The Gear I Love
One of the joys of search work is that it provides a socially acceptable outlet for my love of gear, both for me and for my dog. Over the years I’ve gone through a lot of stuff, kept the gear I like and discarded the rest. Time and time again I find that I’ve ended up keeping gear for my dogs made by a company called RuffWear. One of the things I like about RuffWear is that it’s a small, privately owned company that targets a very specific clientele--active dog owners--and seems to work hard to put together a very good set of products. I think that deserves a little shameless promotion on my part, don’t you? Here are a few items I use a lot.
Palisades Pack
I’ve had one of these for my last three dogs and have used the heck out of them. They have an integral water bladder which makes keeping Loki hydrated quick and easy, and also makes it simple to keep the bags balanced on him, a big complaint I’ve had with other packs. The bags detach from the web harness in about two seconds, so you can take it off and put it back on with a minimum of fuss. Finally, and most importantly, after three years Loki has not yet destroyed his – the ultimate test.
Bark’n Boots
A lot of the folks on my search team carry these. Sometimes we have to work on rough or dangerous ground, or on icy snow which can cut our dogs’ paws. These boots seem to be tougher than any I’ve tried, and they stay on, which is more than I can say for a lot of other brands. Love ‘em.
K-9 Float Coat
We do a lot of water searches and other work from boats, sometimes in fast-moving water. I’ve tried several different floatation devices for Loki, and this is the one he tolerates the best. He’s got good freedom of motion to swim, and the integral handle is great for hauling him back into the boat. As with the rest of Ruffwear’s gear, it’s better made than anything else I’ve come across. This one stays in my truck all the time.
--Jon Wieringa
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Jon Wieringa is an ICU veterinary technician, a search and rescue K-9 handler, and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.
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