If you outdoor fun involves water, you want to make sure your best friend is protected too. Your dog is your best friend, and it makes sense for you dog to wear a life jacket if you’re out for a day of sun and sea. The term dog-paddling is a bit of a misnomer as not all dogs can swim. The term is just used to describe a type of swimming stroke, not characterizing the animal. Pincers, Dobermans and boxers alike, have difficulty in the water; some dogs just don’t like to get wet and will swim only if you make the.

A dog’s natural abilities in the water vary depending on the breed, size, physical abilities and health. A pup might need a bit more coaxing, or a gentler approach, to get it in the water. Introducing the pup to water through a wading pool and slowly moving on to bigger ponds is sensible. Conditions in a wading pool are more appropriate for a water introduction. Waters are calm or gently moving in wading pools and can be less frightening for a pup. Rolling and crashing waves can cause too much anxiety in an animal and won’t ease the introduction of water to your dog.

Having your pet outfitted with a life jacket or dog life preserver can give you peace of mind while offering protection for your pet while engaged in outdoor activities. The jackets not only will keep your pet afloat if it gets in the water, it can help alleviate some stress and disorientation for the dog if it falls in. Wearing a life jacket is a smart practice for anyone, human or pet. It is wise to keep one for yourself as well as your dog in your boat, on ferries, on planes and in the car.

Don’t be surprised if your dog throws a bit of a fuss when you first try to have it wear a life jacket. It might make sense, then, to practice putting the jacket on the dog long before you reach the water’s edge. At-home comfort will alleviate some of the stress that will surely accompany the new accessory. And if your pet is comfortable with the jacket and has had a smooth introduction to water, chances are it will be more at ease later. As a result, your pet might learn to love the water, and it could be an activity you enjoy together for many years.

Be sure to consider the dog’s weight and size while shopping for a dog life jacket for your pet, and be sure to check the jacket’s buoyancy rating. The materials used in construction should be durable, breathable and light. Be smart: Don’t let your pet wear the jacket unattended; the animal could become entangled and choke.

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.