Dog Life Jackets – The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Hello and welcome to the ultimate FAQ guide about dog life jackets.

When it comes to the safety of your pet, one should never compromise. A dog life jacket can be a really amazing tool that helps in the training of your dog. Dog life jackets are a new thing in the market. Here we will answer all your queries related to them.

Dog life jackets work by providing some extra pounds to the actual weight of the dog, and the material used in them has a lower density than water to keep the user afloat.

Dog life jackets are worn over the chest while swimming. They have proper padding and foam material.

They add some extra buoyancy to the dogs while in water. When the dog is in water, the padding material in the life jacket keeps him afloat on the surface, so they do not have a fear of drowning.

Moreover, dog life jackets have a built-in handle to grab and a D-ring.

Figure 1: A Dog Life Jacket with Handles

Not all dogs know how to swim, so they need a life jacket.

Most of the times, dogs only use their front legs only. This might get them tired and frustrated very soon. Dogs are unsure of being in the water. That’s why life jackets keep them padded and floating on the surface of the water.

One more thing that life jackets help dogs with is that they make the dog use all four of its legs while being in the water. This keeps them from getting tired soon and also makes them feel comfortable in the water.

Figure 2: A Dog Swimming with Life Jacket

Yes, there are some rules about dog life jackets that must be kept in mind.

• The dog life jacket should be in very good condition because the animal can obviously not check that itself.
• The dog life jacket must have no holes or punctures at all.
• The size of the dog life jacket must be their exact fit.
• The D-ring must be attached properly, and the grab handle should be intact.
• The life jacket must be worn properly over the chest.

The fitting of the life jacket on a dog is checked by its weight and chest size.  There are different sizes and shapes available for dog life jackets.

Dog life jackets are never approved or certified by the coast-guards. It totally depends upon the owner how he chooses the right jacket for his dog.

First, you need to wrap the neck panels around the neck of your dog to see how much of his head stays above the water easily. Make sure that the chin keeps afloat.

Next is the belly band. Tie it around the body of the dog. Tighten it with the help of belts and straps.

Now keep your dog standing and check for all the straps being locked in place. It should be centred on his back and belly.

Figure 3: Step 1 of Fitting

Figure 4: Step 2 of Fitting

Figure 5: Step 3 of Fitting

Yes, dogs definitely need to wear life jackets on the boat.

Not only on a boat, but dogs also need to wear a life jacket whenever they come in contact with the water to avoid any kind of accident or mishap.

Even in low waters, an untrained dog might get drowned. Dogs need to wear life jackets on kayaking, racing, swimming, fishing boats.

Dogs should also be wearing life jackets when they are on water rafts or canoes.

Especially if the dog does not know how to swim or he is not trained to be in the water, then he also must not be allowed to be in the water without having any buoyancy aid.

Figure 6: A Dog with A Life Jacket on Boat

Since there are no specific life jackets approved by the Cost-Guard for the dogs but the manufacturers claim to have made them.  There are some steps that you have to follow while measuring the sizing information of your dog for a dog life jacket.

First, you need to measure the chest size of the dog. The neck size should also be checked. The weight of the dog must be checked because a heavy jacket can be really uncomfortable.

Sometimes, a casual human life jacket works for the dog and also sometimes, it might get difficult to get the perfect fit for the dog.

Different testing procedures are carried out carefully to check the suitable size of the life jacket. It also depends upon the breed and size of the dog that which life jacket will suit the dog.

Many charts are provided by the manufacturers to see give you an idea about the exact size.

Yes, in order to ensure the safety of the dog and even yourself, you must get your dog to wear a life jacket while kayaking.

Your pet should be trained enough to respond to your voice in case of an emergency. When you are kayaking, you never know when an unexpected situation arises. So, it is better to make your dog wear a life jacket.

Personal floatation devices can help a lot in ensuring safety. Life jackets are, in fact, must wear when kayaking.

Figure 7: Kayaking with a dog having his life jacket on

No life jacket or floatation device is recommended to wear all day long. Whether it is a dog life or a life jacket for humans, it should not be worn continuously.

Dogs do not have any clothes beneath their jackets. They wear it directly on the skin. So, if they keep on wearing it all day long, it might cause rashes or scars on the skin.

Wearing a life jacket all day might not let your dog’s skin breathe, and hence it might cause problems and irritation.

Yes, a dog can wear inflatable life jackets.

Inflatable life jackets are considered the most authentic and easy form of life jackets. In the case of dog life jackets, only auto-inflatables are suitable.

A dog cannot trigger or pull the cord by himself, so it is suggested to use the one that is auto-inflatable. If the dog is highly trained, even then the manual life jackets are not recommended.

Inflatable life jackets inflate as soon as the dog enters the water, but still, they should be used only for the trained dogs.

Figure 8: A Dog with an Inflatable Life Jacket

Dog life jackets are actually important because:

• Not all breeds of dog can swim. There are some breeds that cannot even be trained to swim. They must have a life jacket on while being in the water.
• Sometimes the best swimmer dogs that are even trained professionals, can get tired in the water. Dogs cannot obviously speak, so they need to have some support that can keep them from drowning.
• We never know when an emergency arrives. One should always get themselves prepared for emergencies. A life jacket can be a good precautionary measure against water emergencies.
• Water bodies are not always safe for having any activities there. There might be dirt and debris in the water. In oceans, they might be currents that can push the dug out of the sea. In order to protect the dogs, life jackets are important.
• If there is cold outside or the water has a low temperature, then a life jacket can help in keeping your dog warm. If the dog is not kept warm, the body stops functioning. A life jacket causes hypothermia, and hence it can help.
• Life jackets are important because they are a sign of your dog. In water, you can easily find him in water.
• Dog life jackets can be really helpful in training the dogs. It can make swimming lessons easier because the dogs won’t fear drowning. It boosts their confidence level.

Yes, dogs can float with life jackets.

The basic function of life jackets or other personal floatation devices is to keep the user afloat on the surface of the water when they are in the water.

Dog life jackets are made especially with the properly sized straps and the proper size and body of a dog. They have special padding material that provides the dog with some extra pounds.

It keeps the head of the dog outside the water, and hence the dog can float easily on the surface of the water even if he does not know how to swim.

Figure 9: A Dog Floating with Life Jacket On

No, it is generally not recommended to use a human life jacket on dogs.

Human life jackets have some extra padding, and the buoyancy ratings are generally higher in them comparatively.

Dogs can usually wear any kind of life jacket, but the main concern is about their size. The straps of human life jackets are usually longer to fit for a dog.

The dog life jackets are specially made to help them use all four of their legs. It has a structure that can cover the body and help them float.

Yes, there is a big possibility that a dog drowns even with a life jacket on. Dogs are not much smart. If they somehow fail to manage themselves in the life jackets, they might get drowned.

Proper training and swimming classes must be given to the dog to save him from drowning. Even then, a life jacket does not guarantee the life-saving process. It can only reduce the chance of drowning a dog.

One should himself be conscious while sending the dog into the waters.

Figure 10: A Dog Saved from Almost Drowning

There are certain breeds of dogs that are unable to swim even when trained or even with the swimming classes.  Their body is not structured for swimming. They need life jackets to stay in the water.

https://www.petguide.com/blog/dog/10-dog-breeds-that-cant-swim/

These breeds include Bulldog, Pug, Dachshund, Pekingese, Basset, Hound and Boxer.

Their anatomy and the structure of their faces makes it difficult for them to swim. Some dogs having a furry body and more hair also struggle to swim and even float in the water.

Yes, when life jackets are not in a good state, they stop working.  If the dogs are not trained, or they get bewildered in the water, this might cause some problems.

Not all dogs know to swim, so it might also stop working for them if they fail to cope with the pressure.

Figure 11: A Safe and Proper Life Jacket Meant for Dogs

Dog life jackets are considered the safe site for a dog being in the water, whether it is trained or not. They have the following advantage.

Padding:

There are unique life jackets in the market for dogs. The manufacturers claim to have made some really useful jackets for dogs, although no cost guard approves or certifies them. The most crucial thing in a life jacket is its buoyancy. It keeps the dog comfortable and floating.

Dog life jackets have been designed specifically with some less padding and still inherent buoyancy. It means that whenever the dogs enter the water, these jackets inflate to give them complete protection against any danger or a mishap in the water.

All you have to do is make the dog wear it properly, and then the jacket provides does its work magically. It helps the dog with floatation.

Easy to maintain:

The dog life jackets do not require any high maintenance. They are very easy to keep and maintain. You do not need to give any extra time to it.

If the coat is not in use even for a long time, all they need is a clean and dry storage place.

It would help if you dried the life jackets in the sunlight. They should be stored carefully at some completely dried and cool places where no moisture can reach them anyway. A single drop of water might be the reason for fungus and can destroy your jacket.

Wide variety in use:

The dog life jackets have a versatile range of use. One same life jacket can be used for training, swimming, rafting, boating, kayaking and many other purposes involving water.

They are used for a variety of water sports. Once you buy a good quality life jacket for your dog that fits his size exactly, you can enjoy its uses in various places.

Yes, there are some disadvantages to wearing dog life jackets. Here are some of them.

Hot:

The life jackets are to be worn over the whole body of the dog. They might be problematic for him during the hot summer season because they cannot let the body breathe on its own.

Moreover, they also keep his body in a certain position that helps him to swim with all four legs in use. So, the dog might not get tired earlier, but e might definitely get frustrated.

He might try to get out of it as dogs are not aware of clothing manners. This can get him in difficulty or emergency situation.

They can cause some sweating meanwhile the dog is in the water.

So, they can be pretty warm and untrained, or pet dogs might not like it.

Extra thickness:

Another problem associated with dog life jackets is that they have some extra bulk and padding material because they are used to keep the dog floating over the surface.

Dogs might not like this because, being animals, they are used to live freely in their body. They already have protective mechanisms in their body, so making them wear an extra thick piece of cloth can get them in a problem.

Irritation:

Dog life jackets must be kept as hygienic as possible because a dirty life jacket might also cause irritation.

If they are worn on the body all day long, they will eventually not let the skin breathe, and hence it might get rashes or marks on the dog’s body.

This can also make your dog irritated and frustrated. Make sure that they are trained to use it.

There is no such thing as an expiry date when it comes to a life jacket. However, the manufacturers say that a life jacket’s average lifespan is ten years if you keep it properly.

The major factors that can cause the expiry or reduce the life span of a dog life jacket are bruises, cuts, wear and tear.

The use of a life jacket in rough water conditions like frigid water can also reduce a coat’s lifespan.

However, when it comes to a dog life jacket, you must regularly check for any scratches or leaks. Moreover, if the dog is trained, then there is no need to worry about the life span of life jackets.

The harsh weather conditions or rough water conditions lead to the expiry of dog life jackets.

If the life jacket has some wear and tear, any bruises or cuts, or you think you cannot repair it properly, you should replace it as soon as possible.

Sometimes people do not replace dog life jackets because they think of them as an unimportant thing. This is totally wrong. If you are actually keeping a dog life jacket, you should take proper care, and if it is damaged, you should immediately replace it with a new one.

However, if you take great care of the dog life jacket and train your dog about its use, you can see that this jacket’s life will be prolonged enough to give you advantages.

Dog life jackets are usually very simple and uncomplicated life jackets. It is not much difficult for the owner to maintain them as they do not require very high maintenance. Instead, they can be kept in excellent condition even at low maintenance.

They do not demand proper care or any extra time, even when they are not in use.

The only thing required by a dog life jacket is that it must be dried out in the sun when used or before storage.

It would help if you cooled it properly, and one should make sure that there is not even a single drop of water in the life jacket to avoid moulds.

Dog life jackets should be checked for any kind of holes, punctures or gas leakage. Their straps, D-ring, and grab handle must also be checked.

Figure 12: A Properly Maintained Dog Life Jacket

Not all dog life jackets are auto-inflatable. However, there are no manual inflatables when it comes to dog life jackets because they cannot pull the barrier cord by themselves. No matter how much trained they are, no dog can operate a manual life jacket.

Inflatable dog life jackets are the ones that inflate by themselves as soon as they come in contact with the water. When the dog wearing the life jacket enters the water, the sensor on the dog life jacket signals it to inflate automatically.

This keeps the dog afloat on the surface of the water. It will also help them in swimming and save their energy.

Figure 13: A Padded Life Jacket

Figure 14: An Inflatable Life Jacket