Neoprene Vest for Smaller Dog?

Craig S

Craig S

Active member
The knowledge on this site always astounds me so I am going to give it a challenge.

Does anyone know where I can get a neoprene vest that would fit my Springer Spaniel? Her measurements are:

Neck: 13.5"
Chest girth: 22"
Waste girth: 15"

She is 35lbs max.

I have tried the medium size vest and it is too big, and it doesn't appear that Avery or the other manufacturers make one for a small dog.

If anyone has a lead for me, I would appreciate it.

Many thanks!
 
Craig,

If you can't find a ready made one your best bet is going to be to modify the one she already has. I had the opposite problem with my Chessie and got the biggest I could get and then moved the zipper over so it fit him better. In your case you'll just have to move the zipper in the other direction. Sewing neoprene isn't difficult. Get some button/carpet thread, a big needle and a thimble that will fit your finger. Getting the right sized thimble might be the toughest part of the whole deal and you can do without it for just this job.

Once you have the chest sized right you may have to recut the front leg holes so the new 'size' doesn't chaffe. Make sure that you put a bar tack over any seams you cut so they don't unravel.

If you are unsure of your sewing job, reinforce the stitching with Aquaseal as it was originally made for neoprene.
 
If you can't find one that fits, if you have a dive shop anywhere near you or cabelas perhaps, you might be able to get them to tailor the vest for you...
 
There is a place on the west coast, I think, that makes custom made dog vest, maybe waders too. Waders are for the humans. I can't remember their name. Maybe someone knows the name of the company.

One Mack's web site they have a sizing chart for Avery and list a small. It may be a little big for your dog. Here is the link to the sizing page: http://www.mackspw.com/content--id-39

I did a google search and found this, I know nothing about the company: http://www.crosscreekgundogcatalog.com/neoprenehuntingdogvest.htm

Tom
 
Thank you all for the quick replies. Tom, I am going to try the vest from Cross Creek Gundog supply and see if it works.

Thanks again.
 
My 29 & 35 pound Boykins both have small vests. One is a small Avery. A little tight on the 34 pounder but doable. Just right on the 29.

http://www.averysportingdog.com/products/Vests.php

A small Avery ought to work for you

Small (15" neck, 24" chest)
Medium (17" neck, 26" chest)
Large (18" neck, 28" chest)
XL (19" neck, 31" chest)
2XL (20" neck, 33" chest)
3XL (21" neck, 35" chest)
 
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Seal Cement is what you use to make the modifications. It will let you glue edge to edge.
 
A vest can seem to fit & be too loose. The indicator I've observed is one of the dog's front legs gets caught inside the vest when running.
 
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