The Top 5 Best Dog Hunting Vests For Fun, Safe Outdoor Adventures

Dogs are known to possess the innate instinct to hunt, so there’s nothing more exciting for your dog than a day outside with their owner, hunting for prey. While dogs are smart and tend to be able to handle themselves, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take extra precautions in keeping them safe, comfortable and warm with a dog hunting vest.

If you plan on taking your dog out soon, consider ordering them a hunting vest. Similar to you, dogs get cold too, so it’s crucial that you’re keeping them warm and dry in order to retain body heat so they can be at their best when it matters most.

Most vests made for dogs are specially designed with canvas to maintain warmth, reflective strips for visibility, and rubber paneling to keep them dry. This also helps with the issue of safety, making it more difficult for predators to attack your dog, as the canvas tends to be puncture-proof.

Best Dog Hunting Vests to Consider

Hunting is a fun sport for your pooch, but it can also be dangerous for a number of reasons, which is why it’s important to get them their own hunting vest. The kind of vest you choose should mirror the type of hunting you’re doing. If you’re going waterfowl hunting, you would want to invest in a vest that includes a thick canvas lining to retain body heat, and rubberized material like neoprene to keep them dry.

Choosing the color of your vest is also important, because if you’re going camouflage hunting, you’d want an optifade marsh pattern, but if it’s deer hunting, a fluorescent bright orange will safely keep your dog visible at all times. If you’re planning on going out when it’s darker, make sure to look out for reflective-wear.

Another important matter to keep in mind while shopping is your dog’s safety against predators. You can avoid imminent danger to your dog by purchasing a vest specially designed with safety features, such as spikes or anti-puncture canvas, that way if a predator were to attack, you’d have time to react while they’re slowed down.

Lastly, if you’re taking your dog hunting where there are bodies of water, make sure your pup is safe with a vest that includes a life preserver, or sewn in floatation foam. Just like humans, dogs can have trouble swimming too, so make sure they stay afloat with the best hunting vest.

Carhartt Chore Coat for Dogs – Hunter Orange

Keep your pooch visible with this bright neon chore coat by Carhartt, insulted with firm-hand duck canvas, protecting your dog from the cold and harsh winds. For additional warmth, the vest is also lined with quilted nylon and polyester padding. Refer to the size chart and choose between available sizes: medium (16″ neck, 16″ chest), and large (16″ neck, 38″ chest).

Pros:

• Tabs at the neck and chest for easy attaching and detachment
• Hook and loop lined chest and waist straps for adjustability
• Bright orange color for visibility
• Water-resistant
• Comfortable fit
• Includes pockets where you can store the essentials, like dog waste bags or treats

Cons:

• Some customers think the vest is too stiff

CoyoteVest Spiked Reflective Dog Harness

Designed to prevent any danger or harm against your dog and slow down an attack, CoyoteVest’s spiked vest makes hunting with your dog worry-free. The vest features two wide belts with Velcro for adjustability, removable chrome spikes lining the neck and back to fight off predators, and reflective strips for night visibility. Don’t worry though, the chrome spikes are not made from metal, so the jacket is rust-free, as well as water resistant.

Pros:

• Sizes: XX-small, X-small, small, medium and large
• Colors: Texas tan, royal blue, red, pink, fluorescent orange, turquoise, and yellow
• Puncture-resistant Cordura fabric to stop sharp objects or teeth from contacting your dog
• Features a D-ring for leash connection
• Easy to wash

Cons:

• Expensive, but according to customers, it’s worth it

Momarsh Adjustable Neoprene Sporting Dog Vest

If you’re planning on taking your furry friend waterfowl hunting, consider Momarsh’s Versa-Vest. The one size fits all vest is easily adjustable to your dog’s size, with durable, ultra-strong hook and loop adjustments. Over time, the vest molds to your dog’s body shape, allowing a perfect fit for comfort.

The vest includes a water-repellant, rubberized chest panel made from neoprene, and coated with 600D polyfabric cover panels to retain body heat when the conditions are wet and cold.

Pros:

• Designs include: optifade marsh, black, orange, and white
• Can grow with your dog over time
• Six different adjustments for a for sure fit
• Customers report phenomenal customer service when they needed to exchange for different sizes

Cons:

• Some customers couldn’t get the vest to fit their dog

Ultra Comfortable Waterfowl Bloodline Elite Dog Vest

Rig’Em Right’s Waterfowl Bloodline Elite dog vest allows your dog to comfortably hunt, keeping their attention on what matters most. Its ultra-comfortable, three layer construction protects them from predators and harm, and provides a cozy, warm fit.

The vest was assembled with flexible neoprene rubber on the upper and lower portions to retain body heat, a thin layer of floatation foam, a secure Velcro closure, and heavy-duty canvas for protection against predators and brush.

Pros:

• Designs available: optifade timber, white, and optifade marsh
• Sizes include: small, medium, large, X-large, and XX-large
• Strong braided handle for guiding
• Keeps your dog warm, even in the coldest, wettest conditions

Cons:

• Some customers wish the vest’s zipper wasn’t plastic, so it were more durable

Neon Pink Reflective Dog Vest

If you’re only concerned about keeping your dog visible during hunting, and aren’t interested in spending the extra cash for additional features, look into snagging your dog a reflective vest from the SafetyPUP XD Store. Available in sizes ranging from X-small to X-large, you have the option to choose from five flamboyant colors: blue, red, pink, neon yellow, and a more patriotic design, Paws & Stripes.

The reflective vest is sewn from rip-resistant 300D Oxford weave fabric, and protects your pup from mild wet weather conditions. Plus, the vest includes a utility strap on the side that can hold lightweight accessories, like doggie waste bags.

Pros:

• Ideal for dogs 61 to 100-pounds
• Durable double-stitched straps for security
• Allows your dog to be visible in even the darkest conditions
• Low price
• Lightweight and comfortable

Cons:

• May not fit taller dogs the same

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best water-repellant material?

Most often used by scuba divers, sewn into wetsuits, and used for typical aquatic activities, the most common water-repellant material is rubberized neoprene. Neoprene is a material that allows your dog to retain their body heat and stay dry, so when you go hunting, they’re focused on the hunt rather than their body temperature.

Another material most often used that will keep your dog comfortable is poly-fabric, which, although it isn’t completely water proof, it does have water-resistant properties that will keep your dog comfy and warm, along with a soft cushioning that keeps their straps from rubbing against their skin.

How should the vest fit my dog?

When fitting your dog for a hunting vest, the first thing you want to do is acquire your dog’s height and weight, and then follow the company’s sizing chart. From there, it’s important that your dog has flexibility for movement, but not enough room so that they can remove it themselves. The vest itself should not be tight around the chest or neck area, and you should be able to fit at least two fingers between the vest and dog.

How can I make sure my dog stays warm?

Not only is neoprene great for keeping your dog dry, but it also helps them retain body heat within the vest. Just like our dogs, neoprene is your best friend for ultimate warmth and comfort. Most hunting vests and harnesses include neoprene, so keep an eye out for it if you plan on taking your dog in cold, wet conditions.

What’s the difference between a vest and a harness?

Vests and harnesses go hand in hand, and usually are used interchangeably when referring to the same thing. Vests are typically thicker and cover more of your dog’s body than a harness. Harnesses are usually webbed, and thinner than a vest. However, products are listed under the same name, so when searching, you just want to make sure you keep in mind what you need the harness for, and how it will be used. For instance, a hunting vest is going to have different materials and cover more of your dog than a harness a service dog would use.

What colors should I avoid?

When hunting, it’s best to stick to earthy-camouflage patterns, or bright hunter orange for visibility. This will keep your dog safe from other hunters, but hard to spot prey you are hunting. Animals such as deer are less susceptible to wavelength colors like orange, but can spot blue from a mile away. That’s why you want to stick with neutral-colored items or hunter orange, and avoid colors such as gray, green, brown, tan, white, black, and animal prints.

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