Cut vests / plates

I agree with you on the extra layers - not always necessary. I also agree that most of the hits occur in the chest and shoulder area, BUT the worst injuries I’ve encountered were underneath the body, armpit and sides behind the shoulders. Although those are the more uncommon spots, they usually produce the most trauma and even at times lethal. For that reason, I run my vests with as much coverage as I can toward the back.

I do have some experience with plates - several different brands/types. I’ve studied hours of video from TRUE one dog out guys in Australia and what I have gathered are mainly two things. That is open country and those are big, tall dogs. Way bigger than anything I run. Seems like those dogs use their size and height to their advantage. They spread their front legs to create leverage while catching which really keeps that plate between them and the pig, but who knows - maybe they go through a bunch of dogs - they are not going to put that on video.

I’ve had people tell me it’s catch style and my dogs aren’t holding “clean” or the plate should work. Baloney. Show me a dog that can hold clean in briars or the water and I’ll kiss your a$$. I personally watched a big boar get underneath one of my females why she was caught on the ear and go to work in her armpit/chest area. The only thing there to protect her on that plate was a little 2” seatbelt strap. From that moment on I was done with the plate. If I was 100% dropping cds on crops or open fields I may consider them. Maybe it’s me and I don’t have the right type of dogs for them, but that’s my opinion and experience. I run the Wild Boar guardian on my cds. I like them large and a tad loose. They have always performed well for me and I’ve watched my dogs run down plenty of pigs. I sacrifice the heat factor, but I’ll deal with that.

TDog that is a very nice and well planned vest. As long as a vest fits the dog and it’s style it’s a good vest. I’ve seen a lot of good hogs caught in the cheapest vest you could buy. To each his own and whatever works. All we can do is protect these animals the best we can.