Just like people, not all dogs are designed well for swimming.  Most breeds do not have the Lab’s famous webbed toes, and some breeds are in fact particularly water-challenged by their short noses and deep chests.  Some dogs are actually well-designed for the water, but don’t trust it, and their fear of not being able to touch bottom keeps them from partaking of one of the true joys of summer.  Years ago our pug Zip, built like a VW beetle, wouldn’t swim. I’d always put his life jacket on him when we went to beach just in case, and sure enough one day he trotted right out behind me and never seemed to notice that suddenly THIS PUG did not sink like a rock.  The life jacket not only kept him safe, it opened his world. From then on he swam.  Kind of slow and and low, like a tug boat, but that’s a step up from a beetle.

Just A Few Reasons Why Every Dog Should Have a Life Jacket

Even dogs who do swim well get tired. I once watched a Chessie try to retrieve a mooring buoy, which of course would not be possible because it’s anchored to the bottom of the bay. But she wouldn’t give up till her owner paddled a canoe out and retrieved their retriever. A dog like that Chessie will not know when she’s exhausted and needs to give up.  And just like people, they lose strength when their muscles get cold.

Senior dogs, with the support of a life jacket, can safely exercise and cool off, without joint pain. It brings them back to life. Having experienced that first hand, I wish every senior dog owner would get one.

We just taught our rescue mix breed Mercy to swim this summer.  Her life jacket gave her the confidence she needed – and now she’s a swimming champ.  Think about how it can build the confidence of a senior or impaired or nervous dog of any age to get in the water.  And a dog who already can swim can stay in the water longer.  And without a doubt, when you get on the boat or hanging out on the dock, be sure every being, not just the humans, has their own PFD, and that it fits well.

Our picks:

Ruffwear Float Coat™ Dog Life Jacket

Ruffwear‘s is the doggie

PFD we know the best.  We’ve carried it and sold hundreds of them since opening in 2000. As always with R

uffwear, expect thoughtful details like a strong handle optimally positioned to lift dogs out of the water. A leash clip-in point under the handle. And, reflective trim to boost visibility in low-light conditions. It’s made with a buoyant and soft, PVC-free foam for both maneuverability and comfort in and out of water.  Fits pretty much all dogs with sizes XXS to XL. Measure your dog’s girth – the widest part of their chest – to best choose size.

Canada Pooch High Tide Life Jacket

Canada Pooch‘s floatation materials are little more bendable, which means it sometimes fits the smaller doggos more closely to their core. The High Tide has high buoyancy for safer assisted swimming. That stretchy quality I mentioned above that can make a closer fit on small dogs.  Plus: a double front buckle with zipper closure, a flotation chin pad for extra head support, rust-proof aluminum alloy d-ring for leash attachment, and a durable handle with neoprene padding for easy lift.

Life jackets are on our short list of the dog products that really save lives. If you are planning on spending time on the water with your dog, or you want to teach your dog to swim, get one, and come in to our stores if you need help sizing or fitting.