Sun’s out, guns out. Training guns, that is. Between winter’s chill and the high heat of summer, spring offers perfect dog-training conditions. Whether you’re introducing the basics to a youngster or tuning up a veteran, the following products can help make your training days easier and safer.
SITKA DOG COLLAR & LEASH
Sitka, a company known for producing rugged hunting gear, recently came out with a collar and leash for man’s best friend. The collar features aircraft-grade aluminum hardware and rigid, tear-resistant webbing as well as a tri-glide adjustment for fitting; a secure, quick-release buckle; and a D-ring attachment point. The leash has the same aluminum hardware and rigid webbing as the collar along with a swivel wire gate for easy attachment and removal and a D-ring, so the leash can be worn across the body when not in use. Colors: Optifade Timber, Optifade Waterfowl Marsh (shown), Blaze Orange, Basic Black, Optifade Elevated II. Collar sizes: M (11.25" to 15"), L (14" to 20"), XL (16" to 25"). Leash length: Adjustable from 42" to 66". Price: Collar, $50; Leash, $30.
Sitka Gear, sitkagear.com.
MUD RIVER MR1000 DOG TRAINING COLLAR WITH REMOTE
Trainers or hunters looking for an economical, user-friendly e-collar will appreciate Mud River’s MR1000 Dog Training Collar with Remote. The system, which has a 1,000-yard line-of-sight range, offers five training modes: light, tone, vibration, general and boosted stimulation. The remote has buttons for tone (16 levels), vibrate (36 levels) and stimulation (99 levels) and a knob for quick adjustments of stimulation. There is also a stimulation safety lock and an LED spotlight mode for low-light conditions. Both the remote and collar take rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. (Battery life is 10 days for the remote and 16 days for the collar.) The collar is waterproof and adjustable from 6" to 27", to fit most dogs up to 100 pounds. The remote also has two-dog training capability when paired with an add-on collar. Detachable long-contact probes are included. Price: $100.
Boyt Harness Company, boytharness.com.
RUFF LAND CHOW BOX
When traveling for training or hunting, the Ruff Land Chow Box keeps dry dog food protected and accessible. Made of high-quality polyethylene, the Chow Box is portable and lightweight, and its lid seals airtight to keep food fresh. The box comes with a measuring scoop and even has a built-in rest to elevate your dog’s food bowl (not included). Colors: Millstone (shown), Olive Drab, Whitestone, GoGreen. Capacity: 30 pounds of dry food. Dimensions: 20.5" (l) x 12" (w) x 14.5" (h). Price: $76 ($79 for GoGreen).
Ruff Land Performance Kennels, rufflandkennels.com.
ALPS OUTDOORZ HYBRID DOG STAND
Offering both safety and versatility, the ALPS OutdoorZ Hybrid Dog Stand can be used for hunting or training in flooded timber or dry or flooded fields. Featuring heavy-duty welded tree cleats, welded D-rings and a ratchet strap with gated clips, this stable stand can be mounted to a tree 42" in diameter in more than 30" of water. Clevis pins are used to adjust the platform height from 24" to 36", and the legs fold flat with a hinge system. The powder-coated aluminum frame supports a TechMesh platform topped with Hypalon strapping for excellent drainage and superior traction. A shoulder strap and integrated handle make for easy transport. Platform dimensions: 26" (l) x 24" (w). Weight: 10 pounds 3 ounces. Price: $200.
ALPS OutdoorZ, alpsoutdoorz.com.
GARMIN ALPHA LTE
Gundogs often work out of sight, and for handlers who want to reliably track their charges’ whereabouts, there is the Garmin Alpha LTE. The small, rugged device attaches to flat collars up to 1” wide and pairs with the Alpha app, allowing users to view their dogs’ movements on compatible mobile devices where LTE service is available. Additional tracking capabilities are possible by pairing the unit with a compatible Garmin dog-tracking handheld for simultaneous LTE and traditional VHF tracking. The device has multicolor LED lights that can be remotely activated to make a dog more visible in low-light conditions. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery has a life of 18 hours of dynamic tracking or up to 75 hours with an adjusted update rate. Should a dog become lost, there is also a “rescue mode,” which, when enabled before a hunt, automatically adjusts the update rate to extend the battery life of the collar. Dimensions: 2.8" (l) x 1.4" (w) x 1.2" (h). Weight: 1.8 ounces. Price: $300, with LTE service plans sold separately.
Garmin, garmin.com.
REKOILE OUTDOORS UPLAND SURE FIT DOG VEST
To protect a dog working in rugged conditions, the ReKoile Outdoors Upland Sure Fit Dog Vest is an essential piece of gear. Made of durable Cordura, the vest has a chest-and-abdominal plate that offers three layers of protection, with 3mm neoprene sandwiched between two layers of Cordura. The well-designed vest has adjustable shoulder straps, two waist-adjustment tabs, and four adjustable back straps for a customized fit. There is also a pocket for a tracking/locating device. Sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL. Price: $50 ($55 with paracord handle).
ReKoile Outdoors, rekoileoutdoors.com.
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