What’s a dog hook?

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Dog hooks, also known as peaveys or cant dogs, are devices with a hook on the end of a sturdy lever used in the lumber industry to move logs during cutting and transportation. They have been used since the 18th century and are typically made of cast iron or steel. Different sizes are available for use as hand tools or with heavy machinery. Extreme caution is required when using them due to the sharp point of the hook. Despite reduced reliance on them, they are still commonly used in logging operations.

Dog hooks are devices that are often used in the lumber industry. Sometimes referred to as a peavey or cant dog, a typical dog hook is distinguished by having a hook on the end of a sturdy lever. A log hook makes it easy to move logs from one location to another during the process of cutting and transporting the sections to a sawmill.

The dog hook is considered a form of the peavey. Along with the hook design, a peavey will sometimes use a spike. Either way, the fixtures make it easy to handle logs of any size by providing the ability to clip onto the body of the log and use leverage to move it into position. Both types of hook have been used since the second half of the 18th century, with some evidence that the actual origin of the dog hook can be traced back to ancient Rome.

Due to the nature of the work done with the dog hook, the body of the device is usually made of a strong metal type. Today, the use of cast iron is very common, along with some models built with steel. Generally, a cast iron dog hook is preferred in logging situations, while steel designs are often useful for use in the mill or a lumberyard.

Hooks for dogs of different sizes can be fixed. Some are designed to function as part of certain types of heavy machinery, while others are the ideal size for use as a hand tool. Due to the sharp point of the hook, it is important to use extreme caution when attempting to hook logs into the device. If handled improperly, the bounce from the attempt could make it difficult to control the direction of the hook, possibly resulting in injury.

While much of the equipment used for logging today has reduced reliance on the traditional dog hook, it is very unusual for any type of logging operation not to use hooks at some point in the process. The hooks are useful for moving logs into position for loading onto trucks, as well as helping to reposition logs once they have been loaded onto a truck bed. When used correctly, a dog hook can make tasks of this type much easier to manage and less time consuming than other means of placing logs.




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