Husqvarna 572XP Felling Dog (Outer)

This outer Husqvarna 572XP felling dog is the toothed spike that bolts to the front of the saw and gives the bar something to pivot on while felling and bucking. Worn or bent dogs slip on bark, which makes cuts slower and less controlled.

Why the felling dog matters

On a 70cc-class saw like the 572XP, the felling dogs do a lot of work. Planting the spikes and pivoting the saw lets you pull through a big log with the saw's weight instead of your back, and it keeps the saw from walking when you bore or set a back cut.

Teeth wear down on bark, dirt, and the occasional rock, and an outer dog can bend if the saw gets dropped or pinched. A rounded dog slips, and a slipping saw is harder to control.

Some climbers and fallers prefer an aggressive dog for big hardwood, and a worn stock dog is the first thing to check if the saw feels like it is skating across the bark instead of biting in.

Swapping it out

The outer dog mounts to the saw body with screws on the bar side. Remove the bar and chain, swap the dog, torque the screws snug, and check that nothing contacts the chain path before you reassemble.

While the bar is off, clean the bar pad, check the chain catcher, and look at the clutch cover for cracks. Small parts like the dogs and chain catcher are cheap and quick to replace, and a saw that holds its position in the cut is safer to run.

Confirm the part number against your saw's model and serial plate or the manufacturer's parts lookup before ordering, since parts can change between production runs. Find more Husqvarna saw parts here.