Is There Tactical Gear For Dogs?

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We wear and use tactical gear to aid us and give us an advantage in accomplishing objectives, completing missions, and getting home at the end of the day; tactical gear for dogs serves the same purpose.

Since man has domesticated dogs, we have partnered with them and worked alongside them to achieve these same ends; for this reason, we have understood the absolute necessity of taking care of our four-legged friends.

We wouldn’t go into a battle without gear, nor should our K9 battle buddies. That is why more handlers have started protecting their partners with tactical gear for dogs! So…

Yes, there is tactical gear created explicitly for our K9 companions. K9 tactical gear is as strong, durable, and AWESOME as man’s gear.

As our world shows no signs of slowing down in the hostility and brutality, we see each and every day on the TV, in the newspaper, and online, the call for tactical gear for both ourselves and our K9s has never been greater!

As our understanding of the necessity of tactical gear for ourselves has increased, so has our understanding of the need for our K9’s gear; as ours has advanced, so has theirs.

Tactical gear for K9s, just like human gear, serves to protect the animal wearing the gear and aid the handler in completing their mission.

There’s no doubt about it: our dogs are an indispensable asset to us!

Throw on a full chest harness that can be rigged any way you want with different accessories, and they’re even more valuable!

Throw on a full chest harness that can be rigged and has Kevlar lining, and man’s best friend becomes transformed into a tank with teeth!

WHAT KINDS OF TACTICAL GEAR ARE THERE FOR DOGS?

The range of tactical gear developed for dogs isn’t huge, but it does not need to be in order for the dog and its gear to accomplish its purpose. K9 tactical gear generally consists of:

COLLARS

Tactical collars generally function the same as a standard collar, with the function being to guide and restrain the dog when needed.

However, there is a vast difference in the materials and construction of a tactical collar vs a standard collar. Tactical collars are much more robust in design to fill a more demanding and generally combat-related role.

VESTS AND HARNESSES

Tactical K9 vests and harnesses are the main pieces of tactical equipment made for our K9 buddies. Now, you may ask yourself, “What’s the difference between a K9 vest and a K9 harness?” well, that’s a good question.

My answer to you is…Nothing!

The words are interchangeable. As you look around at these, you’ll see some companies call them vests, some call them harnesses, and some call them harness vests or vest harnesses.

You’ll find the same product online regardless of what you enter into the search bar.

It’s the K9 tactical harness that really adds a lot of functionality to our furry partners. It gives them the ability to carry pouches and extra gear while offering added protection.

LEADS AND LEASHES

Leads and leashes are actually the exact same thing. The only difference between them is the individual talking about them.

Your K9 enthusiast will generally use a lead, while your average Joe uses a leash.

Like the collars, a tactical leash performs the same function as a standard leash. However, there are significant improvements on materials, design, and construction.

WHAT MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION ARE USED FOR K9 TACTICAL GEAR?

K9 tactical gear is similar to man’s tactical gear in that it is created extremely strong, tough, and durable.

Tactical gear is also created with greater functionality in mind, allowing the gear to do more than regular civilian gear. Let’s look at the three main areas of gear, the material used, and how it is constructed:

COLLARS

Heavy-duty K9 tactical collars are made with Mil-Spec 1000D Cordura Nylon fabric. The collars are also generally 1.5-2 inches thick; this extra width adds to the incredible strength the collars possess.

The Mil-Spec nylon webbing and added width make K9 tactical collars nearly indestructible, even for the most demanding dogs.

These collars do not come with your standard wimpy clip locks either. The standard lock on tactical collars is the excellent and adjustable AustriAlpin COBRA buckle.

These locks boast an indestructible locking mechanism as well as the world’s safest quick-release system.

Most Tactical collars have a lightweight forged metal D-Ring sewn in using one continuous strip of Mil-Spec webbing, giving you an unbreakable connection point for leashes and carabiners.

Often, for a slight price increase, you can upgrade to a forged metal V-Ring, which is just another step up in hardware as the v shape provides a more substantial connection point.

Two other features can be found in tactical collars. The first is an extra layer of padding for added protection against rubbing from the collar on the dog’s neck.

The second is a polymer insert between the layers of Mil-Spec webbing of the collar. This gives rigidity to the collar and even more strength…cause it needs more.

Although not of the same quality as the top-tier tactical brands like “RECON K9” and “LOF Defence Systems,” Amazon does provide a decent, cheaper option.

Miles Tactical Store – Tactical K9 Collar

VESTS AND HARNESSES

K9 tactical harnesses are made from Mil-Spec 600D or 1000D Cordura Nylon.

K9 vests and harnesses are designed to be sleek and ergonomically contoured, allowing working dogs to focus on the task at hand versus getting worn out from the added weight & heat of a harness.

Generally, harnesses have two main categorical differences: those that offer ballistic and slash protection and those that do not.

Ballistic harnesses have Kevlar inserts covering soft body areas to protect internal organs. The highest level of ballistic protection I have seen in a harness is level 3A.

Level 3A armour is rated to stop magnum rounds fired from handguns and everything from a .38 special to a 9mm.

They are also slash-proof, which means if an assailant took a swipe at your K9 while wearing one of these harnesses, the harness would not be cut but be able to resist it.

Though slash-proof proof, these harnesses are not stab-proof, meaning if the assailant pushed a knife tip first into the Kevlar, the knife would puncture it.

Non ballistic harnesses can do everything else a ballistic harness can do and will provide all the same benefits, they just won’t stop bullets.

They will still provide basic abrasion resistance for your K9, thanks to the heavy-duty nylon.

Aside from protection, K9 harnesses’ primary function is the ability to carry extra supplies and gear. Tactical harnesses come pretty standard, with numerous velcro areas on the back and the chest.

Harnesses also come with the military “MOLLE” carrying system, a system that is used across militaries everywhere due to its effectiveness.

MOLLE allows for a vast array of different configurations of attachable pouches and other MOLLE-compatible gear.

K9 tactical harnesses come with load-rated handles and anchor points on the back of the vest. Generally, these handles and anchor points are rated to around 3600 lbs, but it will all depend on the manufacturer.

Depending on the company, you could have between 1 to 3 handles and 1-2 forged metal V-shaped or D-shaped anchor points.

The handles let you control your K9, but even more importantly, make it easy to lift and move your K9 around in a safe and easy manner.

The tactical harnesses like the tactical collars also come with the steel indestructible COBRA® buckles, boasting their safe and effective quick-release system.

The inside material that sits directly next to your K9’s fur is a MIL-SPEC mesh lining.

This mesh provides continuous airflow, allowing your dog to remain cool and preventing heat exhaustion while working in environments with high heat levels.

Even though not of the same quality as the top tier tactical brands like “RECON K-9” and “LOF Defence Systems“, amazon does provide some decent, cheaper options.

These options provide many of the same options I’ve mentioned here.

Leasure Pet Company – Tactical K9 Harness
Dogtical – Tactical K9 Harness

LEADS AND LEASHES

K9 high-performance tactical leads can come in a few different variations and configurations depending on the manufacturer and what your desired intent for the lead is.

Generally, tactical leads are made from heavy-duty Mil-Spec 1000D Cordura Nylon or Mil-Spec tubular nylon with high-test bungee sewn inside, making them extremely strong and nearly unbreakable.

The leads made with tubular nylon generally have between a 6″ and 12″ expansion length.

Many leads have a dual-handle design. The lead has the standard handle at the far end from the K9, but then there is a second control handle near the bottom of the lead next to the K9.

This second integrated handle gives the handler much greater control over their K9 in tense and high-stress situations.

While some tactical leads still use the traditional metal bolt snap connector, you can drastically step it up to the Italian-made KONG Frog quick connector. The KONG Frog connector is rated to handle an incredible 5620 lbs of force.

Often coupled with the KONG Frog connector is a heavy-duty metal swivel point, which, depending on the manufacturer, can generally handle around 5170 lbs of force.

Specific Tactical leads also contain what is known as a heavy-duty ejection leaver or lead release. This allows the handler to attach the K9’s lead to their own tactical belt while freeing up their hands to use other gear if need be.

But most importantly, as the name implies it allows the handle to very quickly release the K9 to pursue the intended target.

IS THERE TACTICAL GEAR FOR ALL SIZES OF DOGS?

Yes, K9 tactical gear has been created for all sizes of dogs! From dogs as small as Chihuahuas and French Bulldogs to dogs as large as German Shepards, Rottweilers, and Dobermans.

No matter the size of your K9, if you want to put them into some top-tier tactical gear, you’ll find the size that fits them!

WHAT IS THE COST OF K9 TACTICAL GEAR?

Tactical gear, in general, is not cheap, but remember, you are paying for quality and functionality! Top-tier tactical gear for man or K9 is pricey.

Collars range from $50.00 to $75.00 – starting at the simplest collars and moving up to the double and triple-layered heavy-duty collars.

Harnesses range from $155.00 to $1000.00, starting at the basic carrier harness and moving up to your full-on ballistic vests that do it all.

Leads and Leashes range from $30.00 to $160.00 – Starting at your basic Mil-spec nylon leads and moving up to the leads with the KONG Frog connector and other functions.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Yes, there is tactical gear for our amazing K9 companions, and it is every bit as awesome as our own gear.

It’s pricey but worth the cost because they (our dogs) are worth the cost.

With the state of our world, we need now, more than ever, to ensure we, as well as our K9s, are fully protected and that we have every advantage on our side when a hostile situation arises!

No matter the size or breed of your dog, you and they can be ready for anything when you are well prepared ahead of time!

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