First Choice Armor's K-9 Cooling Vest is designed to cool a dog in training. Its fabric carrier is made of fire retardant Banox with quilted Thromolite insulation with reinforced outerbinding. The vest provides full stomach, chest, and back coverage and has micro-mesh pockets for maximum body heat absorption. The cool packs inside the vest are made from a non-toxic material that is safe even if ingested. Reusable cool packs are available as an option.
Shades n' Things creates and sells tarps designed to shade outdoor kennels to protect K-9s from the sun and rain. The company started out offering eight sizes of shades. Now, the offering has expanded to more than 25, and is still growing. Shades are available in two weights as well as mesh. Shades n' Things adds new sizes of shades to its catalog of products when new sizes of kennels are made, but also creates custom shades when requested.
Unique Tools
The Remote Reward Box from Ray Allen allows you to remotely raise or lower a reward when your K-9 performs well during training, eliminating the effects of handler involvement. The reward box is even more effective because it is enclosed in a Ray Allen Scent Box.
By pressing the "up" button on the remote control from up to 50 feet away the reward is presented to the K-9 directly from within the scent cone. You can also stop the motion of the reward at any point, up or down.
The battery-powered system is fully rechargeable and comes complete with a charger and a battery for the remote control. It operates up to five hours continuously on one charge.
The K-9 rapelling harness with leveling bar from Stuart K-9 Products makes sure your dog doesn't slip from the harness as he descends. Available in large and medium sizes, this harness is made of durable nylon with an inner ballistic material to cradle your dog and protect him during difficult maneuvers conducted while training and on the job. It's available in several colors.
Thought to be a necessity by many K-9 handlers, the Hot-n-Pop Pro from AceK9 combines two useful tools in one device. It monitors the temperature in your K-9's vehicle enclosure, alerting you when it's too "hot," and allows you to remotely "pop" open the door to release the dog from the vehicle when you need his immediate assistance.
The Hot-n-Pop Pro has many redundant features so that if one part of the system fails to work, another part will continue operation. Two separate temperature sensors monitor the inside temperature and alarms such as sirens and horns signal a dangerously hot car.
The door-popping function of the device allows an officer to release a dog with the push of a button. It both unlocks and unlatches the door at once. The door will not release while the car is in motion, hoever, protecting the K-9 from an accidental release.
Regardless of where, when, or what detail you work, you and your K-9 partner need a variety of tools to get the job done efficiently and correctly. While this article is a good starting point, there are many options open to you. Talk to fellow K-9 handlers and ask them what they find useful. You might even want to try some items you haven't seen before. You never know what might work for you and your K-9. Other handlers and the rest of your agency may thank you for it.
AceK-9.com
www.acek9.com
CodeBlue Designs
www.codebluedesigns.com
CoolCop.com
www.coolcop.com
CyberCop Software
www.cybercop-software.com
First Choice Armor and Equipment
www.firstchoicearmor.com
KF Software
www.PoliceK9Software.com
Midknight Creations/Doggles
www.doggles.com
Pinnacle Armor
www.pinnaclearmor.com
Point Blank Body Armor
www.pointblankarmor.com
PT Armor
www.ptarmor.com
Ray Allen
www.rayallen.com
Second Chance Body Armor
www.secondchance.com
Shade n' Things
www.shadenthings.com
Stuart K-9
www.stuartk9products.com
U.S. Armor Corp.
www.usarmor.com