Doggone Good Gear

If you own a hunting dog, you know how it is: Every new product that comes to market gets full consideration. Will this food supplement make your dog run longer, tire less easily and recover more quickly? Does this new e-collar have better range than the old model? How long will the batteries last in this new locator? Will this product make my Lab or shorthair more comfortable or live longer?
And then there are those other questions: Do I want it? Do I need it?
I can help. Following are reviews of a new anti-bark collar, a safety collar, an e-collar and a dietary supplement. I’ve also taken a look at a bird-launcher—not new but the best on the market—as well as a slick training vest. It’s doggone good gear that’s sure to please.

Bark Limiter from Tri-Tronics
A yellow Labrador puppy is the newest member of our family. Butterscotch is a pet for my little girl and a future hunting partner for me. At only five months, “Scotch” is proving to be super-smart, loving, gentle and a barking fool. The yapping begins the minute she is excluded from the family, and it goes on and on until I correct her with a mouth squeeze and a firm “Quiet.” If I had a quarter for every time . . . . You get the idea.
So I invested in a Bark Limiter from Tri-Tronics, and guess what? Game over! Anti-barking devices have come a long way since the days of the tin-can-size setups that weighed half as much as a brick, required a toolbox to change batteries and quit working when wet. The Bark Limiter unit is about the size of an ice cube, and the collar and unit together weigh less than 5 oz. Fully waterproof, the Bark Limiter comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty. Price: $110.
Tri-Tronics claims the lithium battery (included) will last a year with normal use. “Normal use” means leaving the unit on for 10 hours each day. A sleep mode saves battery power in the “on” position. The Bark Limiter uses a vibration sensor, which is inside the unit to protect it from damage. When triggered, each time the dog barks, the sensor delivers a mild electric poke using external contacts like those on a training collar. (The unit comes with two sets of contacts—one being longer for dogs with thick coats.) The intensity is adjustable with five levels. Level 2 was all that Scotch required to get the message that barking was verboten.
The Bark Limiter is easy to figure out and use correctly. It also comes with a Bark Odometer “counting feature” that tells you how many times the unit administered corrections in your absence.
Tri-Tronics, Inc., 800-456-4343; www.tritronics.com.

Safety Collars from Mendota Products
Mendota Products makes high-quality dog-training accessories, some of which I have reviewed before. The newest is the Safety Collar, which retails for only $9.99. This is a standard center-ring collar (two straps of material connected by an O ring) designed to let a dog back or roll out if the collar gets hooked on something. The center ring is ideal for attaching a lead to, although there is a D ring for that purpose also. The new inch-wide collars come in high-visibility yellow, orange and green and in two-inch increments from 16" to 24". Made from thin nylon webbing, the collars have a clear polymer coating. Mendota also applies a UV-inhibiting agent to the colorant to retard fading. These collars are well made and incorporate nickel-plated hardware and double rivets.
Mendota also makes a DuraSoft Hunt Collar that has the look and soft feel of leather. It contains a chemical agent to prevent cracking and to check absorption of water and odor. Available in orange in lengths from 14" to 24", the Hunt Collar sells for $17.99. If you walk your dog at night, invest in the DuraFlect Collar. It contains reflective material and costs $18.99. Both models are one-inch wide.
Mendota Products, Inc., 800-224-1121; www.mendotaproducts.com.

SportHunter 1825 from SportDOG
E-collars are like computers: They all do the job. With new models coming to market all the time, though, how does a dog owner figure out what he needs and wants? Personally, I look for units that are unconditionally waterproof, are lightweight, are quick to recharge, work at long distance, and feature lots of options for stimulation. Last fall I had the chance to field test a prototype from SportDOG while hunting waterfowl and pheasants in South Dakota. Called the SportHunter 1825, this collar is a keeper, and it should be on store shelves now.
The R&D people at SportDOG have taken e-collar technology to a new level. First, they have increased the effective range to one-mile-plus. Second, the lithium-ion batteries in both the receiver and transmitter fully recharge in only two hours, won’t overcharge, and work for 40 to 80 hours between charges, depending upon frequency of use. Third, engineers have added a Vibration mode, so now there are Continuous (8-second time-out); Momentary, or “nick” (1/10-second duration); Vibration; and Tone settings. The Vibration and Tone buttons cause the collar to vibrate and make a rapid beeping noise for up to 10 seconds and are especially useful for sending a warning to your dog.
The transmitter fits nicely in the hand. A rubber-knurled dial can be adjusted easily with your thumb through eight levels of stimulation intensity. Coupled with three ranges—low, medium and high—of stimulation, that’s 24 settings total. This wide spectrum allows you to fine-tune the e-collar to your dog’s temperament. The receiver accepts both long and short contact points (both of which are provided), and a self-test tool is included. The transmitter will permit the running of two dogs simultaneously.
The receiver and transmitter weigh less than 5 oz each and are waterproof to 25 feet. Colors are camo or black. The $289 price includes a charger, a lanyard, an owner’s manual and basic training guides in both book and DVD form. Additional receivers are $139.95 each. The guides are well written, with tips from trainers Tom Dokken, Rick Smith, Chris Akin and Charlie Jurney.
SportDOG Brand, 800-732-0144; www.sportdog.com.

ZoomDog Sporting Dog Supplements
Dogs bred for retrieving waterfowl and hunting upland game typically work hard under severe weather conditions and in hostile environments. Hip joints may be the first to suffer, especially in bigger, heavier dogs. My vet is an avid upland hunter and waterfowler, and he often prescribes Rimadyl (carprofen) for his clients. But the anti-inflammatory drug is expensive (about $70 for 75 mg in a 60-count bottle), and side effects can include problems with the liver, kidneys or digestive tract.
Hunt Dog Hunt, a sporting-dog supplement from a company called ZoomDog, is less costly and provides relief for stiff joints. Hunt Dog Hunt contains several antioxidants plus hydrolyzed collagen, glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate. Together, these and other ingredients serve up a chemical cocktail that carries a US patent because, according to the company, clinical research has shown it works faster to relieve pain and reduce stiffness than other joint supplements, especially those without antioxidants.
When a dog works hard, oxygen metabolism increases, resulting in the creation of “free radicals.” Free radicals are unstable molecules missing electrons. They steal from healthy cells, in turn making those cells unstable. The result is oxidative stress, which damages muscles and joints and causes stiffness and pain. To use a metaphor, antioxidants help put out the fire. Hunt Dog Hunt contains an antioxidant plant extract called oligomeric proanthocyanidin, or OPC. Other antioxidant ingredients are N-acetyl cysteine, manganese and Vitamin C. Adding collagen (which gives joint cartilage its strength and resilience), glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (both of which help lubricate joints) makes Hunt Dog Hunt among the most powerful supplements on the market.
For years I have taken antioxidants for some pesky arthritis in my neck. Some of this stuff has worked for me, but what about my 15-year-old setter, Sherlock, who suffered from arthritis in his hips? Would Hunt Dog Hunt help him? Last summer I ordered a bottle to find out.
Old dogs spend a lot of time sleeping, and upon awakening, poor Sherlock used to struggle to get his rear legs in sync with his front legs. But after only three days of double-dose treatment (as recommended), I noticed his improved fluidity and a new willingness to romp a bit with his six-year-old son, Blake. Because Sherlock never whimpered or complained, I can’t say if his physical condition was painful. What I do know is that Sherlock’s annual shots happened to come due after three weeks of treatment. When I asked my vet to evaluate Sherlock’s mobility, I didn’t tell him about the supplement. His assessment: “He doesn’t act or run like a 15-year-old dog.”
I believe this product helped Sherlock during the last few months of his life, which ended at age 151/2. During that period I also gave him Easy Dog, a calming and travel pill, and that helped, too. I’ll provide more details about that ZoomDog product in a future column. Hunt Dog Hunt comes in a 90-count bottle for $27.99. Depending on your dog’s size, that’s a three- to six-month supply.
ZoomDog Sporting Dog Supplements, 800-876-8660; www.zoomdog.com.

Natural Flush Bird Launcher from D.T. Systems
Buried somewhere in my garage is a homemade live-bird release trap for training pointing dogs. It worked OK years ago when I had young setters to teach. Today, though, I would buy a Natural Flush Bird Launcher from D.T. Systems. After seeing the product demonstrated at the SHOT Show a couple of years ago, I walked away a believer. Loading and unloading birds is simple and quick, thanks to a cleverly designed trap door. The quiet release won’t scare your dog. This is a well-made, durable product with large scent holes to help your dog find the bird.
The Natural Flush Bird Launcher comes in standard size (for quail or pigeons) and large (for pheasants or ducks). With a manual release, prices are $229.99 and $259.99. For another $90, consider adding a transmitter for releasing long distance—up to 700 yards, according to the company. The transmitter is digitally programmed to handle up to 16 different launchers. Another neat feature: A beeper/locator on the remote launchers will help you find them when the training period is over.
D.T. Systems, Inc., 888-LUV-U-DOG (-588-8364); www.dtsystems.com.

Filson Pro Guide Strap Vest
It’s training season and you’re loaded down with bells, whistles, bumpers, electronics, leashes, a starter’s pistol and who knows what else? You need a mule or a training assistant. Or maybe a vest designed for the purpose.
Filson recently introduced one called the Pro Guide Strap Vest. It’s made from Tin Cloth—the 12.5-oz cotton, oil-impregnated canvas material that turns back everything that bites, from greenbrier to multiflora rose. You need a lot of pockets when you’re training dogs, and the Pro Guide has them in spades. Front cargo pockets are generously deep and wide, and they bellow out to hold more. They also have dual compartments, allowing for separation of contents, and sturdy flap protectors that securely snap shut.
A deep, wide game pouch is accessible from the rear and wraps around the body for left- and right-side front loading. The game pouch has drain holes as well as gusseted side panels for expansion. A zippered inside security pocket will hold truck keys, a wallet or a cell phone. The Vest has a pair of finger loops for securing hand-held, clip-on transmitters. Inside the front game-bag pockets are elastic security loops to keep lanyards out of the way. Cool and clever.
Thanks to padded shoulder straps, the vest is comfortable to wear. An interior waist belt is also padded and comes with an adjustable, large buckle closure. Sizes are Regular (fits S, M and L) and Super (fits XL, 2XL and 3XL). At $165, the Pro Guide Strap Vest isn’t cheap, but it’s no ordinary vest.
C.C. Filson, 800-297-1897; www.filson.com.