Best Life Jackets for Dogs.
Dogs love swimming and while many dogs are good swimmers, some aren’t. Whenever you go out with your dog on a water-based adventure, his safety and well-being should be your topmost priority. Regardless of how good your dog is in swimming, putting a lifejacket on him when you all head out for swimming is important for added safety. They not only keep your dog safe in the water but also offer high visibility with their bright colors and reflective strips. In this review, we look at the best life jackets for dogs and crucial considerations to keep in mind when looking for one.
Dog’s life jackets are available in a wide range of sizes, from extra small to extra-large. The market offers a multitude of these jackets so pet owners can have an easy time finding one that suits their pets. However, this is not always the case. Choosing the best life jackets for dogs becomes overwhelming as a result of the multiple models available. It becomes even more difficult especially if you are buying one for the first time. If you are having trouble finding the right life jacket for your pooch, this review is for you.
Here are some of the best life jackets for dogs on the market.
#1) Outward Hound Dog Life Jacket
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Outward Hound Dog Life Jacket is one of the Best Life Jackets for Dogs. Its popularly known among many pet owners because of its all-around floatation use. Compared with other similar products, this life jacket is available at a remarkably affordable price. It’s is available in a wide range of sizes and provides everything to keep your dog safe. It has been designed with the thickest foam to provide maximum buoyancy. Additionally, the foam chin panel assists in keeping your dog’s head above the water. In case an emergency arises, the dual top handles make it easy for you to retrieve the dog out of water. The reflective piping on this jacket enhances visibility even under low light conditions. While the ripstop material provides maximum buoyancy in water, it doesn’t restrict movement on land. If you are looking for a less expensive, high-quality life jacket for your furry friend, this one here is worth it. Key Features
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#2) Vivaglory Ripstop Dog Life Jacket
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If you are planning on hitting the beach or hanging by the poolside with your furry friend, you’ll need a good dog life jacket such as the Vivaglory Ripstop Dog Life Jacket. Available in 8 different colors and 5 sizes to choose from, there is a size for every dog whose chest is between 12”-38”. The sizes of this dog lifejacket are adjustable to fit more dogs. This life jacket features an easy-to-use grab handle that allows you to help your dog out of the water in case he gets stuck. The highly reflective strips keep him visible, even under low light conditions. Furthermore, the comfortable and adjustable Velcro straps, a fastening system with hook and loop fasteners, and quick-release buckles will keep your dog comfortable for hours. While the ripstop material in this jacket provides maximum buoyancy in water, it doesn’t restrict movement on land. This jacket is suitable for swimming, boating, and canoeing. Key Features
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#3) Paws Aboard Dog Life Jacket Vest for Swimming and Boating
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#4) Queenmore Dog Life Jacket
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With Queenmore Dog Life Jacket, you can rest assured that your dog is safe whenever he is in water. This is a floatation device meant to keep your pooch safe and snug while in water. It is made of high-quality oxford cloth and polyethylene foam that’s breathable, quick-drying, and tear-resistant as well. The advanced breathable mesh lining underbelly offers maximum comfort for your dog while the ultra-wide abdominal support improves safety while reducing the likelihood of injury. The Velcro tape around the neck, belly, and waist allows you to adjust the jacket to a size that fits the dog well. Furthermore, these jackets come with a buckle strap design that makes it easy for you to put it on and take it off from the dog. Also included in this life jacket is a strong D-ring hook for attaching a dog’s leash and a shark fin style that adds fun to the whole swimming journey. Queen more Dog Life Jacket is ideal for swimming, beach, pool, boating, hunting, and surfing as well making it one of the Best Life Jackets for Dogs. Key Features
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#5) Doglay Dog Life Jacket with Reflective Stripes
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Made with novice swimmers in mind, the Doglay Dog Life Jacket is all you need to help your dog overcome the fear of getting in the water. This life jacket features brightly colored fabric with reflective strips that enhance the dog’s visibility even under low light conditions. It is highly padded to provide your dog with superior buoyancy be it on the pool, lake, or ocean. This life jacket is made of high-grade polyester oxford and nylon which are both durable and very comfortable on your dog’s skin. Additionally, the breathable mesh underbelly dries quickly and allows your pet to move easily and freely in the water. An adjustable belt combined with Velcro straps makes it easy to put the jacket on and take it off. If your dog finds itself in an emergency, the heavy-duty handle at the top will make it easy for you to rescue him. Also included in this dog life jacket is a heavy-duty D-ring hook that’s ideal for attaching your dog’s leash. Key Features
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#6) Fragralley High Visibility Dog Life Jacket
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Not every dog is good at swimming. If you have a dog who is always reluctant to get in the water, the Fragralley High Visibility Dog Life Jacket will help him change his water perspective. This dog life jacket is thickly padded to provide your dog with superior buoyancy and security while in water. The jacket comes in a wide range of sizes to accommodate dogs of different sizes. You can easily adjust the size of the jacket using the adjustable belt with quick-release buckles to a size that fits the dog snugly. All the 3 colors available are bright to enhance the dog’s visibility while in water. Moreover, this dog life jacket is made with the same luxury comfort material as a human life jacket. This material is highly durable, lightweight, and doesn’t restrict a dog’s movement on dry land. A durable rescue handle helps you pull the dog out in case there is an emergency while the heavy-duty D-ring hook is perfect for attaching the dog’s leash. Make sure that the life jacket fits your dog comfortably before releasing him in the water. Key Features
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#7) HAOCOO Dog Life Jacket Vest
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HAOCOO Dog Life Jacket Vest is made of top-notch materials and comes in multiple colors and styles to meet the needs of different dog owners. If you prefer to keep things low-key with your dog, you can opt for a fairly standard life standard shape, or you can choose models with funny styles that resemble lobsters, mermaids, or sharks. Any style you choose is made from high-grade polyester oxford and nylon fabric which is durable and very comfortable. An ergonomic and sturdy rescue handle is included on the back to make it easy to lift your dog out of the water and a D-ring situated at the back gives you a place to attach a leash or tether. This life jacket is available in seven sizes to choose from and it also features two belly straps and one chest strap that keep the vest comfortably attached to the dog. Reflective strips are also included which enhance your dog’s visibility in and out of water. With extra built-in padding, the HAOCOO life jacket provides plenty of buoyancy as well as ease of movement in the water. Key Features
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#8) ZippyPaws-Adventure Life Jacket for Dogs
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All dogs love playing in the water. That’s why you need to get your favorite furry friend the ZippyPaws-Adventure Life Jacket for Dogs. Made to keep your dog safe and snug in water, this life jacket is super-lightweight yet very durable. It features a thick foam that provides superior buoyancy in any water body while keeping your dog safe. As an added safety feature, this life jacket comes with reflective stripes to enhance the dog’s visibility even under low light conditions. Available in 6 sizes, there is a size for every dog out there. If your dog accidentally gets stuck in an emergency, the built-in top handles make it easier for you to retrieve from the waters. Key Features
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Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Life Jackets for Dogs
To ensure maximum safety while your dog is out there in the water, you’ll need to get him a life jacket that fits on him properly and one with reliable floatation. With the market offering a wide range of products to choose from, here are the important factors to put into consideration when buying a life jacket for your dog.
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Buoyancy
Generally, you will need a dog life jacket with enough buoyancy to keep your dog floating on water. Top-quality dog life jackets have floatation sections under the belly and around the back and sides. Anxious dogs usually require more buoyancy since they can struggle to stay afloat in water. With such dogs, you may have to look for additional padding or buoyant mechanisms that help keep him afloat. Some dogs are also heavier than normal, so they too will require extra floatation.
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Size and Fit
Dog life jackets come in a wide range of sizes to ensure that no dog is left out. When buying a dog life jacket, make sure that you get one that’s the proper size for your dog. When your dog wears the life jacket, he should feel snug and shouldn’t have trouble relieving himself. For the perfect fit, make sure that you measure your dog’s girth and torso, then choose a matching size. The correct size of any dog life jacket is important in fully optimizing its benefits.
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Bright Colors
If your dog is going to use the life jacket in a swimming pool, it doesn’t matter so much what color you select. However, if you are planning on taking him to the open seas or any other large water body, you will be required to get him a life jacket with bright colors that draw your attention even from far. The tiny reflective strips found on most dog life jackets become super easy to miss when the waves get rough but if the jacket is of bright colors, it becomes hard to lose your dog. Brightly colored dog life jackets with reflective strips also enhance your dog’s visibility in and out of water.
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Rescue Handles
Purchase a dog life jacket with top grab ergonomic handles that allow you to pull the dog out of the water if an unforeseen circumstance arises. The handles will also double up as a lift harness in water if you have an old dog that gets tired easily. These handles will also help you get your dog on and off the boat with ease.
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Comfort and Security
The other important feature to pay keen attention to is how comfortable and secure the dog life jacket is. If the life jacket isn’t snug for your dog, he is going to hate wearing it. However, if it fits him snuggly, he is going to have no problem wearing it. When it comes to security features, there is no point in having a life jacket if it isn’t secure. Make sure that the material and buckles of the jacket are of good quality and adjustable to provide the dog with the maximum security that he should have. If you are in rough or deep waters, you are going to need a jacket with safety mechanisms that enable you to easily haul your pooch into the boat if an unforeseen circumstance arises.
Benefits of Life Jackets for Dogs
- Improve Dog’s Swimming Technique. No matter how good of a swimmer your dog is, support under the chest and trunk that’s brought about by a life jacket contributes to better swimming skills.
- The reliable buoyancy of a life jacket keeps the dog afloat. Furthermore, the rescue handle at the top helps rescues the dog in case of an emergency.
- Positive reinforcement for dogs that are reluctant to get in the water because of anxiety or fear.
- Using a life jacket helps prevent your dog from suffering from muscle aches and soreness brought about by extreme swimming exhaustion.
- Less fatigue. Dogs swimming with a life jacket on are less likely to get fatigued compared with the counterparts who swim without the life jacket on.
- Better dog’s visibility even under low light conditions.
Best Life Jackets for Dogs FAQs
Q: What Important Features Should One Look for in a Dog Life Jacket?
A: The most important features one is supposed to take into account include: proper size and fit, comfort, security, visibility, buoyancy, and safety.
Q: Are Dog Life Jackets just for Boat Trips?
A: No. dog owners should always consider wearing their dogs a life jacket whenever they go in the water, regardless of the size of the water body. Unforeseen circumstances can always arise, but with a life jacket on, you won’t have to worry about your dog’s safety.
Q: Are Dog Life Jackets Important?
A: While some dogs are great swimmers, others are not. Regardless of your dog’s expertise in swimming, he/she needs to put on a life jacket before getting in any water body. Unforeseen circumstances can always arise, but with a life jacket on, your dog will be safe and sound.
Q: Which Is the Ideal Life Jacket Size for My Dog?
A: A life jacket should fit your dog in the same manner that a harness does. It should be tight or the dog will hate wearing it. When your dog wears the life jacket, he should feel snug and shouldn’t have trouble relieving himself. For the perfect fit, make sure that you measure your dog’s girth and torso, then choose a matching size. The correct size of any dog life jacket is important in fully optimizing its benefits.
Conclusion
When it’s time for some water adventure with your pooch, you’ll need to get him to put on a life jacket. Accidents and emergencies happen when we least expect them, and a reliable life jacket will go a long way in protecting your pup even when the worst happens. All the life jackets listed above are reliable products that you can trust to keep your pet safe and secure.
See Also: Best Dog Pool Floats. Pool Floats for You and Your Dog