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Just need some opinions on whether or not I should put a dog vest on my boykin spaniel when duck hunting. Does it protect him and make him warmer, or does it just trap the water and make him colder, or does a vest make a difference.

Dog will be bone dry under the vest.

I figure it protects my hound's tummy from the beaver dam, if nothing else.

dukewoody - Browndogg where's one every time we go out. There will be different opinions on this, but Boykins do not have the undercoat, nor the oily coat, that a lab does. The coat on the underside of my dogg is thin enough you can see her skin.

As far as keep her warm...with ice dripping from her nose ears, and her butt stuck to the pit, I can place my hand inside of her vest...and it is warm...she still shivers the entire time.

The trick is finding one that fits these little doggs...mine is the plain jane neoprene Avery. It would fit perfect with some slight alterations.

Maybe the local tailor could fix it...

l always put a vest on my dog in the timber. never know when a stob or beaver stick, or even a cypress knee might stick them on a retreive. an like ronnie said they will be bone dry under the vest if it fits properly

Good article on this topic in Dec/Jan Gundog Mag. It's on stands until 30 Jan.

I think they are essential for cold/weather water hunting. Tip...take your dog out swimming with it on before the actual hunt. I've seen dogs wear it for the first time in the water for a retrieve and it took them a bit to figure how to swim with it on and lost the mark.

Good Luck!
Mike

We stick food in my dogs vest to get it warm (of course, it always is wrapped in plastic). And it helps keep sticks from sticking him in the chest. I agree with everything that has been said.

it saved my dogs life. my dog vest stopped a beaver stob from going right through my dogs chest. for me it is a wise investment.

Icing on the face, tail frozen in a solid block.... steam rising off the vest !!

I believe in them for almost all occasions. They worry me in the thickest of snags, so I save those for the warmer days !

I'm all for em. Besides turning sticks and stobs and keepin the dog warmer, it can protect their chest from ice on the water too. I'd go ahead and buy a good one with a zipper on the back though. I've had one that just fastened with velcro and my dog's come out of it a couple of times in some brush.

definitely do it. But, get the right fit. Too loose and it will rub blisters under their front legs. My dog stays warm and mostly dry under it.

get one with out a doubt, keeps your dog warm and also protects the chest and belly.

I have a Boykin also. I got my wife to alter the small size Avery vest and it fits her pretty well. She sometimes gets her leg out of the hole and out the neck hole, but for the most part it works good. It also makes a great handle to pick her up.

We have a couple of vests for Phideaux......a 3mm and a 5mm with extra floatation....retains body heat, blocks wind, and provides additional floatation for older dogs and in situations where there is some current. IMHO

I don't recommend a vest if you hunt in thick stuff with vines. Not only does it increase the chance of your dog getting hung-up in the trash, but the vest is no match for saw-briars.

I don't like the idea of a 'handle' on the back of the vest (to aid in picking your dog up to help him bakc in the boat.....kinda like a luggage handle)......'cause this could get snagged on something in the water and make your dog panic, freak-out, and get in trouble........handle....BAD IDEA! Again....IMO (and my wife's opinion).

I concur with Anat on the hazards of a vest. I use it whenever the temps don't get above 35...especially if the dog gets wet and then has to sit still for a long time before getting a chance to work again. But if the temps are warmer, or if the dog is working his butt off, I'll forego the vest for the aformentioned hazard concerns.