How To Choose The Best Dog Life Jacket

Life doesn’t stop just for our animals. Every once in a while, you are going to want to go on a vacation. The beach is very popular so knowing which is the best dog life jacket available is essential.

It can be hard to choose the right vest, however. That is why today we will discuss some of the best dog life jackets on the market today.

Things to Look for When Choosing Your Life Jacket

We all have dogs but each one of them is uniquely different. Some life jackets work better with short haired dogs over long-haired dogs. You also should worry about the fit of the life jacket so that you can rest easy knowing your dog will be safe in the water with you.

When trying to choose the best life jacket for your dog, you should consider a few things: What size life jacket will fit my dog well? Where will my dog and I be swimming, a beach, pool, or river? Do I want a life jacket that is just as decorative as it is protective?

It is very common for dog owners to dress their dogs up in costumes. If you are one of those lovely people then it probably has crossed your mind to look for a life jacket with a design. Well, luckily there are life jackets out there just for you!

If you are wanting your dog to look cute while swimming with you, it is important to not forget about the safety of your dog. Though some life jackets have add-ons to make them look appealing (for example, a shark fin), you should not buy that life jacket solely based on the looks of it. There are a few qualifications you should look for in a good life jacket that we will discuss more about below.

For example, buoyancy is a term used a lot when talking about life jackets. It is basically how well the vest allows your dog to float. It is determined by the materials used but can differ depending on your dog's weight.

The size of the life jacket that you choose is extremely important to your dog’s safety. You do not want to buy them a life jacket that will fall off them as soon as they get in the water. Though most dogs already know how to swim, adding that extra layer of security never hurt anyone.

The reason that the size of the life jacket is so important is because getting a vest that does not fit your dog can cause major issues. If the vest does not fit snug, it can end up making it harder for your dog to swim. This can cause accidents that could put your dog at risk.

Just as important as the life jacket itself is deciding on where you should take your dog to swim. There are pros and cons to each swimming environment so we will go over that now. If you feel comfortable enough to take your dog swimming anywhere then you can skip over this section.

Everyone loves a day at the river. Your dog can love it too, but keep in mind that the current can easily overwhelm smaller dogs. A life jacket is solely meant to keep your dog afloat, not make them a better swimmer.

Both beaches and pools are relatively still waters. For this reason, they are the safest place to take your dog for a swim. You do not have to worry much about the water interfering, just make sure to keep an eye on your doggie!

Life jackets, just like for people, fit differently depending on size and body type. When choosing a life jacket, it is important to fully understand your dog’s size. Take into consideration the weight distribution of your dog.

Looking for different cues like the size of their neck and chest area is important too. Each life jacket will provide a different type of buoyancy depending on these aspects.

Going to swim often is something everyone loves to do. That is why you should be taking the amount of time you will be swimming into consideration. Durability plays a major role in picking a good life jacket for many reasons.

Swimming more than once or twice every week can put a lot of stress on the life jacket. You do not want to go for a swim, something happens, and you not be able to save your pup. Wear and tear happens to everything.

The more you use your life jacket, the less safe it will be. A lot of life jackets for dogs push the fact that they can last long for this reason. Don’t invest in something that will break after tons of uses if you plan to swim a lot.

Taking your dog for a swim is always fun. That is why it is all that more important to keep them safe! Choosing a good life jacket for your dog can be difficult, but is possible.

When determining which is the best dog life jacket for you, taking into consideration your dog’s size is important. You also want to make sure you know where your dog will be swimming and how much. Durability and visibility features on a life jacket will help you with this.

The best life jacket on our list today must be the Outward Hound Ripstop Life Jacket. With high visibility colors and a quick release button, safety is ensured if something goes wrong. It also gives your dog great freedom of movement when they are out of the water and it comes in many sizes.