Fitting a neoprene dog vest

Huntindave McCann

Huntindave McCann

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Hi guys,

My wife bought a vest for my dog and I have some concerns with the fit. My dog is a lab that weighs 60lbs. and is 6 years old. I've double checked the measurements and everything is within specs as far as what the package calls for. When I close up the vest, the overall fit (diameter wise) is real good ( nice and snug but not too tight)around his chest and stomach.

The front leg openings are somewhat loose but there is no adjustment in the cut or fit for this area (can make them bigger by cutting out material but not smaller). I'd like to see a tighter fit where the neck meets the chest but the next smaller size would be too small for the rest of his body.

Besides the fit in the neck to chest transition area, my biggest concern is fitting around his "privates". Right now the vest length is evenly cut all the way around. If left this way, his penis would be covered. Am I correct in assuming that it should be exposed? If so, I would need to trim about 5 inches on the underside ,tapering around to some trimming of the sides at the hips, continuing on to full length at the spine above the hips.

I'm concerned that if the length at the spine, is 5 inches longer than the length of the underside, the vest will become loose across his lower spine/back area.

I'm not real sure he needs a vest for the warmth but the extra floatation might be nice. I do know that to get any warmth the vest needs to be snug all over and that is what I'm not sure about. I think I can live with the slight looseness at the neck, but do you think the vest will get too loose (in the lower back area) when I trim for his privates?

Thanks for you help. I can take and post pics if they are needed.
 
Hi Dave, I also had some trouble fiting Walker with a vest. He is a lightweight and I will keep him that way due to his lack of hips. I ended up cutting and stitching a vest to get a good fit. The neoprene was no big deal to work with just cut and hand stitch back together. I thought about using some Aqua Seal over the thread but didn't seem to need it, might during this off season tho just for good measure. Cant answer about the "swimsuit area " tho, his fit pretty good there. I was mostly worried about the loose edges catching on something in the water and hanging him up. Good luck.
Shiny side up,
Wicker T, Walker & Charlie
 
Dave...I cut a "vee" from the side of the vest, about mid-way up and taper it in to the seem at the very bottom. So, when he takes a leak his pecker sorta pops out of it. When he sits it usually goes up into the vest though.
 
Hi Dave,

Get out the sizzors and start cutting. He should be able to relieve himself with making a mess. Also, take a close look at the armpits. You don't want any rubbing going on there or he will get raw in a hurry. Otto's vest is tight around the chest and loose at the neck and the loin. Not a problem for my way of thinking as it still keeps him warm.

I put a vest on him when the temps get below about 20 or he will get too warm. The last day of our season this year we hunted in 5 degree temps and he made 14 retrieves and never seemed to get real cold. Of course he made us feel sorry for him and got a lot of extra snacks and dounuts for "energy". Here is a pic from last year I think.

Ottosvest.jpg
 
Make sure you've got a tube of super glue handy. When you make any cut that goes across a stitch line, glue the threads in place or it'll unravel and the panels will come apart.
The rules I sort of go by are I want the spine part to cover almost to where his tail starts, there needs to be plenty of clearance around his 'armpits' (if you don't cut enough away on the underside, it'll eventually rub his pits raw - especially on those armored chest vests).
And make sure there's enough cut away for his 'hardware' to hang free. Dog looks pretty silly hiking a leg and pee coming out the front of the vest under his arms (yes, I'm afraid to say, voice of experience).
 
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I think most of the advise has been great just be sure to round all cuts so the vest won't rip.
I use Aqua Seal on the seams. Get the dog used to the vest BEFORE you take him on a hunt
so he'll get used to it. That will also be the best time to determine what (how much) to cut out.
I never used a vest before an eider hunt in Maine and it proved a lot of protection from the cold
and the barnicles on the rocks. We hunted in single digit temps and if you you checksd under the
dog's vest it was VERY warm.
John
 
Hey Dave, Remi's first vest fit the same way. Like Jay I also just cut a V in that area. It worked great, and if you don't like the way it turned out, just cut some more. He filled out more after that and needed to go up a size, so I gave the vest to my buddy for his female, and she is still wearing it with no ravelling at all. That was 7 years ago, and he also hunts about 40 days a year.
 
My genious former neighbor bought a vest for his dog on the way to North Dakota a couple of years ago. He didn't do anything to fit it to his dog, as was his way of doing pretty much everything. A few hours into their first hunt, the dog locked up and refused to work. By the end of the day, he took the vest off the dog, and there on the tip of his "doghood," was a blister the size of a quarter. Needless to say, the dog was pretty much worthless for the next couple of days.
I'd say make sure to trim around it.
 
Thanks for all the replies, pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. I may have to do as Tom suggested and do a little hand sewing in a couple areas.

Pete, The front leg openings are good to go clearance wise but the fit in that area is a little loose . I see Otto’s vest has a wrinkle of loose material there also. My vest for Jack is longer than Otto’s. I will leave it full length along his back and cut a forward taper down to the under side to clear his privates.

Bill and John, Good advise on the glue, that has been my standard operating procedure any time I cut thru a seam on neoprene. I don’t forsee any problems with Jack getting used to wearing the vest as he is pretty laid back when being handled. I had it on him for a short time in the house and he pretty much just ignored the fact that he was wearing it. Just stood there (actually he wanted to lay down :>) ) while I pulled and tugged on it, checking the fit.


Thanks again for all the responses.
 
Does anyone know of a vest that comes in sizes larger than a 35 inch chest? I would like to put one one on Sneed cause she's not getting any younger and has arthritus in her left hip. The biggest vest I've seen has a 35 inch chest and something like a 19 inch neck. She needs a 38 chest and a 22 neck. She always was such a delicate little flower. Weighted 70 lbs at 7 months. She is kinda like the big goofy kid in Jr High that had no idea how strong he was.

York river 1st hunt.jpg
 
Dave, As far as getting the dog used to the vest both Walker & Jack wore their vests with all the pride and anticipation in the world!! They know what that means--GOOD TIMES. BTW they feel the same way about the E- collar. Time spent ahead of the season is well spent.
Shiny side up,
Wicker T, Walker & Charlie Brown
 
Jack knows that the collar means we're going hunting. I expect that he will greet the vest with the same enthusiasum. Most of the time my dog is TOO smart. hehe
 
Howard,

I got Otto the largest Hodgman vest. He has a 36-37" chest and I got it to fit. I did have to modify the vest a bit though. I think I had to move the zipper and take out the extra flotation packets. It sounds difficult to move a zipper but really isn't. Neoprene is pretty easy to sew by hand. At the time I found Hodgman vests on an on-line sale for $9.95 so I wasn't out much if it didn't work.

I can't understand either why someone doesn't make a vest big enough for a 'real' dog.

Pete

[inline Pete&Otto.jpg]

Pete&Otto.jpg
 
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To all you guys that hunt snow....do yourself a favor and buy your dog a white vest. Cabelas used to have them in the catalog and I don't think list them anymore but supposedly they still have them. I use that vest more than the camo one. Stanley, my male black HATES vests but when I bring the white one out I think he secretly likes it. I've gotten to the point where I cover him up when he comes in if it's cold in leu of wearing a vest....he hates them that much!

DSCN0075.jpg


For those interested...those birds were a pair I took with no goose decoys...just called them in on Big Muscamoot Bay, LSC. Both were banded the same day near Mitchell's Bay, Ontario. Photo is taken looking south down the St Clair River. Stanley retrieved both and if it wasn't for the vest, frankly I don't think those birds would come in. I busted through the ice and got down on my knees and then leaned on him as he layed on the ice. It's an hillibilly form of "layout" hunting.
 
I'm sure most of you guys recall this photo from last year. It was only one I could find of him in his white vest. I'm not trying to brag or anything. Really.
 
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