Cape (dog)

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Various guide dog capes showing their training program or sponsoring organization 5Programs.jpg
Various guide dog capes showing their training program or sponsoring organization

A cape, jacket, or vest is an article worn by a working dog to identify or assist them in their job.

Contents

Many assistance dogs wear capes if nothing else than identification is needed. They often bear the logo of the organization that trained them, the names of companies that sponsored their training, and usually a patch requesting that the dog is not petted or distracted. Although they are not assistance dogs in the legal sense, some therapy dogs wear similar capes to identify them as such.

A police or detection dog might wear a jacket to identify them and/or protect their torso.

Another piece of equipment similar to a cape is the harnesses that guide dogs and some mobility assistance dogs wear for leading, bracing, or pulling. Also, assistance dogs that carry items for their handlers wear backpacks, though sometimes these are also referred to as jackets.

Assistance dog attire

A cape is a lightweight loose-fitting piece of fabric that lays over the dog's back and has a strap that goes under the ribs and one across the chest. A service vest is usually more form-fitting than a cape. A brace and mobility harness is a tight-fighting strong harness with a handle used to assist people who need help walking or balancing. A pulling harness is a stronger-strapped harness with padding used for assisting in the pulling of wheelchairs. Additional elements for assistance dog attire might include reflective strips, zippered pockets, D-rings, hook-and-loop fastener areas for attaching patches, a top-mount handle, a brightly colored collar or leash, or one with lettering on it. Typical fabrics are breathable mesh, waterproof nylon, or canvas. [1] [2]

In the US, the Americans with Disabilities Act does not require a service dog to wear a vest, ID tag, or specific harness. [3] In the UK, there is no requirement for an assistance dog to wear any particular jacket or other marks to show that it is an assistance dog. However, in 2015 the House of Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 published a report which, among other changes, suggested to amend the laws so that a kitemark might be worn by genuine assistance dogs trained to an appropriate standard and certified for public access. The purpose of such insignia is to deter use of fraudulent assistance dogs and reassure merchants that a particular dog is a legitimate assistance dog. [4]

In over half the states of the US there are laws prohibiting dressing your dog in such a way as to fraudulently represent it as a service animal. [5]

Guide dog attire

Guide dogs wear a snug-fitting harness with a rigid handle. The blind handler receives direction from the dog through the handle. As long as the harness is on, the dog is "on duty". [6]

Police dog attire

Bulletproof vests are available for police dogs and are considered essential equipment by some police officers. Others claim that they are too hot for wearing all shift, or a particular dog who was not trained with such attire may not like to wear one. They are fairly expensive. [7]

Military dog attire

Military dogs often wear tactical vests (tac vest for short) which are made of durable fabric for a high activity dog, and are constructed in the MOLLE style. [8]

Ballistic vests for dogs (aka body armour or bulletproof vests) are used by police dogs (K-9) and military dogs. Such vests provide "ballistic and edged weapon protection for vital organs while allowing complete freedom of movement". They are made from similar material as bulletproof vests for humans and are expensive. [9] [10] Specialty body armor such as the $30,000 ones used by the United States Navy SEALs may be waterproof and incorporate night vision cameras and two-way audio. [11]


Search and Rescue dog attire

Water rescue dogs typically wear gear that provides extra floatation and "has handles or attachments for tow lines or rescue gear." [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulletproof vest</span> Form of body armour that protects the torso from some projectiles

A bulletproof vest, also known as a ballistic vest or a bullet-resistant vest, is an item of body armour that helps absorb the impact and reduce or stop penetration to the torso by firearm-fired projectiles and fragmentation from explosions. The vest may come in a soft form, as worn by many police officers, prison officers, security guards, and some private citizens, used to protect against stabbing attacks or light projectiles, or hard form, using metallic or para-aramid components. Soldiers and police tactical units wear hard armour, either in conjunction with soft armour or alone, to protect against rifle ammunition or fragmentation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assistance dog</span> Working dog trained to aid or assist an individual with a disability

An assistance dog, known as a service dog in the United States, is a dog trained to aid or assist an individual with a disability. Many assistance dogs receive training from a handler or from an assistance dog organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hearing dog</span> Type of assistance dog trained to listen for sounds

A hearing dog is a type of assistance dog specifically selected and trained to assist people who are deaf or hard of hearing by alerting their handler to important sounds, such as doorbells, smoke alarms, ringing telephones, or alarm clocks. They may also work outside the home, alerting their handler to sounds such as sirens, forklifts, and a person calling the handler's name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Police dog</span> Dog trained and used for law enforcement

A police dog, also known as a K-9, is a dog that is trained to assist police and other law enforcement officers. Their duties may include searching for drugs and explosives, locating missing people, finding crime scene evidence, protecting officers and other people, and attacking suspects who flee from officers. The breeds most commonly used by law enforcement are the German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Bloodhound, Dutch Shepherd, and Labrador Retriever. In recent years, the Belgian Malinois has become the leading choice for police and military work due to their intense drive, focus, agility, and smaller size, though German Shepherds remain the breed most associated with law enforcement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leash</span> Device for controlling children, dogs and other animals

A leash is a rope or similar material used to control an animal by attaching it to a collar, harness, or halter. In British English, a leash is generally for a larger animal, with lead being more commonly used when walking a dog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pet harness</span>

A pet harness is equipment consisting of straps of webbing that loop nearly around—that fasten together using side release buckles—the torso of an animal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal flotation device</span> Equipment to help the wearer keep afloat in water

A personal flotation device is a flotation device in the form of a vest or suit that is worn by a user to prevent the wearer from drowning in a body of water. The device will keep the wearer afloat with their head and mouth above the surface – they do not have to swim or tread water in order to stay afloat and can even be unconscious.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Search and rescue dog</span> Dog trained to locate or retrieve a missing or trapped person

A search-and-rescue (SAR) dog is a dog trained to respond to crime scenes, accidents, missing persons events, as well as natural or man-made disasters. These dogs detect human scent, which is a distinct odor of skin flakes and water and oil secretions unique to each person and have been known to find people underwater, snow, and collapsed buildings, as well as remains buried underground. SAR dogs are a non-invasive aid in the location of humans, alive or deceased.

The State Protection Group (SPG) is part of the Counter Terrorism & Special Tactics Command of the New South Wales Police Force and was established in 1991 to deal with extraordinary policing responses. The SPG directly supports police in high-risk incidents such as sieges with specialised tactical, negotiation, intelligence and command-support services. The unit also provides rescue and bomb disposal support, canine policing, and armoury services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobility assistance dog</span> Type of service dog

A mobility assistance dog or mobility service dog is a dog trained to assist a physically disabled person who has mobility issues, such as poor balance or being a non-ambulatory wheelchair user. Roles include "providing balance and stability" picking up and carrying objects, pulling wheelchairs, opening and closing doors, and operating light switches. Mobility assistance dogs can have significant positive impacts on the lives of their handlers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autism assistance dog</span> Type of service dog

An autism assistance dog or autism service dog is an assistance dog trained to assist an autistic person manage their disability and live more independently.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sportswear</span> Equipment and attire for physical activity

Sportswear or activewear is athletic clothing, including footwear, worn for sports activity or physical exercise. Sport-specific clothing is worn for most sports and physical exercise, for practical, comfort or safety reasons.

A psychiatric assistance dog or psychiatric service dog is a sub-category of assistance dog trained to assist their handler with a psychiatric disability or a mental disability, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medical response dog</span> Type of service dog

A medical response dog is an assistance dog trained to assist an individual who has a medical disability. Typically, they are dogs whose job does not handle primarily epilepsy or psychiatric-based conditions, though some seizure response dogs or psychiatric service dogs may also be referred to as medical response.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Service animal</span> Animal to assist people with disabilities

Service animals are working animals that have been trained to perform tasks that assist disabled people. Service animals may also be referred to as assistance animals or helper animals depending on the country and the animal's function. Dogs are the most common service animals, having assisted people since at least 1927.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloodhound</span> Dog breed used for tracking by scent

The bloodhound is a large scent hound, originally bred for hunting deer, wild boar, rabbits, and since the Middle Ages, for tracking people. Believed to be descended from hounds once kept at the Abbey of Saint-Hubert, Belgium, in French it is called, le chien de Saint-Hubert.

A limer, or lymer, was a kind of dog, a scenthound, used on a leash in medieval times to find large game before it was hunted down by the pack. It was sometimes known as a lyam hound/dog or lime-hound, from the Middle English word lyam, meaning 'leash'. The French cognate limier has sometimes been used for the dogs in English as well. The type is not to be confused with the bandog, which was also a dog controlled by a leash, typically a chain, but was a watchdog or guard dog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human–canine bond</span> Interspecies relationship

Human–canine bonding is the relationship between dogs and humans. This relationship can be traced back to at least 15,000 years ago, to the Bonn-Oberkassel dog, who was found buried alongside two humans. For centuries, dogs have been considered man's best friend. This is most evident in western countries, such as the United States, where 44% of households have a pet dog.

Sherry Woodard is an American animal behavior consultant, certified dog trainer, and a star cast member of National Geographic Channel's four-season DogTown series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dog harness</span> Animal harness for a dog

A dog harness is a piece of equipment consisting in part of straps that surround the dog’s torso. It is used to guide, hold, and lift the dog or to utilise its pulling power. It reduces tension on the neck when they pull, and provides free breathing during daily walks. In sports such as mushing and skijoring, where the dog's pulling power is utilized, the harness provides effective use of force while maintaining freedom of movement. These aforementioned kinds of harnesses differ from pet harnesses in that they are specifically designed in order to allow or support a dog in the completion of a working task.

References

  1. "Types of Service Dog Gear: Vests, Jackets and Harnesses". anythingpawsable.com. February 14, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  2. "The Best Service Dog Vests And Harnesses (2020 Reviews)". Pet Life Today. December 18, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  3. "Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA". www.ada.gov. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  4. "Written evidence - Assistance Dogs Uk". data.parliament.uk. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  5. Wisch, Rebecca F (2019). "Table of State Assistance Animal Laws | Animal Legal & Historical Center". animallaw.info.
  6. "Assistance Dog Etiquette". Guide Dog Foundation.
  7. "Why Don't All Police K-9's Have Protective Vests?". April 29, 2016.
  8. "The Ultimate Guide to Tactical Dog Vests and Harnesses". thetacticalexperts.com. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  9. Bielby, Kylie (June 6, 2019). "9-Year-Old Raises $100K to Buy Bulletproof Vests for K9 Officers". Homeland Security Today. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  10. Hendricks, Larry (January 29, 2011). "A vested interest in fighting crime". Arizona Daily Sun. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  11. Chu, Elbert (May 27, 2011). "The Bulletproof Dog That Stormed Bin Laden's Lair". Fast Company. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  12. Grace, Kea (May 11, 2019). "Water Rescue Dogs and Water Search Dogs: What's the Difference?". anythingpawsable.com.