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.
