How to choose the right felling dog for your chainsaw

To find all the products discussed in my video, visit my store at WestcoastSaw.com.

[@Brian-Mondeau37]

The obvious answer is 3 point dogs because they look by far the coolest

[@OliverDiGeronimo009]

Hell yeah! I've got 'em on all of my saws!

[@nicon1011]

That was a big cottonwood. That was a great video of Jed and Jacob climbing it. Hope Jed’s family is doing ok.

[@westcoastsaw1368]

It was👍

[@chadm4229]

Was just saying that to myself

[@allthingsmotorized1885]

do you remeber what that video was called? ive been wanting to rewatch it but cant find it

[@jasonkohler-zz7mw]

One reason i really like the three point is- i run them on my smaller saws for topping and chunking IN the tree. The three point allows a longer pivot and allows the bar to exit the cut on the back of chunk being bucked more easily. Often this is happening while using my left hand to push the chunk in desired direction off the spar. Not needing to reset the dog position while cutting saves time and increases safety with one handed operation.

[@Leave_Nothing_Stock]

I was actually trying to articulate this to a customer today over messenger but never came up with a concise way of doing so. Gordy to the rescue

[@alabamamanus1]

Thank you for dumbing this down for me. I've been trying to decide which ones to buy but never understood the difference.

[@westcoastsaw1368]

U bet thanks for watch

[@Bixby-and-Buckshot]

I like the 3 point dogs for firewood - when you noodle a big round into blocks the noodles plug up in a 4 or 5 point. They fall out of the 3 points, or at least are easy to clear out. Downside for me of the 3 points is they're very aggressive, so if you have an underpowered saw or dull chain it's pretty easy to stall the saw out. But that's why you should buy powerful saws and keep that chain sharp. 🙂

[@derekoliver7045]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge Gordy, always good to learn more.

[@user-gi2ex8rw5z]

Gordy, I appreciate very much that you share your expertise with us, and thanks for the product development. Great stuff!

[@williamsolomon1307]

Excellent video Gordy! I learned a lot of the details. I appreciate it.

[@scavuman]

Excellent Video. Great insight ! This displays the level of thought behind every aspect required of a Professional Tree Feller.

[@nateolmsted899]

Love the three-point dogs they were great here in Michigan

[@groundpounder24365]

Did someone say Michigan!? 😅

[@Chasantnik]

Great advice and insight. Thanks, Gordy.

[@davidwyby]

With a long bar, one cannot make the chain too aggressive, which makes it harder to get the saw/chain to self feed…longer dogs increase leverage. Longer top dog keeps the flag and knuckles out of the log when getting to the bottom of a large buck. I like the big 7900 scimitar looking dogs for bucking. Lower ones aren’t very big so they don’t stall an aggressive chain at the start but the tops one keeps the knuckles from getting smashed. Liking the 3points on my 461. Chain is usually too aggressive and in hard wood lately, so hand feed until I get to the center dog and no stalling.

[@MrBBM1]

Great video Gordy. Lots of great info. I have a three point on my stihl. When I get a bigger saw will order another set.

[@anthanydurham3379]

Keep the information coming brother - thanks for the video

[@jamesf2656]

Super helpful. The indicating feature of the 3pt is reason alone to select it for me.

[@westcoastsaw1368]

Good choice!

[@iantaylor9840]

Thanks Gordy, great video for me as an amateur. Hadn't really considered the benefits of better dogs. All the best, Ian

[@westcoastsaw1368]

Glad it was helpful!

[@richardflagg3084]

Great explanation! Always enjoy the content.

[@kingssawshop9251]

Now, if we can just get him on Schaeffers

[@westcoastsaw1368]

Much appreciated!

[@tedneitzel]

Absolutely awesome info! Thanks for sharing!

[@marioep18]

As always the best content Gordy, now i can share this to my friends.

[@westcoastsaw1368]

Much appreciated!

[@user-ob8sb5mm8k]

One thing I love about the WCS three point dog is how good they hold in the thick bark we deal with over here

[@trevor9671]

Great video we needed this. Great product as well. I'm on the east I run the 3 points. It's not about how far I can dig in but the hold for smooth and precise cutting.

[@tuberocker69]

Got my wcs 3 points in the mail, today! Very impressed!

[@tonytribisonna9886]

Hi Gordy Great video I was bit hesitant about the 3 point, felling dogs at first. I have them on my STIHL 881 with 36 inch bar mainly used for bucking big logs like Australian red gum and iron bark the wood is pretty hard. The design of these dogs really works and makes my job so much easier. I even have them on my on my MS 661 30 inch bar they are best dogs for both these saws. Good job on the design

[@robstem6262]

I run the 3 point dogs on all of my saws, absolutely love them. they work so damn good.

[@White_devil1980]

Great information on saw dogs 😁👌 thanks the 3point would give more perspective to the cut and more control with the saw

[@troyledbetter6597]

I hope you will make more “how to” videos in the future. Thanks phor sharing!

[@westcoastsaw1368]

I will and if there is something you wanna see just let me know always open for suggestions

[@tb3687]

Have your 3s on my 461 and 362, work great on both for me 👍🏾

[@bradcordle7743]

The West Coast saw 3 point dog……the best cure for swell-butt timber. 👌 Great info on great products!

[@karlbuttler]

Awesome info Gordy, when I built my 661 Outfitted it with the Pro safety 4 points, but the Three looks like it has good advantages as well... Might have to invest in your 3 point.....k

[@timdelph9048]

Dude, thanks for the explanation on the low hanging dogs making the chain act aggressive. That's what I've always hated about the 5 points. I knew the dogs were to blame, but didn't know why. I'll also keep what you said in mind with the 3 point I have on my topping saw - start leading with the middle point because it is aggressive in the transition.

[@swagtech_]

The three point allows a longer pivot and allows the bar to exit the cut on the back of chunk being bucked more easily.

[@timtrax918artisan8]

Great information , thank you

[@justinweaver8107]

Im all caught up finally ❤❤ on ur vids

[@mike93eh]

I use 3 point dogs with 25" bar cutting up to 40" hardwood in Missouri.

[@GroundStudies]

Total facepalm moment. I have THE hardest time lining my bottom cut up with my gunning cut and getting the face to smile right out. In fact, I always end up having to break the wedge out or else I risk chasing the cut. I just realized I always use the *bottom* point of of the dog to establish the cut. As obvious as it is to see the second point is in-line with the bottom of the chain, it never occurred to me *what* was so wrong with my technique. So thanks Gordo! I love those 3-point dogs.

[@westcoastsaw1368]

Yea it will make it so easy for ya now you’ll be flingin face cuts out left and right now 😁👍

[@danmcburney3247]

Dang I just wanted to walk up shake your hand an give ya a hug 😀 great to see you and thanks for the comparison, would love to be there and try them all out 👍👍

[@interiorurbanmining1155]

I've run them all over the years. For what I do, mostly felling spruce in AK and cutting low because it's usually a skidder show, I don't feel like either of the Pro Safety dogs were ever much of an advantage over the stock Stihl dogs. I tried a set of your 3 points and the first things I noticed were that it was easier than it's ever been to line up my cuts, and no points were rocking on wood to pull the one you really want in the wood out. I can't say enough good things about them, I think I have them on 8 of my saws now.

[@jerrysmith376]

Very informative, thanks

[@hjvilhelmsen8848]

Just love when there is new from✌🏻

[@sandsock]

i changed out my husky 562 because the trees in the midwest were constantly rubbing on my chain case. i think i have 4 points, but i think it is going to save my muffler some, it seemed teh handle would get really hot from the reflected exhaust exiting. but i noticed the points just helped alot with walking the swells, when i;m trying to get flush to the ground stumps. maybe i'm a little to aggresive in dawging in and stall my chain out. should of gone for a bigger saw. thanks for putting this out

[@t-roy3438]

Good info. Thank you Gordy. I would buy some five points for my 045 super if they were available.

[@jcburch44]

Great info!

[@anuaruddinbinmohdali6362]

Thank you for the info...

[@gregbrown9271]

Nice explanation 👌

[@verteup]

Im an east coast guy that runs 3 pt dogs because we cut alot of dead trees on powerline rows. I absolutely hate husqvarnas dog design on their 40-60cc saws.

[@230e4]

Nice video. I would like to try a set of three point dogs the size of the MS361 3 pts made to fit a MS462 for the east coast. One question or comment I get all the time is "I constantly stall my saws clutch out with the bigger dogs." I see folks even cutting the bottom spike off shorter to prevent this, thus making the spikes less useful for supporting the saw. The fact that one must properly set your depth gauges and top plate angle for the wood you are cutting and this will no longer be a problem cannot be overemphasized.

[@WildAcresFarms]

It also takes guys a while to learn to drive the powerhead forward really firmly to keep the spikes from bouncing off the log repeatedly… while only applying gentle upward pressure on the rear handle to avoid bogging/stalling the saw. Humans naturally do exactly the opposite.

[@thegrayhillbilly]

The ms361 dogs may fit the 462. I know they will bolt on as I have swapped from saw to saw several dogs. My 500i which I believe are the same as 462 fit on my 260. And the dogs on my 361 for the 260. 661 dogs fit the 500 and my 260. The one thing I'm not sure of is the length on inner and outer, and I think it is just the 260, but on there, the inner and outer tips do not line up. Maybe Gody will reply with if they'd like up once bolted on.

[@westcoastsaw1368]

The 361 dogs are a little bit different in the back mounting side slightly if my mind serves me correct

[@westcoastsaw1368]

They may bolt up and work out tho 👌

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@dannywhelchel4801]

Awsome information there

[@justinweaver8107]

Im likin the 3points so far

[@DeadWoodLogging6996]

Thanx for sharing !

[@matthewcoakes8507]

Any chance you could please do a video on how to fit your west coast dogs onto a husqvarna 550xp Mark 2.

[@tbabajan]

Is that the cottonwood you all did with Jed a few years ago??? Great place to film a video is so 🙌🏻💪🏻

[@westcoastsaw1368]

It was that tree good eye 😁👍

[@travishigley3095]

Ive got your 3 point on my 660 and 500 they work well on the fir here in oregon. Your saws are really clean whats your secret sauce for getting fir and cedar gunk off

[@VegasEdo]

Just a firewood guy that runs an 044 with stock dogs. When the dogs don't engage on barky doug fit, it gets exhausting trying to push the bar through the cut.

[@Welldonetreework]

He’s like I am holding it with one finger but he’s twice my size 😂👍

[@bethanyhaskiell9116]

Wow I've never noticed until now about the leverage point I noticed the 5 point dogs puts all the pressure towards the tip of the bar and the 4 point has even pressure on the bar because the bar sits level when you come down on the log

[@westcoastsaw1368]

Yeah, you would never think it would make it cut different, but it sure does

[@donirmen4018]

Awesome. I heard you have a trick for a gas can cap using a Gatorade bottle. Please share with me. Thanks

[@TheFiremanJoe]

When will you be coming out with a bark box and air filter for the Husky 592?

[@westcoastsaw1368]

Keep your eyes open you mite see it come out 😉

[@russhall4780]

What 2-cycle oil do you guys recommend for the saws?

[@charlesmullins3238]

Your 3 point are the the skip toothsss…man those new 61s with the bling put my eyes out…I put those on my 460 yrs ago and here in Ky shorter bars and such caused em to dig too hard and lock up unless you pulled away from em..with 32” and longer something bout that distance tween the bottom dog and bottom of the bar it’d ease up but 25” I couldn’t use em…we got some thick bark too on old oaks…have y’all run into this problem Gordy?..someone spoke on it other day I just can’t remember who

[@user-tt4iz6hv7r]

Your dogs are sharp to the touch unlike a stock dog. Stock dogs don't really penetrate the wood like your west coast dogs do. Cut decent size Ontario hardwood with your 3 point dogs, the spike goes in quite far compared, realistically you're not loosing much bar length with how far the dog sinks into the wood compared to stock.

[@andrewwhalen25]

Is that a manual adjustment carb 661?

[@bird2.063]

Shorter 3 point dogs for the hardwood in europa would be really cool becaus we run the bars as short as possible... we cut trees up to 47 inches with a 20inch bar I have a 500i with your 3point dogs, barkbox and supension kit really good stuff but the 3 point dogs are a bit to long for my 20inch bar I would rally like to see shorter 3 point dogs Regards from switzerland, Remo

[@SixOFord]

I run your three points on a 462 with a 28. They are actually more than what I need for gulf coast trees and the four point may actually be a better fit for what I do. I like the three points though. I wish you made an intermediate size for the 462. Are there three points for other stihl models that will fit on the 462 that are a little smaller ?

[@Leave_Nothing_Stock]

You nailed it. I usually recommend the 462 dogs on the 500,661,etc to my east coast customers because they're scaled down. I'm sure Gordy will confirm but I believe the 362 dogs are what you be after.

[@SixOFord]

@Leave_Nothing_Stock I was thinking about trying the 362 dogs on mine. If they'll bolt up they look like they would be the ticket.

[@Leave_Nothing_Stock]

@SixOFord I don't have a 462 here right now but I just checked a set of 462 3 points on a 362. Same bolt pattern.

[@SixOFord]

@@Leave_Nothing_Stock Sweet! Do you have a set of 362 three points ? Roughly, how much smaller are they than a set for a 462 ?

[@Leave_Nothing_Stock]

@@SixOFord about a quarter inch in every dimension

[@liamluider7185]

Hey Gordy in the near future are the five point dogs going to be available for an 046 or 460

[@westcoastsaw1368]

If you give our office a call, I think they can get you a set

[@liamluider7185]

@@westcoastsaw1368 awesome thank you so much I’ll give you guys a call soon

[@Maniacal_Saw_Works]

Brand new Oregon reduced weight, rare find

[@jeremybuchanan4759]

So ... my bar is too short?

[@Nonothingnun]

Buttress roots/ root flare

[@Inal123-jg7tj]

Nyimak lur selalu hati2💌

[@dolsen4458]

I like big butts, and I cannot lie. Thanks for the tutorial Gordy. Very helpful.

[@chucklesssss7059]

3 dog or go home 😅😅😅😅 and sit next to the fire.

[@NASCAR_NEAL]

🫡🫡🫡

[@Magoot2456]

Dude its a shame to me that this Egan Clown is copying everything your designing and making! Hes copied your barkbox And your 3 point dogs. I really hate clone anything! Such a rip off to the person that came up with the original design!