Since Ace will be sporting his vest in pictures on my blog for the next six months or so, I thought I’d let you know what I think of it.
Ace wears the Avery Sporting Dog Parka. I call it a vest. The parka is designed for hunting dogs, mostly labs that spend time jumping in and out of the water in cold weather retrieving birds. I know Ace would make a great hunting dog, but I have never taken him hunting. Instead, he spends a lot of time hiking, camping and backpacking with me. In North Dakota, that involves rain and snow and cold for at least six months of the year. Ace has short hair like a great dane and very little body fat, so some sort of dog coat is necessary for him in the winter.
I’m a little embarrassed to be the chick with a dog dressed in camouflage. I feel like a redneck from Fargo. But I went with usefulness over style and this vest really does keep the mutt warm when we are out on long walks through the snow or on weekend camping trips in the winter. A downside to the camouflage dog vest is the mutt blends into the surroundings and I would hate for him to get lost or shot. A bright red vest or any other color would be better, but all I could find was the camouflage.
The Avery parka comes in sizes from small (15″ neck, 24″ chest) to 3XL (21″ neck, 35″ chest). Ace has a large, and it is a little tight on him. I should’ve gone with the XL. But one great thing about this vest is that it is designed so the arm holes and waistline can be trimmed if needed. I trimmed the arm holes on Ace’s parka and now it fits him better.
Ace’s Avery parka is made of neoprene with insulation that drys quickly. It’s really easy to put on him. He just steps into it and I zip it up in the back. He hates wearing it, but once we get outside he forgets he has it on.
If you have a lab-type dog, I recommend the Avery parka to keep him warm. Dogs can get hypothermia very easily when they are out in the cold, especially if they like rolling in water and snow like my mutt. A dog coat or vest will help keep him warm this winter.
Don’t forget that the top commenter between last Friday and this Friday will win a copy of “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Dogs.”
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Ha! I actually got a thin coat for my guy that I found for $6 a few weeks ago. He’s got very thick fur to start, is a little on the heavy side, and…well…Southern California winters aren’t exactly harsh!
Too bad Ace’s parka didn’t come in another color. I’d be embarrassed by the camo too! Gustav’s is light blue with a green/dark blue/ plaid pattern on the underside.
Stay warm!
All my dogs have lots more hair than Ace, but Zoe gets really cold. The thing is that she hates, and I mean hates to have anything put on her. I put a sweater on her as a puppy and I still think she remembers it. LOL
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Good post. So many people think dog clothes are only for the little guys.
Chels feels the cold, I looked at some reflective jackets but none fitted…the Danes site has wetsuits for Danes, covering all but legs and head, Im going to look at them for the summer as we are constantly in water
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Don’t laugh but why can’t you use a spray paint and amke it your own color? I believe it would adhere even to the nylon fabric that I assume is what the vest is made of. You can use tape to cover all the nylon webbing and design your own style and logo. I’ll help!! Paint is such an awesome product.
opps -I mean ‘MAKE’
Yeah that might work. Know what else I just thought of? He could easily wear it inside out. Then it’s just brown.
Heh. Secretly you want to turn Ace into a gun dog. I just know it…
Is it bad that I have considered taking up pheasant hunting just so my dog can retrieve and have a job to do? I don’t even eat meat.
This is a good idea for my dogs in the winter after they decide to stop getting IN the water and swimming. They tend to swim until they can no longer break the ice to get in.
Ace, you are beautiful! The coat makes you look really macho.
Levi’s mom
We also go utility over style! Nice jacket, and sounds like a great one for the active pup like us!
Woofs, Johann
Yay for mutts! Clothes are a staple to my dogs everyday living! Without it, he would surely freeze in this below freezing temperature!
Here he is in his winter garb!
http://edopeno.com/2008/11/17/thought-of-the-dayby-ipo-clothes/
what is your dog mixed with?
No one is quite sure. Probably lab mixed with pointer or coonhound. Possibly dane. He looks like a mini great dane. He has a very short coat and drools a lot.