Keep your fur-st mate safe on the water. Dog life jackets (also known as dog swim vests or floatation vests) are a must for every puppy learning to swim and every dog going out onto the open water.
If you’ve never purchased a dog life jacket, here are a few quick tips to get you started.
- Make sure the life jacket has a handle. You can use that to guide your dog in the water when he’s first learning to swim, and it’s much easier to grab him if he starts to sink or panic.
- Similarly, you want a jacket with a D-ring so you can attach a leash to it. This will ensure an over-eager dog doesn’t get too far away from you in the pool. And again, it’s much easier for you to pull him out of the water if you need to.
- Always train your dog to wear a life jacket before its needed. Put it on him inside the house and let him get comfortable. Give him a treat while he’s wearing it so he associates it with good things.
Have a swimming pool in your backyard? Find out more about pool safety for dogs.
Now that you know what to look for and how to get started, here are the best dog life jackets as reviewed by users on Amazon. (To be included in our roundup, a life jacket had to have a rating of more than 4 out of 5 stars and been reviewed more than 250 times.)
RUFFWEAR Float Coat (4.8/5 stars; 780 reviews); $79.95
The highest-ranked life jacket on Amazon is this “float coat.” The jacket fits snugly, holding your dog in an upright position to make paddling easier. It has a telescoping neck closure that can fit a variety of head shapes and easy-to-clip buckles hold all the straps in place. Reflective trim makes the float coat perfect for early morning kayak trips, but are less important at the pool.
It does not have a D-ring, and its popularity means it goes out of stock quickly and is not always available in every size/color combination.
Vivaglory Sports Style Ripstop Dog Safety Vest (4.7/5 stars; 1,639 reviews); $21.99 – $44.99
We’re fans of this life jacket, which is available in five sizes and nine colors. The sports-style design won’t hinder your dog’s natural movement. The neck strap is flexible to fit small to thick necks and is positioned in such a way as to keep your dog in a natural swim position. It has both a handle and a D-ring, and also features reflective strips.
EzyDog Doggy Flotation Device (4.6/5 stars; 460 reviews); $55
The makers of this doggy floatation vest claim it’s made with 50% more buoyancy material than most other pet life jackets on the market. It comes in five sizes and three colors, and has a grab handle, nylon D-ring, and reflective strips. Reviewers with bigger dogs seemed the happiest with it.
ASENKU Dog Life Jacket (4.6/5 stars; 362 reviews); $23.99 – $33.99
We admit, a large reason we’re smitten with this doggy life jacket option is the shark fin that pops out of the water when your pup is swimming. But it also features an adjustable belt and quick-release buckles that make getting it on and off easy. It’s also got a grab handle and sturdy D-ring. The ripstop polyester is windproof, making it a good cold-weather coat choice as well. It comes in six sizes and four-color options, though only three have the shark fin.
Outward Hound Granby Splash Dog Life Jacket (4.5/5 stars; 6,856 reviews); $16.20 – $44.99
Outward Hound’s dog life jackets are made to be comfortable on land and in the water. As with all other doggy floatation devices, it features a front neck float that helps keep the head above water and your dog’s body in an upright position. Unlike most other life jackets, it has dual grab handles making it easier to pull your dog (especially a big dog) out of the water. The Outward House jacket is available in five sizes, but only one color — a bright orange.
Paws Aboard Dog Life Jacket (4.4/5 stars; 1,974 reviews); $23.58 – $33.75
Made of quick-dry, breathable neoprene fabric, the Paws Aboard life jackets are lightweight and flexible making it comfy for your pup to wear. It’s got a grab handle, adjustable collar, D-ring, and a mesh underbelly that won’t cause chafing. It’s available in six sizes and eight fashionable colors/designs.
HAOCOO Dog Life Jacket (4.5/5 stars; 754 reviews); $13.99 – $31.99
One of the few brands that comes in seven sizes, ensuring you’ll find one to fit just about any dog size or shape. Features include an adjustable belt, quick-release buckles, grab handle, heavy-duty D-ring, and neck float strap. Eight color and design choices include pink polka dot, blue bones and paw prints, and a purple and pink with a mermaid tail.
Queenmore Dog Life Jacket (4.4/5 stars; 518 reviews); $25.99 – $30.99
Available in five sizes and three styles, this is one of the lower-cost options out there. Made of cloth and buoyant foam, the life jacket isn’t as durable as other options but should be good for a single summer season. It’s got adjustable nylon straps and quick-release buckles and a Velcro fastening system around the belly. We’re not particularly thrilled with the plastic grab handle and D-ring. Also, most of the higher ratings are from people with smaller dogs.
*Prices were accurate at time of writing but are subject to change.
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