The most common shutter dog used on exterior shutters is the "S" scroll. 

The scroll shape, a volute, has been used in architecture for thousands of years.  Found on the capitals of  Ionic and Corinthian columns, scrolls are a comforting contour that nature creates all by herself in fiddlehead ferns, snails, seashells, and in flowers as the petals unfurl into bloom.  Maybe it's this natural subtle sliding (twisting) form that prompted someone long ago to carve them into architectural features including stair rails and in string instruments such as the top of a violin and cello.

Scroll, or "S" curve, shutter dogs have been made for over two hundred years.  Hot Iron shaped in two spirals, one reversed mirroring another forming the common "S" design, was an easy to make item for a blacksmith.  However, I do understand that it used to be The Blacksmiths Test of readiness since it was only easy for a good blacksmith to make the repetitive "S" shapes that would match.  

Eventually casting and stamping steel replaced the Old World Blacksmith's hand forged "S" curve leading to the number of variations available today.

We sell a half a dozen "off the shelf" cast, stamped steel and cut steel type.  While these shutter dogs all share the common "S" shape, the differences in each are in appearance and material :

Below are close-up pictures of each ot the shutter dogs shown above, listed from left to right.  All of the shutter dogs below except the first one ( HE7-201 ) are fully functional.  The plastic shutter dog is the only design that is for decorative uses only.

	Item Code : HE7-201 Material : Exterior Grade Plastic Size : 2.1/2" x 6.7/8" Price : $9.99 / pair Made In Pennsylvania, USA
	Item Code : HE3-254 Material : Cast Iron w/ zinc phosphate and black powder coat Size : 2.3/4" x 6.3/4" Price : $18 / pair Made In Taiwan, ROC
	Item Code : HE3-257 Material : Cast Iron w/ zinc phosphate and black powder coat Size : 2.5/8" x 6.3/4" Price : $18 / pair Made In Taiwan, ROC
	Item Code : HE6-409 Material : 304 grade Stainless Steel w/ black powder coat Size : 2.1/2" x 6.7/8" Price : $34 / pair Made In China
	Item Code : HE2-76 Material : 3/16" Steel w/ zinc phosphate and black powder coat Size : 2.1/2" x 6.7/8" Price : $20 / pair Made In Pennsylvania, USA
	Item Code : HE1-851 Material : 304 grade Stainless Steel w/ black powder coat Size : 2.1/2" x 7" Price : $22 / pair Made In Pennsylvania, USA

If an S-design is not for your home's style or even your personal preference we offer many other shutter dog designs to choose from -  Thirty-seven shutter dogs in all !

A naturally beautiful and renewable choice- Wood shutters and doors by

Kestrel Shutters & Doors, Inc.  www.DIYShutters.com  1-800-494-4321 / sales@diyshutters.com

A house with functional wood shutters but lacking shutter dogs is like a kite without a string.  Without this type of exterior hardware a louvered or panelled shutter will swing freely banging against the outside wall and window.  There is also the possibility of the shutter taking flight with a sudden gust of wind!  To avoid all of this from happening a home needs a good dog, that is, a shutter dog.

How do most bottom mount shutter dogs work?  The top end of the shutter dog comes in contact with the bottom of the shutter panel as a stop keeping the panel leaf held against the wall.  By manually rotating the shutter dog up to 90 degrees the stop tips over and out of the way allowing the shutter to pass by in order to open or close.  Once the dog is released it is designed to swing back into its balanced position on its own or with a nudge.  It's a neat and simple design that extends to being a very decorative element found in a variety of cast and wrought iron patterns. 

Installed upside-down, right-side up, and even sideways a Shutter Dog will still satisfy its purpose just as well by making an exterior shutter sit and stay.  Good Dog.      

 >Shop Now for Shutter Dogs 

Now here's a good deal for cast iron shutter hardware. We have star and flower pattern sill mount shutter dogs that only need a little bit of finishing touch up or you might just want to use them as is for antiquity.

An excellent buy at $22.50 a pair! 

Update for December 2009-  Flowers are now sold out but we do have the "arms" that can be fitted with the flower design or most any other HE2 series style at less cost then a new long-arm set.

"Long Arm" Shutter Dogs mount to the exterior window sill apron and they work especially well for a home that has a stone or brick facade. Click either picture to see these shutter holdbacks installed on a home.

Made in USA

A limited supply is available. Order now before they are all gone.

Season's Greetings

from Kestrel Shutters & Doors