Northwest Sportsman – August 2019

nwsportsmanmag.com | AUGUST 2019 Northwest Sportsman 141

W

hat’s in a

kennel?

Your dog

is in a kennel. Your

most prized hunting

tool, one of your best

hunting companions,

and for some hunters,

our best friend; that’s

what’s in the kennel.

When it comes to selecting a kennel

for your hunting dog there are a lot of

options. Price points vary, design and

structure are vast, and functionality

covers a wide range. For instance, the

kennels our two hunting dogs stay in at

home are different from the kennels they

ride in when on the road, and those are

different than those they occupy when

flying on airplanes.

While home kennels are safe havens

Looking To Join The

Kennel Club?

GUN DOGGIN’ 101

By Scott Haugen

for your dog to spend comfortable time

in, selecting one of these comes down

to personal preference. When flying to

a hunting destination with your dog,

airline standards determine what, er, flies.

But when it comes to driving to hunting

destinations, choosing the right kennel is

your choice, and an important one.

For most bird hunters, driving is how

we get to where we’re going. It may take

us two days to reach the hunting grounds,

and that’s a lot of kennel time for your

dog. Or you may spend two months on

the road, traveling state to state, hunting

as you go. On road trips, many hunters

simply have their dog ride in the cab

with them, either in the back seat or the

passenger’s seat. Others keep their dogs

in the back of the truck inside a kennel.

Recently, there’s been an increased

awareness of the value of kennels that are

safe for your dog to travel in. These models

have undergone extensive crash tests and

have a high likelihood of saving your dog’s

life should you get in an accident.

OVER THE PAST several months I’ve used

two kennels that have impressed me: a

Gunner Kennel and a Primos KennelUP.

Let’s take a look at each.

When it comes to safety for your

dog, no kennel on the market offers

what a Gunner Kennel does. These are

the only dog kennels that have passed

and dominated the many intensive and

comprehensive crash tests they’ve been

put through, earning these travel crates

the first five-star crash-test rating from the

Center For Pet Safety.

Gunner Kennels (gunnerkennels.com)

are the only double-wall, rotomolded

model on the market. They’ve been tested

COLUMN

When it comes to choosing a dog kennel, don’t let price be

a factor, as your four-footed hunting partner’s safety and

comfort are the top priorities. (SCOTT HAUGEN)

EASY-LOADERDog Kennels

http://www.eas

yloaderkennels.com

Bartlesville, OK • 800-853-2655

• Deuce fits smaller pickups, SUVs
  & U T Vs


• EZ-XL is for larger breed dogs &
  full size vehicles


• Vents, cold weather door covers &
  insulated covers available

TOUGH • DURABLE • LIGHT

Call 800-853-2655

Check out our website for new accessories

http://www.easyloaderkennels.com

Easy

Load e r,

Deuce

& E Z-XL

Models

• Easy Loader & Deuce accommodate
  2 dogs up to 65 lbs each


• EZ-XL accommodates 2 dogs over
  65 lbs each


• Made from High Density
  Polyethylene with UV protection


• Easy Loader fits most full size
  pickups, SUVs & large UTVs

Introducing

the

EASY XL.

For large

breed dogs.

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