The vest must fit correctly and allow
the dog a full range of motion. If it is
restrictive, it hinders his performance
and takes away the advantages he has
against a human: stealth and speed.
What I have found to be a good
compromise is to use the vest on
known high-risk calls. I am willing to
lose a little work time
in exchange for the
increase in safety the
vest offers when facing
a likely armed subject.
I have found it to be
extremely helpful
during SWAT/K- 9
deployments because I
can use it to control
his position and
targeting better than just a collar or
harness setup. I can hold him close to
me in tight work areas and prevent
accidental contact with fellow officers.
PHOTOGRAPH: LEIDER PHOTOGRAPHY
■ Above: Ballistic vests are indicated for dogs who work in SWAT insertions, cell extractions,
hostile crowd control situations, and possible armed encounters.
and comes off at the end of our shift.
It’s very important that the dog does
not wear the vest on the street until
he’s accustomed to it and works effec-
tively in it. I’ve seen dogs that do not
tolerate the vest well, much like a
muzzle. By using patience and making
the experience as pleasant as possible,
It is very important to
train regularly with the
dog in his vest if you
plan to use it on the
street. We work every-
thing in vest, and aggression/control
work is especially important.
Remember, by putting your dog in
vest, you are providing the bad guys
with a “handle” with which to grab
your dog. Your decoys will need to
acclimate your dog to this so that such
an action does not shut the dog down.
We have found that it does not take
long before the dog develops a distinct
“oh no you don’t” mentality when he
is grabbed by his vest. I also like the
protection it gives the dog from hits,
kicks, accidental punctures, etc.
As far as heat issues are concerned,
common sense must prevail. Remember that dogs do not lose heat like we
do, so sweating is not really a factor.
As far as heat
issues are
concerned,
common sense
must prevail.
Ron Gunton replies: Like you, our unit
has been the recipient of body armor
for our dogs. The first donations years
ago did not go so well (the vests were
heavy and fit poorly), but our dogs
now have very high-quality, well-fitted
vests that they wear all the time when
on duty. That applies to most training
days as well. Our dogs took to the vests
well, although they move slightly
differently when they are wearing
them (just like us). For the most part,
my dog’s vest goes on before our shift
