UglyDog Wrote:
Do my dogs overheat? NOPE, that is not because of the vest ,it is because of the way I handle my dogs, knowledge and experience help prevent thisI agree.
We have recently had requests for vests with eyelets put all throughout the body of the vest. There is no way I will cut dozens of holes in a vest that is designed to protect a dog from getting cut. People see new fads and dont stop to think about the biology behind something....A dog does not sweat and cools its body thru panting (tongue) and the pads of its feet. Air moving across its body does very little to cool the core temperature of a hot dog becuase sweating is not taking place. (unless the air is super cooled and flowing extremely fast) Temperatures getting to a dangerous point are in the dogs brain anyway and not under the vest. The cooling of a dog is achieved much faster by hydrating the dog and wetting the dog. If you do the math and figure the surface area of the little eyelet holes you would give your dog 5 times the air if you would just order a 3/4 length vest.....
Just one example of a sales gimic used to glorify a bay vest and take the focus off the material used.
I've said this many times and I'll say it again......I stand behind our vests and gear. (WILD BOAR USA-UGLY DOG RANCH) We use the best materials out there and our reputation (user feedback) speaks for itself. Out of the 10 or so companies out there that sell cut vests only about 4 or 5 have their own brands unique to them. Out of those 4 or 5 there are only 2 or 3 that use any material besides cordura......Out of all 10 companies I know of only 2 that actually hunt hogs with dogs!
Let me help people understand cut vest material:
Cordura, rip-stop, ballistic nylon, and other simmilar names are almost identical material as far as cut resistance goes.....They are easily cut thru when not combined with other materials .....many vests out there are being marketed as cut vests and are nothing more than a glorified bay vest. If your buy a vest that is 2 or 3 layers thick and is thin and flexible then it better have at least one layer of kevlar inside or you have nothing more than a bay vest.
There is one company that sells what they are calling their kevlar vest but instead of paying for the expensive kevlar they are buying a materail that is woven with kevlar stands mixed with other materials. KEVLAR ONLY WORKS WHEN IT IS 100% KEVLAR.....not kevlar stands mixed with cotton....
Kevlar is a manilla color......NOT BLACK AND MANILLA! Ballistic grade kevlar (the good stuff) runs anywhere from $45-$50 a yard. A standard sized vest will take a yard of material to cover fully......If you are paying $65 for a "kevlar" vest.....YOU AINT GETTING REAL KEVLAR!
I'm really just sharing some of the conversations I've had over the past few months with new customers......hopefully by reading my rants you will get some helpful information!
Do the math.....
Hundreds of dollars on a dog.
Thousands of dollars in feed and vet maintenance.
Fuel, training, kennels, ect, ect.....
For me the cut gear is by far the cheapest factor in the whole equasion........Buy the best is my policy......I owe that much to my dog!
Up to you to ask around and get feedback and determine in your mind what the best is.
I'm kinda biased!
