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I’ve spent many hours researching the best hunting dog chest protectors. Whether you need a bird or upland dog chest protector, you’re likely to find the perfect one for your dog here.
Does Your Dog Need a Skid Plate Chest Protector?
Yes!
There are dozens of stories on the web about dogs who became injured while hunting or hiking.
One minute, the owner and dog are having a great time, the next minute the dog has run across a stick or another sharp obstacle.
You never know when your dog is going to run into a thicket or come across barbed wire running through a field. If that happens, your day – and your dog’s day – can go from fun to frown in an instant.
If you hunt with your dog or even spend a lot of time in the woods, hiking or walking with your dog off leash, a chest protector can keep its belly from getting raw and red from rubbing against ground cover like brush and corn stubble. It can also help keep sticks and other dangerous objects from poking into your dog’s chest.
What to Look for in a Dog Chest Protector
- First of all, it should be rugged. The best dog chest protectors are reinforced with extra layers of protective material through the belly and chest area, where your dog is most likely to need it.
- It must protect. You want sturdy fabric that resists burrs, thorns, corn stubble, prairie grass and anything else your dog might encounter in the field, woods or water. Underside protection is particularly important for dogs with short hair.
- It should provide a secure – but not too tight – fit. A protector that is too tight can chafe and irritate your dog’s skin.
- It should be easy to put on and remove. You don’t want to struggle for minutes outfitting a squirrely dog.
- It should be water-resistant to shed rain, snow and other moisture.
- Finally, it should be highly visible. Regardless of whether you hunt with your dog or not, a blaze orange protector makes it easier to watch your dog and it makes easier for other hunters to see him or her, too.
Open-Back versus Closed-Back Chest Protectors
Dog chest protectors typically have an open back or closed back. Open-back designs allow for plenty of ventilation on your dog’s back and are great for warm-weather use. They’ll protect the chest and belly but keep your dog from overheating,
Closed-back protectors wrap fully around your dog’s torso and are best for cold weather or cold-water activities such as duck hunting. These models often have neoprene lining for extra warmth.
6 Best Dog Chest Protectors
CUGA Vest
The CUGA Vest is a lightweight yet protective dog vest and chest protector. The belly plate features two layers of 1000 Denier Cordura to keep your dog’s chest from injury while running through the woods or working birds in the field.
Take a closer look at the leg openings. These are nice and roomy, so your dog’s underarms and legs won’t chafe after a day’s activities. The underside design allows male dogs to urinate when needed, so there’s no need to cut any holes or pull off the vest when nature calls.
A generous 6 inches of loop Velcro and 2 inches of hook Velcro make it easy to adjust and secure across your dog’s back.
The CUGA is available in 4 sizes: XSML-SML (Fits Most Sporting Dogs 25 to 45 pounds), MED (Fits Most Sporting Dogs 45 to 70 pounds), LRG (Fits Most Sporting Dogs 70 to 85 pounds) and XL-XXL (Fits Most Sporting Dogs 85 to 100 pounds). If your dog is in the “tweener” stage between sizes, I would recommend ordering a size up.
Happy customers love how this sturdy, protective vest keeps their dogs safe without overheating.
Machine washable and made in the United States.
Bottom Line: Highly Recommended and Top Pick for Upland Hunting and for Areas with Barbed Wire
See Current PriceHurtta Worker Vest
No matter how big or small your dog, Hurtta’s Worker Vest has you (I mean your dog) covered. The company offers its weatherproof vest in 6 different sizes! Choose from XS all the way up to XXL, and you can get the vest in two sporty colors: Orange Camo or Green Camo.
The vest features a soft fabric lining for comfort, while the Cordura belly flap will keep your dog’s chest protected. If you own a male, you can cut the flap to fit by following the guiding lines inside the vest. There’s also a pair of attachment loops around the neck if you use a GPS collar.
To top it off, Hurtta treats these vests with Permethrin to help keep pesky biting insects and ticks off your dog. The vest is machine washable, and the treatment is good for up to 100 washes. (Note: Permethrin is toxic to cats, so keep this vest away from felines.)
Bottom Line: Highly Recommended and Great Choice for Hunting in Woodlands
See Current PriceDOGonGEAR’s Dog hunting Vest
DogonGear’s Dog Hunting Vest is built for bird dogs and dogs active in field and other rugged environments. It features a triple-layer of sturdy, water-repellent fabric on the underbelly side and four layers of high-visibility fabric on the chest shield, and provides protection from the chest down to the belly.
The body of the vest has two Velcro straps that secure around the dog’s body, while a clip-and-buckle goes around the neck. Customers love how easy the vest is to put on and adjust. Furthermore, they say it’s very sturdy and offers great protection. Some have had problems with chafing, however. And you might have to do some cutting if you have a male dog, as the flap could cover his penis impeding his ability to urinate freely.
The vest is available in four sizes: small (15 to 30 pounds), medium (35 to 60 pounds), large (60 to 90 pounds) and extra large (9o to 150 pounds) sizes.
Bottom Line: Good but not the best choice
See Current PriceMendota Skid Plate
The Mendota Skid Plate is an open-back design featuring two layers of 1000 denier Cordura nylon for durability. This orange skid plate provides chest, stomach and side protection while leaving the neck exposed. It features an multi-point adjustable strap system with quick-release buckles for fast tweaking and removal. And the back straps can also serve as a handle if necessary.
Some customers have had problems with the plate chafing their dog’s skin. Others have had great success with this protector. Available in small, medium, large and extra large.
Bottom Line: Good but not the best option
See Current PriceFilson Dog Chest Protector
Filson’s Dog Chest Protector is an open-back design with a water-repellent blaze orange outer fabric and lined with dry finish 100% cotton Tin Cloth. The protector fits on your dog with two clip-and-buckle straps that go around the torso. A third buckle-less strap fits around the neck. It’s available in medium (40 to 55 pounds), large (55 to 75 pounds) and also extra large (75 pounds and above) sizes. Customers like this protector for its toughness, good fit and how easy it is to take on and off. Filson backs it with a lifetime warranty. Unfortunately, it’s becoming more difficult to purchase as Filson is frequently sold out.
Bottom Line: Highly Recommended
See Current PriceSylmar Dogwear Body Guard Vest
Sylmar Dogwear makes two different styles of what it calls “body guard vests.” The first is made from 500 denier cordura rip-stop nylon with an another layer of 1,000 denier cordura for the chest and body plate. For colder weather, consider the vest with 3 mm of neoprene lining sewn into the vest’s inside. The vests rely on a neck opening and three straps that fall over the dog’s back. Furthermore, these can be used as handles if needed. You can get both models in three colors: safety yellow, safety orange/black, or camo/tan. And you have a choice of 8(!) sizes, to find the perfect fit for your dog.
Bottom Line: Highly Recommended
See Current Price
Comments
I am looking for a padded chest/belly for my 3yr old Chessie who loves to dock,pool dive enthusiasticly!! and fear she is getting beat up–does it exist or are any of the ones you recommend useful for this purpose?
Hi. For this situation, you might consider this Browning neoprene vest. It should allow full freedom of movement yet protect your lab’s sides and underside. The Browning vest is a good value for the money, although I recommend an XXL, as the size tends to run a bit small. Hope that helps!
I have never had good luck with velcro-only closures. If subjected to some rough conditions, like thick brush, they will come loose. And over time they accumulate a bunch of small debris like seeds and dirt and will lose their connections.
I need a vest that will help protect the underside do to recent shaving of all hair from belly. I am concerned about chaffing because of the lack of hair. I also want a vest that will not generate much additional heat. Which vest meets my needs. I
Hi. For your dog, I would recommend the Cuga Vest as it provides excellent protection without being too hot. It’s worth ordering one size up as the vests tend to run small.
I have a springer and every year he gets hot spots under each ‘arm’ because the hair gets matted with all the sticks and burrs. Is there anything that can help this longer haired hunting dog NOT get so caught up in the brush?
Hi Courtney. Thanks for your message. One thing you can do is trim any feathering and keep the fur under the “arms” short. I know some people don’t like the look of this on their Springers, but it really helps to minimize the matting and burring. I’ve cut my Springers’ hair short every summer, and the hair always grows back! Some hunting dog owners use a product like ShowSheen or even baby oil along with a Slicker-style brush to make it easier to detangle at the end of a day. That – along with a trim – is probably the most economical approach.
As far as hunting vests/chest protectors – there is no silver bullet. Most of the dog chest protectors do a good job of protecting the belly area (very important), but are always somewhat compromised because dogs need leg room to move and overheating can be an issue, too. So those gaps around the shoulders provide mobility and ventilation, but they can’t protect your dog from every burr, seed and stick.
I am looking for a vest for my GSP who likes to hunt/chase Stingrays. He was barbed in the chest a couple months ago. I want to still take him to our waterways, but I need something that will protect his vital organs from a puncture wound. It is quite warm where we live in Queensland Australia. what would you recommend?
Hi. Interesting question! You might take a look at the products here: https://hardcorehogdogs.com/super-tough-vest/. The company offers made-to-order vests – some with kevlar chest protection – that could work for your dog’s situation. I don’t know if the vests would be too warm to wear in Australia, but it’s worth an email to the company to explore. Hope this helps.
What do you recommend for chest and underbelly protection for Dachshunds that love to hunt?
Hi Nancy. I would look at the SYLMAR Body Guard Dog Vest. It is available in an Extra Small “Short” size that fits dogs with chest girths of 20 to 24 inches, which should work for most Dacshhunds.
We have goldendoodles who love to run in the woods. I am needing something to keep the burrs off of them. It becomes a mess! Which vest do you recommend?
Hi. I recommend the CUGA Vest, although it won’t keep the burrs off your dogs’ legs. It does keep the backs and chests protected.