Are you taking your dog away with you this year? If you’re going to the beach, a lake, a canal holiday, or anywhere with deep water or water with strong currents, you should consider getting your dog a life jacket.
Are Dogs Required to Wear Life Jackets on Boats?
As with humans, dogs are required to wear life jackets on boats. Should your dog fall overboard, the jacket will keep them afloat, giving you valuable time to get them out. Dog life jackets have grab handles so you can easily pull your dog out of the water.
Are Dogs Natural Swimmers?
People often assume that dogs are natural swimmers, but this is not always the case, some breeds of dogs don’t like the water, and others can find it difficult to swim and tire easily.
How Tight Should a Dog Life Jacket Be?
Make sure the life jacket fits snuggly but not overly tight. As you do with a collar, allow enough room to fit two fingers between the neck area of the jacket and your dog.
Let’s take a look at some popular dog life jackets…
Ruffwear Float Coat Life Jacket
Ruffwear Float Coat.
The Float Coat jacket has an updated design for 2021 with an improved lightweight shell fabric with a softer inner foam layer and lovely bright new colours.
The jacket is easy to put on as it has to clip fastening under the belly and secure neck closure. It has a strong grab handle for helping dogs out of the water and lifting them off boats. The material is abrasion-resistant and adapted from mountaineering technology.
VIVAGLORY Ripstop Dog Life Jacket
VIVAGLORY Ripstop Dog Life Jacket, Reflective Dog Life Vest with Enhanced Buoyancy & Rescue Handle.
This life vest comes in plenty of bright colours, all with reflective trims. You’ll be able to spot your dog in and out of the water quickly.
There’s a durable grab handle making it easy to pull your dog out of the water in an emergency and a D-ring to attach your dog lead to. Adjustable straps ensure the perfect fit and keep the jacket secure on the dog while in the water. The vest is easily removed with the quick-release buckles.
K9 Pursuits High Visibility Easy Grab Float Coat Life Jacket
K9 Pursuits High Visibility Easy Grab Float Coat Life Jacket.
With double handles, you can easily grab your dog out of the water when wearing this life jacket. The float coat also has multiple reflective strips for great visibility.
Should your dog become incapacitated, the chin float helps keep your dog’s head out of the water.
EzyDog X2 Boost Dog Lifejacket
EzyDog X2 Boost Dog Lifejacket.
The EzyDog X2 Boost DFD does not hinder your dog’s natural movement and can be fastened and removed quickly and easily. This is the second generation of EzDog’s best-selling Dog Life Jacket with an improved fit.
ThinkPet Dog Life Jacket
ThinkPet Adjustable, Reflective Dog Life Jacket.
This life jacket is easy to pull on and off and provides considerable buoyancy to help your dog move freely in the water. Ideal for swimming training.
Shark Dog Life Jacket
Petacc Dog Life Jacket Adjustable Shark Dog Swimming Vest.
I couldn’t resist adding this because it’s so cute! This dog life jacket will help your dog spend more time in the water without tiring. Features a shark fin for a bit of fun, sure to bring smiles to onlooker’s faces.
The self-adhesive straps wrap around the abdomen and neck securely. There’s a grab handle to pull your dog out of the water quickly too.
There are many different styles of dog life jackets available. Always measure your dog and read the manufacturer’s fitting guidelines. It helps to look at other people’s reviews of each jacket to see how they have faired.
