Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering

  • Please go to the following link: Shop CDN

  • Please go to the following link: Shop USD

  • The quickest and easiest way to receive a price quote is online.

    Add items to your cart, then at the final checkout, instead of inputting a credit card number, there is an option to select “QUOTE ONLY”. This will bypass inputting a credit card number, and you will instantly receive a price quote directly to the email provided.

  • If you have received a price quote and are now ready to finalize your order, you can do so in many ways:

  • YES.

    K9 Storm Gear such as Leashes, ID Collars, and ID Harnesses are used by Hardly Working Dogs™ all over the world.

    We require government issued email verification for items that include agency designations and ballistic vests.

  • Contact Us or call directly 204-669-8199 (toll free 1-866-669-8199) for more info.

    These items are expensive, military grade equipment, that require government issued credentials to receive more information.

Shipping

  • YES.

    K9 Storm does business in over 38 different countries. We ship with FedEx in North America and DHL to the rest of the world.

  • We do.

    Shipping is included for all K9 Storm orders at no extra cost to the handler.

  • K9 Storm does not collect or asses duties or taxes outside of Canada.

    If located in the USA, there are no duties, tariffs, or tax collected.

    If located in Europe, Australia, or other parts of the globe, you are responsible for payment of all duties and tax, such as VAT, directly to your government. Payment is assessed and collected by DHL upon shipment based on your specific countries rules and laws, not by K9 Storm.

  • All K9 Storm orders are shipped EXPRESS via air transport.

    On average, most packages arrive in 2-5 business days, even to overseas destinations. You will receive a tracking number by email when your gear is officially shipped.

Sizing & Fit

  • Sizing Kits are shipped once your vest order is finalized.

  • Every K9 Storm Vest is precision-fit in 27 different locations on your dog’s body, using our proprietary Sizing Kit.

    The process looks like this:

    1. Order is finalized (Payment by credit card, wire transfer, check, or PO#).

    2. You will receive a text message from K9 Storm arranging the delivery date & location of the Sizing Kits.

    3. Sizing Kits arrive.

    4. You watch a short instructional video on how to size your dog correctly.

    5. You put the Sizing Kit on your dog, take 6 photos, and upload the photos to an online form. (Examples of all 6 photos required are on the form - just follow the step-by-step process)

    6. Submit form.

    7. Receive confirmation from K9 Storm that the form is 100% complete.

    8. Send back the Sizing Kit using the prepaid and prelabeled shipping package, provided with the Sizing Kit.

    9. K9 Storm receives Sizing Kits back and starts building your actual K9 Storm Vest

    10. Completed K9 Storm Vest is shipped to your location.

  • 5-10 minutes.

    Watch the instructional video that is provided with the Sizing Kit to complete the process with ease.

  • NO.

    Sizing Kits are reusable. For teams with multiple dogs, you will often receive anywhere from 1-4 different kits that range in size for all dog on the team to use.

  • DO NOT send the Sizing Kits back without first receiving approval from K9 Storm by email.

  • 6-10 weeks from the time we receive the completed Sizing Kits back at our location.

    Once you receive APPROVAL from K9 Storm to send the kits back, do not delay. Vests are built in the order that the Sizing Kits are received. Your vest WILL NOT be started until the Sizing Kits are returned.

  • We recommend sizing your dog when they are fully grown and at their optimal working weight. Typically, the minimum age for sizing is 1.5 years old.

Vest Performance

  • YES.

    Read our most recent SAVED stories, here.

  • 3.5 lbs. on average.

  • YES.

    K9 Storm Vests are designed to be worn for all calls, 24/7.

  • Most dogs adjust to working in their K9 Storm Vest with little to no time needed. Regardless, we recommend positive conditioning when putting the vest on for the first time. Letting them do their favorite activity such as chasing a ball or bite work is the easiest and quickest way to achieving success.

    Over time, their vest will cause true excitement every time because it will be directly tied to their true favorite activity:

    Going to work.

  • YES.

    Just like a favorite pair of jeans, daily use softens the entire vest making it more flexible.

  • NO.

    K9 Storm Vests fit like a second-skin. Your dog will be able to run and jump with a full range of mobility and agility.

  • 2,500 lbs.

  • YES.

    All K9 Storm ballistic vest models starting in 2021 are positively buoyant. This means that in water your dog will not be weighed down.

    Please Note: The vests DO NOT make your dog a better swimmer. Handler’s must always monitor their dog in water.

  • Threat Level II Ballistics (9mm & .357 mag)

  • NO.

    There is no official NIJ certification standard for working dog body armor.

    While our ballistic panels are designed to meet NIJ 0101.06 standards, the finished canine vest itself cannot receive an official NIJ certification label like a human vest can.

  • K9 Storm ballistic panels are highly resistant to many edged weapons commonly encountered during real deployments and can significantly reduce or prevent injury.

    Want to learn more? Watch our Stab Test video - to see how it stacks up against real world edged weapons.

  • NO.

    K9 Storm is the only proven K9 vest on the market shown not to increase a dog’s internal body temperature.

    Watch our in-depth Heat Study Video to see why.

  • Any working dog can suffer heat-related injuries if pushed beyond their limits in extreme conditions.

    However, K9 Storm is the only proven canine vest on the market shown not to increase a dog’s internal body temperature during deployment conditions.

    Whether your dog is working in a K9 Storm Vest or not, handlers must always monitor their dog for signs of heatstroke with a focus on:

    • workload

    • environment

    • hydration

    • recovery time

    Watch our Heat Study Video for a full explanation on this topic and more.

Daily Use & Maintenance

  • Watch How to Put On Your K9 Storm Vest.

    Step 1: Attach the Neck Strap Buckle
    Step 2: Guide Dog’s Legs Through The Arm Holes
    Step 3: Align the Zipper & Slowly Close
    Step 4: Undo Neck Buckle, Zip Up Vest to the Top, Close Zipper Tab
    Step 5: Attach All 3 Buckles, Make Final Strap Adjustments

  • Alignment.

    99.9% of zippers are damaged by forcing the zipper closed when the vest is not properly aligned.

    Never force a zipper closed. Take 0.5 seconds to align your vest FIRST before zipping it up to prevent broken pull tabs or teeth.

    Watch How to Put On Your K9 Storm Vest for more tips and tricks.

  • Pressure wash on a wide spray or hand wash with warm water and a gentle hand soap, then hang to dry.

    Harsh dish soap is not recommended because these soaps are designed to strip the oils out of everything and will strip the color out of your vest too.

  • NO.

    Do not remove the internal panels from your vest. The panels fit like a jigsaw puzzle inside the vest and are challenging to remove and reinstall correctly

    The panels are encased in waterproof pouches, so they do not need to be removed from the pouch for cleaning.

  • YES.

    After any water crossing, it’s important that your vest is thoroughly rinsed with fresh water, especially around salt water environments.

    Hose down your vest after any water deployment to prevent unnecessary damage to the materials and buckles.

  • We don’t recommend washing your vest in a machine, not because it wrecks the vest, but because the buckles banging around in the drum can potentially damage your machine.

  • While we cannot guarantee success in removing the smell of skunk, many handlers have claimed positive results with the following product not affiliated or guaranteed by K9 Storm.

Electronics Integration

  • Aerial Insertion Vest. (Shop CDN | Shop USD)

    This vest includes all the required Slide Lock Rail mounts to operate K9 Storm Electronics.

  • YES.

    We are a dog company making electronics, not the other way around.

    This puts emphasis on simplicity in the field from the handler perspective making your life much easier when it comes time to actually use the equipment.

    Want to learn more? Watch the Intruder Features Video or the Commander Features Video for an in-depth look at the products.

  • YES.

    They are designed to meet IP67 standards (1m underwater for 30 minutes).

Repairs & Warranty

  • K9 Storm Gear is backed against manufacturing defects and structural issues related to materials or workmanship for the life of your dog.

  • The lifetime warranty does not cover cosmetic damage or normal wear and tear that does not affect the structural integrity or performance of the equipment.

    Examples include:

    • Fading of materials or colors

    • Scratches on buckles, hardware, or fabric

    • Dirt, stains, or odors

    • General wear associated with normal deployment and training use

    Damage caused by dogs chewing their equipment is also not covered under warranty.

  • Handlers can buy optional “Bite Damage Warranty” for all K9 Storm Gear at the time of purchase. If a dog chews an item, K9 Storm will repair or replace it at no extra cost to the handler if Bite Damage Warranty is purchased. If not, handler’s will be provided with a quote on what it costs to repair or replace the bitten equipment.

    Repairing bite damage is costly because it often ruins the equipment’s structural integrity, requiring full replacement.

    For example:
    Replacement cost of fixing Aerial Insertion Vest with Bite Damage Warranty coverage = $0 usd.
    Replacement cost of fixing Aerial Insertion Vest without Bite Damage Warranty coverage = $500-$4,804 usd.

  • 5 years.

    This is the same standard as human body armor.

  • Please go to www.k9storm.com/repairs

    Once the form is filled out, K9 Storm will assess the damage then provide return documents or a price quote to fix the damage via email.

Contact Us

  • K9 Storm Inc.
    620 Nairn Ave.
    Winnipeg, MB. R2L 0X3
    Canada

  • Office: 204-669-8199
    Toll Free (North America only): 1-866-669-8199

  • sales@k9storm.com

  • Monday-Thursday: 7:30am-5:30pm CST
    Friday-Sunday: Closed

    K9 Storm has planned factory shutdowns during spring break, summer, and Christmas. Upcoming holiday closures are updated in the footer below.