Summertime is here, and it’s filled with enjoying fun water adventures. This leads us to be concerned about the safety of our children, but not so much our pets. Not all dogs know how to swim, and many can find water intimidating or frightening, which can become very dangerous if a dog falls in and begins to panic. In these situations, a dog life jacket can make dogs feel safe and more comfortable around water. A doggy life jacket is a great investment for canine friend, so follow these tips to choose the right one!

Flotation Padding

Make sure that your dog’s life jacket has more foam flotation on the top than on the bottom. Proper flotation placement will help your dog into the safest position to allow them to swim correctly. Padding on the chest strap has dual benefit of preventing your dog from being choked if you must lift them, and helps hold their head above water when swimming.

Handles

Make sure that the handles on the life jacket are accessible to you in case your dog needs to be lifted out of the water. These handles should be integrated and very secure, and also run under the stomach.

Form vs. Function

Be aware of life jackets that are designed for style more than function. Look very closely at how the life jacket fastens, and how the handles are attached to the life jacket. It’s ideal to have more than one type of connection, such as Velcro AND a buckle strap across the dog’s stomach. This allows an extra level of safety in case you need to pick your dog up with the handles.

Need advanced training for your dog or puppy? Sign them up for obedience classes! See our schedule here or call Ida at 1-617-296-1711.