A good dog life jacket is an absolute necessity for the safety of your dog when near water. Many dogs and their owners are wonderful swimmers. The dogs that love to swim are usually of a certain type of breed. In truth, not all dogs actually know how to swim, even though people think they can. In order to protect your dog from drowning, you want him to wear a life jacket that is designed for dogs, and use good common sense anytime your dog is around the water.

Many factors can have an effect on your dog. The first thing you want to consider is what the water conditions will be. You want to see if the water will be fast moving, if there will be tall waves, or if the National Weather Service has warned about Rip Tides. For those taking their dog to the river, you want to consider what kind of rocks or drop-offs your dog might have to negotiate. You also want to consider if there will be people around that could cause your dog to get too excited. You even want to consider what wildlife may be along the shore or if a fast moving boat might cause large wakes which your dog has to deal with. Any of the above situations could mean your dog could unexpectedly fall into the water and/or not be able to get back to shore.

As with humans, each dog has a different swimming ability. There are some that truly love the water and are natural swimmers. Others tolerate it when the factors are right, and still others who are just terrified of it. Even if your dog is a good swimmer, he could start to have problems as he ages, gains weight, or gets sick. Also, larger breed dogs could develop hip or joint problems and end up having difficulty manoeuvring in the water. A breed of dog that is very lean and has very low amounts of body fat can have difficulty staying afloat. Most importantly, you should realize that a sudden fall into the water can make your dog very anxious and fearful, which inhibits him from knowing what to do.

Not only can a dog life jacket provide a measure of safety, but it can also give you a little piece of mind. Most importantly, the dog life jacket will enable you dog to stay afloat until he can be rescued. In order to prevent drowning, it is crucial that your dog can stay afloat. If your dog falls overboard or off a dock, he can quickly become disoriented and full of anxiety, which will fatigue him quickly. If you are in an area with fast currents, even a good swimming dog may not be able to get back to the boat. Putting a dog life jacket on your pet is the best way to keep him afloat until help can reach him.

When using a dog life jacket follow these common sense guidelines: First, always know where your dog is and what he is doing while he is in a life jacket. With the life jacket being something the dog is not completely used to wearing, he could try to chew trough it or become entangled in it. You also want to be aware that when in direct sunlight and out of the water, your dog can become very hot. You want to make sure your dog is not overheating. Finally, you want to make sure that the dog life jacket you purchase is the correct size and buoyancy for your dog. Dogs come in more shapes and sizes then you may realize, so be certain you choose a life jacket that will incorporate both your dogs weight and length. In order to be certain that your dog is safe during any and all water play, make sure you purchase a quality dog life jacket of the right size and learn how to fasten it on your dog in the correct fashion.

Dogs should be placed in a life jacket whenever they are going to be in water or around any water source, like ponds, beaches, and pools. By putting a life jacket on your dog, you will know he/she won’t drown. A life jacket for a dog come in a large variety of sizes, from XXS to XXL. An XS jacket is designed to fit small dogs like Pekingese, toy poodles, Bichon, and Silky, which all fit in a range of 7-15 pounds in weight. If you have a smaller dog, like Chihuahuas, Yorkshires, and Pomeranians, you will want to purchase an XXS jacket. If your dog is slightly larger, 15-20 pounds, like the Welsh Terriers, Dachshunds, and Russel terriers, you will want to purchase a small life jacket. Similar to how human clothing are sized, a bigger dog will require a bigger life jacket, and a smaller dog needs a smaller life jacket.

Most dog life jackets are equipped with a quick grab handle, which is located at the top of the jacket. This will allow you to quickly save your dog if he/she is in trouble. You want to choose a dog life jacket that is NOT made out of neoprene. This type of jacket can cause your dog to overheat and lead to rashes and chafing. The life jackets that are manufactured for dogs today are designed in a way that the dry and drain quickly.

You need to use a life jacket on your dog even if he can swim and loves to be in the water. The life jacket will keep your dog safe if he/she should get tired or be overcome by sudden cramps. Remember, dogs that are overweight, old, or sick tire quicker than healthier and younger dogs. With this in mind, be certain to use a dog life jacket to protect them. Dogs, just like humans, tire to the point where it is hard to keep their head above the water, and should your dog reach this point, the dog life jacket can save them. The materials that are used when manufacturing a dog’s life jacket are durable, breathable, and buoyant. Make sure you introduce your dog to water in a safe manner, especially if he/she is a puppy. If you do this in the proper manner, you will allow your dog to feel safe and secure while splashing and playing. It will also decrease his/her anxiety on the next visit to the water. It can be uncomfortable for your dog the first time you put him/her in a dog life jacket, so be sure to allow him/her to get used to it before putting him/her in the water.

You can find dog life jackets in a large variety of colors, designs, and sizes from both online and land based stores. Make sure you purchase a life jacket that is suitable to the size of your dog both according to weight and according of the length of your dog, from the base of his/her neck to the base of his/her tail.

In North America it is estimated that there are currently 58 million dogs and 62 million cats. Unfortunately, every year thousands of these pets drown. Due to the fact that many people do not report these drownings, there is no way to know exactly how many pets actually die this way. It is true that 99% of dogs can swim, but this can give us a false sense of security as we enjoy watching our dog run and jump in and out of water at the lake or our backyard pool. The reason for this is that most dogs (and a few cats) grow very tired after only swimming very short distances. With this in mind, these animals go into a panic state when they are unable to quickly find a way to get their paws on solid ground. This panic is what causes them to drown. On top of the pet deaths, there are also pet owners who have drown because they have jumped into a frozen lake or fast moving river in an attempt to save their family’s pet.

How can we prevent our pet from suffering this horrible fate? Take these tips into consideration:

1. Do not take for granted that your dog (or cat) can swim.

2. Keep a closer eye on a pet that is getting older. As a dog gets older, his endurance decreases, and he can’t swim as far.

3. Do not throw your dog or cat in any type of water. The shock of hitting the water will cause them to panic immediately.

4. Consider buying a canine flotation device (CFD) or similar pet life jacket for your dog or cat if you are going to be around water. You want to make sure they have it on any time the are close to water. There are many times that a pet has fallen off a dock or moving boat without anyone knowing.

5. Things like solar blankets and pool covers appear to be a solid surface for your pet. Whenever your pet is around the pool, take the time to remove such things.

6. It is a good idea to use a pet safety gate near any pool area.

7. Be sure that your pet can not easily get into any neighbor’s pool.

8. Install a pool alarm in your pool or pond.

9. Keep your pet from playing or walking near any body of water that is moving quickly.

10. Make sure your pet stays away from frozen lakes and rivers.

There is a ton of guilt that comes from having to watch your pet drown, and a person can never fully recover from having to go through that experience. I highly recommend that you go out and inspect your property for any water hazards. It doesn’t matter if it is winter or summer where you live. Go fix any water hazards NOW, and protect your pet from a fate of drowning. Plus, if you are taking your pet anywhere near water, assure that a canine flotation device or dog life jacket is worn.

When buying a dog’s life jacket, you have to make sure the jacket meets all your dog’s needs.

There are a variety of dog life jackets available on the market today, but the most important consideration is the size of your dog. If you buy a jacket that is too big in any way, your dog could slip out of it or get entangled in it while he/she is in the water, causing him/her to drown.

It can be very tempting to overlook size, in order to get one of the trendy colors or designs available on the market today. However, do you really want to put your dog at risk, just to so that he/she can look good? Once you are sure that you have the right size, you want to make sure the dog life jacket you purchase has a color that is highly visible, so it can be easily seen in the water. You want to always know where your dog is when he/she is in the water.

For standard water exposure, you want to purchase a life jacket with a breathable mesh underbelly, that will drain and dry better. This will allow your dog to have more comfort and to have healthier skin than the traditional ones made from neoprene. A neoprene life jacket can cause heat exhaustion and chaffing. However, if your dog is going to be swimming in colder water, the neoprene belly will allow for extra warmth.

You want to also make sure the dog life jacket that you purchase has a handle on the top which can be used to quickly grab your dog should an emergency situation arise. You also want to be sure that the straps on the dog’s life jacket are easily removable. The best ones are the ones that have quick release buckles or are made from Velcro.