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Jackets & Vests ![Jackets & Vests]()
These vests keep your dog protected in the toughest of terrain.
Jackets & Vests
These vests keep your dog protected in the toughest of terrain.
![Mendota Skid Plate]()
Mendota Skid Plate - Orange$59.95![Mendota]()
Commercial-grade chest and belly protector for dogs working heavy cover. Guards the underside — chest, stomach, and sides — against brier cuts, stick punctures, and abrasion. Blaze orange for field visibility. Available in Narrow and Regular chest widths across four sizes; measure before ordering...
![Mendota Visi-Vest - Orange w/ Reflective Stripe]()
Mendota Visi-Vest - Orange w/ Reflective Stripe$44.99![Mendota]()
Lightweight blaze orange visibility vest with 3M Scotchlite™ reflective striping. Not a protective vest — its job is to keep your dog clearly visible to other hunters during the day and in low light. The right choice for open-country dogs or any situation where hunter safety is the primary concern...
![Mendota Canine Field Jacket - Orange w/ Reflective Trim]()
Mendota Canine Field Jacket - Size XL - Orange w/ Reflective Trim$69.99![Mendota]()
Cold-weather field jacket with a 1000-denier Cordura® nylon outer shell, 100-gram Thinsulate® insulation, and a Ripstop® inner liner. Keeps a dog warm on late-season hunts without restricting movement. Blaze orange with reflective trim for field visibility. XL is the only size available. ..
Derrick Moore, Senior Field Staff
Hunting dog jackets and vests — protection, visibility, and how to choose
All three products on this page are made by Mendota and built for upland hunting dogs working in the field. They solve different problems: the Skid Plate protects the undercarriage from brier and brush cuts, the Visi-Vest makes a dog visible to hunters without adding insulation or bulk, and the Canine Field Jacket combines cold-weather insulation with high-visibility color and reflective trim. Most upland hunters who run dogs in heavy cover end up with at least two of these — one for warm-weather protection and one for cold.
Protection, visibility, and warmth — understanding the differences
The Mendota Skid Plate is a chest and belly protector — a commercial-grade guard that covers the areas a dog takes the most punishment in the field: the chest, stomach, and sides. It’s not a vest in the traditional sense. There’s no insulation and no back coverage. The Skid Plate’s job is to stop brier cuts, stick punctures, and abrasion on the underside of the dog. Dogs that work tight cover — thick pheasant grass, honeysuckle, multiflora rose — accumulate cuts and scratches across the belly and chest that add up to vet bills over a season. The Skid Plate eliminates most of that. It’s available in blaze orange for visibility and runs in eight size combinations across four dog sizes, with both a Narrow and Regular chest width at each size.
The Mendota Visi-Vest is a lightweight blaze orange vest with 3M Scotchlite™ reflective striping. It’s not a protective vest and doesn’t function as one — it’s a visibility vest. The purpose is to make the dog clearly identifiable at a distance during the day, and visible at night or in low light when light hits the reflective material. It’s the right choice when your primary concern is hunter safety and dog identification in the field, not brush protection. Lighter and less restrictive than the Skid Plate, it’s also an option for dogs that work more open country where undercarriage protection is less of a priority.
The Mendota Canine Field Jacket is the cold-weather option — a 1000-denier Cordura® nylon outer shell with 100-gram Thinsulate® insulation and a Ripstop® inner liner. It keeps a dog warm on late-season hunts without adding so much bulk that it interferes with movement, and the blaze orange color with reflective trim maintains visibility in the field.
Which one do you need? If your dog works heavy brush and briers, start with the Skid Plate for undercarriage protection. If visibility is the primary concern — open country, mixed hunting parties, public land — the Visi-Vest is lighter and less restrictive. For cold late-season hunts, the Field Jacket adds insulation. Many hunters run a Skid Plate and a Visi-Vest together on the same dog.
Sizing — narrow vs. regular and how to measure
Mendota sizes these vests by chest circumference and waist circumference, not just weight. The weight column in the size chart is a rough guide — use the measurements whenever possible, as dogs of the same weight can vary significantly in build. The Skid Plate and Visi-Vest add a second dimension: Narrow vs. Regular chest width, measured at the narrowest point between the front legs. A deep-chested Lab and a leggier pointer can both weigh 65 pounds but require different widths. Measure before ordering.
| Size | Chest Width (between front legs) | Chest Circumference | Waist Circumference | Approx. Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small — Narrow | 2⅓–3½” | 20–28” | 17–25” | 25–45 lbs. |
| Small — Regular | 3½–4½” | 20–28” | 17–25” | 25–45 lbs. |
| Medium — Narrow | 3–4” | 23–31” | 20–28” | 45–65 lbs. |
| Medium — Regular | 4–5” | 23–31” | 20–28” | 45–65 lbs. |
| Large — Narrow | 4–5” | 26–34” | 23–31” | 65–85 lbs. |
| Large — Regular | 5–6” | 26–34” | 23–31” | 65–85 lbs. |
| X-Large — Narrow | 5–6” | 29–37” | 26–34” | 85+ lbs. |
| X-Large — Regular | 6–7” | 29–37” | 26–34” | 85+ lbs. |
Chest width is measured at the narrowest point between the front legs. Use weight as a tiebreaker only — two dogs at the same weight can fit different widths depending on breed and build. Pointing breeds and leggier setters typically run Narrow; Labs and other blocky retrievers typically run Regular. When a dog falls on the border between sizes, size up.
Common questions about hunting dog vests and jackets
Does my dog really need a vest for upland hunting?
It depends on the cover. Dogs working open prairie or crop fields rarely need chest protection — the terrain doesn’t demand it. Dogs working thick pheasant grass, multiflora rose, honeysuckle, or dense timber accumulate real wear over a season: brier cuts, stick punctures, and abrasion across the belly and chest that cost time and vet bills. A Skid Plate pays for itself quickly for a dog that hunts regularly in that kind of cover. Visibility vests are a different question — in mixed hunting parties or on public land, a blaze orange vest on your dog is a safety habit worth keeping regardless of terrain.
Can I run a Skid Plate and a Visi-Vest at the same time?
Yes. Many hunters do exactly that — the Skid Plate handles undercarriage protection while the Visi-Vest adds the blaze orange visibility layer over the top. They’re designed to layer. Size both for your dog’s measurements independently and confirm the layered fit before the season.
How do I choose between Narrow and Regular chest width?
Measure the narrowest point between your dog’s front legs — that’s the chest width the size chart references. Don’t guess by breed or weight alone. As a general rule, leggier pointing breeds and setters tend to fit Narrow; blocky retrievers and heavier-bodied breeds tend to fit Regular. But there’s enough variation within breeds that measuring is the only reliable method. If your dog falls right on the border between Narrow and Regular, go Regular.
Will a hunting vest slow my dog down in the field?
A properly fitted vest has minimal impact on a dog’s movement and range. The Skid Plate is specifically designed to protect without restricting the chest and shoulder action a hunting dog needs. That said, any dog needs time to adjust to wearing gear — put the vest on during yard work or short training sessions before the season so the dog is comfortable in it before the first hunt.
Is the blaze orange color required by law for hunting dogs?
Requirements vary by state. Some states require or strongly recommend blaze orange on hunting dogs during certain seasons; others have no requirement. Check your state’s wildlife regulations before the season. Regardless of legal requirements, blaze orange on a working dog is sound practice — it makes the dog clearly visible to other hunters and reduces the risk of accidental shooting in mixed hunting parties.
Also in Dog Supply: Collars & Leads | Heating & Cooling | Waterers & Bowls | Training Collars
