Dog Training
This duck dog gear shelf keeps your retriever drier and out of sight: dog stands for flooded timber, dog blinds for field hunts, vests, kennels and covers, cots, and a MOmarsh training bumper. Most of it comes from MOmarsh, with Alps Outdoorz, Higdon and Arctic Shield filling in. Choose the stand or blind for your hunting ground first.
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waterfowl hunting gear · duck blinds · blind grass · blind chairs · blind bags · duck decoys · goose decoys · hand warmers
Dog Stands and Dog Blinds
A dog stand gives a retriever a platform above water, so it can sit still and stay drier between retrieves. The MOmarsh Final Stand and Ramp Stand and the Alps Outdoorz Hybrid Dog Stand are the options here. MOmarsh also sells replacement leg frames and crossbars. Measure the water depth you hunt before you pick one.
Dog blinds hide a dog in a field the way a layout blind hides you. The shelf carries the Higdon Quick Draw Dog Blind, the Alps Outdoorz and Ducks Unlimited Alpha Dog Blind, the MOmarsh InvisiLab and Field House LP, and snow covers for the Alpha Dog Blind and InvisiLab. Set the dog blind near your layout blinds, brush it with blind grass or stubble, and the dog stays out of the birds' line of sight.
Vests for Cold Water
Retrievers lose heat quickly in late-season water. The MOmarsh VersaVest and the Ducks Unlimited Topflight Dog Vest are the vests on this shelf. MOmarsh also sells replacement panels for the VersaVest, including flotation panels and an oversized neck and chest panel. Measure your dog's chest and neck and compare them to the sizing on the listing before you order.
Kennels, Crates and Cots
The ride home matters too. Arctic Shield has two kennel cover listings and two insulated kennel listings. MOmarsh offers the Quick Crate, Kennel Cot, Home Cot (with a Breeze version and replacement covers), a Home Cot pet bed, the Home Base Platform and a LabLocker storage panel. A cot keeps a wet dog off a cold floor overnight. Keep spare towels and a blind bag of dog gear in the truck.
Training Bumpers, Leashes and Collars
Training happens long before opening day. The MOmarsh Dog Training Bumper comes in more than one option, and MOmarsh also sells an adjustable leash and collar. SportDog's SportHunter X-Series is here too; read the listing for its features. Practice with the same duck calls and shotgun sounds your dog will hear in the field, and throw bumpers from your blind chairs to build steadiness.
Gear for the Handler
A dog that hunts water means a handler who hunts water. Good duck hunting waders let you reach the stand and help with a tangled retrieve, and a few dry bags keep towels, a first-aid kit and the dog's food dry in the boat. Set up the dog stand where the retriever can see the duck decoys land without being in the birds' landing zone.
Duck Dog Gear FAQs
Does my duck dog need a vest?
In cold water, a vest helps a dog hold body heat between retrieves. Many hunters use one from mid-season on. Fit matters more than features, so measure your dog first.
What is the difference between a dog stand and a dog blind?
A dog stand is a platform that holds the dog above water, used in timber and marsh. A dog blind is a low cover that hides the dog in a field, usually next to layout blinds.
How do I choose the right size kennel or crate?
Measure your dog standing and lying down, then compare those measurements to the sizes listed for each kennel or crate. Arctic Shield has two insulated kennel listings, so compare them.