good gripping on slippery floors. In fact, the Durable Dog Boot is intended for indoor use. House slippers for dogs are no joke, as an older dog may damage a hip if it doesn't stay on its feet. Durable boots come in red ($29.95 for four) or camo ($36.95) in sizes Petite through XL, and they attach with Velcro strips. For outdoor use, you want Ultra Paws Rugged Dog Boots, which are wrapped with recycled tire material for toughness. These boots also come in red ($34.95) and camo ($42.95) in sizes S through XL. Ultra Paws offers an inexpensive reflective vest for when visibility is a concern. The orange vest has adjustable snaps at the neck and belly and comes in sizes S through XL ($18.95 to $20.95).
Ultra Paws
(800) 355-5575
www.gearfordogs.com.
Avery
Avery's Boater's Dog Parka.
Anyone who hunts waterfowl is well acquainted with Avery. This company makes a dog vest specifically for hunting from a boat. The Avery Boater's Dog Parka represents 10 years of design refinement and incorporates suggestions from thousands of customers. The 5mm-neoprene vest has D rings to eliminate the need for a collar. It also boasts 16 cubic inches of closed-cell-foam insulation to ward off hypo-thermia, double-bar-tacked seams glued and stitched like a high-end pair of chest waders, and grab handles for lifting the dog into the boat. The shell is made of an extremely tough material called Dura-Stretch, and the vest has a tapered cut for comfort and body coverage, to prevent heat from leaking out from loose areas. The vest is available in five sizes and three camo patterns, and you can expect retail prices between $30 and $40.
Avery
(800) 333-5119
www.averysportingdog.com.
Trail Blazin' Innovations (TBI)
TBI's Tummy Saver Dog Vest.
For hunters who don't need the most extreme protection and just want a simple, affordable neoprene vest for their dogs, TBI comes to the rescue. The TBI Neoprene Dog Jacket (see photo, p. 92), at $29.95, is a 5mm-neoprene vest in Advantage Wetlands camo that is fitted with a 2" Velcro closure. It comes in sizes M through XXL to fit a wide range of breeds.
In the footwear department, TBI offers the ingenious Bark'n Boots GripTrex Dog Boots from Ruff Wear. These boots secure around the ankle but below the carpal pad. They give a dog plenty of toe room to spread its feet when bearing weight. These are dog boots that were inspired by people boots. They boast a Vibram boot sole with an aggressive tread plus an upper built on an anatomical mold. They come in red in sizes S through L and cost $60.
Trail Blazin' Innovations
(281) 530-3916
www.tbicatalog.com.
Lion Country Supply
Lewis Dog Boots from Lion Country Supply .
It might be simpler to list the dog products that are not available from Lion Country Supply. This Pennsylvania-based supply house bills itself as "The World's Premier Hunting Dog Supplier." One noteworthy product in the outerwear category is the Lewis Dog Boot. The Lewis Boot is an all-rubber boot with drain holes that is slipped on to protect dogs from rocks, sandspurs, brush, ice and snow. Lewis Boots come in sizes M through 2XL and cost $24.95 for a complete set.
Lion Country Supply
(800) 662-5202
www.lcsupply.com.
Chad Mason is a Mennonite minister and freelance writer in Iowa. Since 1994 he has written widely on bird hunting, gundogs and fly-fishing. His acclaimed collection of bird hunting essays, Voices on the Wind, was published by Countrysport Press.
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