A dog life jacket will make sure that your dog will always stay afloat on the water, no matter the situation
When you take your loyal companion with you on the water, you want to make sure he or she is safe, no matter what happens to your SUP, kayak / canoe, boat or other vessel. Your dog is always willing to look out for your safety and now you can do a little something in return by returning the favor.
I, myself love dogs, although unfortunately, I don’t have one. My girlfriend and I spend too much time working to take in a pet right now. I regularly visit my sister though, so I can cuddle her dog and play with it. If I have a family of my own, a dog will definitely be a part of it, I can’t wait!
But when this time comes I’m sure I will not be done with water sports yet and I will surely take my future dog along on the water. I will definitely equip him with a dog life jacket, for his safety and my peace of mind.
Dog Life Jacket: Why is it necessary?
Most dogs can swim very well, so why is a dog life jacket necessary? You yourself can probably also swim very well, otherwise you wouldn’t get out on the water on your paddle board or boat. But should something happen on the water, it might mean you have to swim for a long time and possible even while injured.
For a dog this is just as exhausting as it is for you. You would also wear a life vest for safety or atleast take along a Restube, so why wouldn’t you strap a dog life jacket on him to keep him afloat without getting exhausted? The chances for a dog to swim to safety are just as big as yours, so he deserves equal treatment.
Essentially all dogs that you take out on the water should wear a dog life jacket, but for certain breeds this is extra important. These are dogs that have low body fat (less buoyancy), older dogs and dogs with known health problems.
Dog Life Jacket: When do you use it?
As I have said you use a dog life jacket in basically every activity in which you take your dog along on the water. Just like humans, dogs can also get tired and drown. I have even read that about 5.000 pets drown in pools every year, doesn’t it make you sad just hearing that?
And if this can already happen in a pool, then on the bigger and wilder waters you want to be completely sure that your best friend is as safe as possible. Whenever you go out most dogs just want one thing: to stay as close to you as possible. At any cost, because they are such a loyal buddy. Then it is your task to keep him safe in all circumstances.
Whether you’re going out for Stand Up Paddling, kayaking, surfing, going out with a boat or whichever other activity on the water, ensure that your dog is wearing a dog life jacket so he will not get over exhausted during swimming.
A dog life jacket is also an ideal tool to get your dog used to the water for the first time. Not all breeds are equally fond of water or have swum before, especially if you don’t live near water at all.
The extra buoyancy offers them a feeling of safety. Often a dog life jacket also has a handy grip on the back, so you can easily lift the dog out of the water when something goes wrong.
Dog Life Jacket: what should you pay attention to?
When you start looking for a dog life jacket, you will notice that there are a lot more dog life jackets in the market then you would initially think. If you don’t have any overview of these available life jackets it can be exhausting to find the right life jacket for your dog.
That’s why below I will give you a few tips for things you have to pay attention to when purchasing a life jacket for your dog, so that your four-legged friend is as safe as possible.
Buoyancy dog life jacket
The most important aspect of a dog life jacket is of course the buoyancy, so that your dog does not sink with the life jacket on. The best life jackets have both a floating layer under the belly as well as above and on the sides. Preferably also extra buoyancy at the neck, so that the dog’s head always stays above water.
Color dog life jacket
A bright color will make the dog easier to find and also makes it more visible for boats or other water sports enthusiasts. Reflective material for extra visibility is an advantage.
Hand grip dog life jacket
I mentioned it a moment ago, but a hand grip is also a thing you’d like to have on your life jacket. This way you can lift the dog when needed, after all it is hard to lift your dog from your boat or paddle board because you cannot get your arms under the dog to lift him.
Size and fit dog life jacket
Of course the dog life jacket needs to have the right size and fit well around the body of your dog. Dog life jackets are available in different sizes, check out the size chart for the particular life jacket and measure the length and width of your dog. The dog life jacket must be comfortable, so the dog can sit or lie down without any problems.
Choose the right size, so the dog life jacket is not too tight, but also not so loose that if could fall off or which makes it impossible to lift the dog with the grip handle. Even though that second thing is not always possible when you have a really giant dog. 😉
Dog Life Jacket: how to measure the size?
As you will see later, different manufacturers use different sizes for dog life jackets. How can you best measure these sizes and which parts of the body of the dog are important to measure. Below you will find a summary of how to properly measure the size of your dog.
- Chest size: Fold a measuring tape around the widest part of the breast (often right behind the front legs) and note the size of this. Most dog life jackets use this number to determine the size of the jacket.
- Neck size: This is not often asked when buying a dog life jacket, but just in case: measure the size of the lower part of the neck, that is close to the shoulders.
- Back length: You can measure the back length from the part where the neck meets the shoulders up until about 2 inches from the tail.
- Weight: Sometimes the weight of the dog is also asked, this has to do with the buoyancy and the carrying capacity of the grip handle. Take your dog in your arms and stand on the scale together, then deduct your own weight from the total and you know the weight of your dog.
Dog Life Jacket: the best dog life jackets
Let’s move on to choosing the best dog life jackets. Now you know why a life jacket is necessary for your dog and what to look out for when choosing a dog life jacket.
Below I’ll give you some good options, so you don’t have to compare all the dog life jackets on the whole internet yourself. See which one appeals most to you and get one today if you are planning to take your dog out on the water, safety always comes first!