Dog life jackets: how to keep your dog safe in water

Updated 16/11/2023

It’s official, summer is here! And for pup parents, heading down to your favorite beach, bay, or riverbank may be the go-to option to cool down your canine. For some, picking up a dog life jacket may seem rather over cautious. Surely a doggie life vest isn’t necessary on a shallow shoreline, right? Do I really need a puppy life jacket when I have a harness for my miniature mate? Well, actually, you might.

The start of summer brings with it a lot of fun, games, and mutt mischief. But, it’s important to remember your furry best bud isn’t completely clued up on water safety. Familiar swimming spots, even in still or slow flowing waters, can still be risky if dog dads and moms aren’t paying enough attention. To make sure you and your paw-fect pal have a super summer, here are our top tips on doggie water safety and intel on dog life jackets.

A dog life jacket is a life saver

First things first, we want to make a splash about dog life jackets. The wellbeing and happiness of our beloved paw babies is the most important thing to a pet parent. Finding the perfect balance between being their protector and making sure they’re happy is a tricky one. Although life jackets for dogs may seem like an over precaution (particularly if they’re just going for a paddle), trust us when we say the doggie life vest is life saving.

It doesn’t take a huge amount of water for something unfortunate to happen. Even in familiar swimming spots, your furry friend  may encounter a problem or danger at any time. Not keeping their head above water, exhaustion, or being overly confident could cause problems for your pup and they may need help. For ease of mind, we’ve found having a dog life vest is a ‘better safe than sorry’ must have.

Life jackets for dogs, which act as buoyancy aids, come in a wide variety of brands, colors, sizes, and designs. Despite the numerous options, all are lightweight with adjustable straps and allow your dog to run, jump, and swim without restraints. Many come with grab handles, useful for smaller dogs or puppies, as well as allowing pooch parents to offer extra assistance in the water. 

Many dog life jackets come with helpful accessories, including reflective strips, mini solar powered flashlights, and even detachable foam panels. Some even come with their own attachable shark fin!

Training wise, introducing your pup to a doggie life vest isn’t complicated. If they are already harness trained, great! For those that need a bit more time, we have a list of tips on harness training your dog which also apply to dog life vest adaption.

Water safety goes beyond a doggie life vest

Whilst some breeds are more geared towards water (like Newfoundlands and Golden Retrievers who have slightly webbed paws), dogs are not actually natural swimming experts. As puppies, many are taught to swim and encouraged to build up their confidence. However, if you own a rescue, you may not have a full understanding of their swimming abilities. Similarly, if your pooch pal’s been recently sick or is in their golden years, it can be easy to overestimate their abilities.

Using a doggie life jacket will certainly help where your fur baby may become tired or encounter an issue in the water. But it’s just as important to be aware of your surroundings, as well as making sure you have all the gear.

When you arrive at your chosen paw paddling area, have a look at your environment. Take note if there are other dogs or wildlife nearby. If it’s early summer, some sea birds or water fowl may have chicks with them so they could be more aggressive than usual. Notice how strong the current or wind is - if the sea is producing huge waves or the river is moving quickly, it might be better to keep adventure pup on its leash.

As pet parents, it’s second nature for us to be on the lookout for danger to protect our favorite furry friends. But the thrill of summer can mean many throw caution to the wind, including your doggo. Be sure you or someone else is watching them whilst they wander and wade through the water.

Puppy water safety and the puppy life jacket

Clear the splash zone and make way for the puppy parade! As all puppy parents know, introducing your baby barker to the new and unknown is all part of their training. Natural swimming areas can seem pretty daunting for your miniature mut, however once they’ve found their feet, they may be keen to dive straight in. A puppy life jacket is therefore essential. Adjustable chest straps and grab handles will mean even the most Houdini of hounds will struggle to break free.

Even with their puppy life jacket on, pup parents must stay with their fur baby at all times, even on the shoreline. Not only will they learn to come to you if they are in trouble, but it will also mean you're by their side should anything go wrong. Life jackets are a buoyancy aid only and so accidents and problems can still occur if your pup isn’t properly supervised.

Recommended dog life jackets and other safety gadgets

As with any dog related activity, there are a ton of water gadgets, types of dog life jackets, and all kinds of crazy accessories to take on your doggie day out to the beach or lake. To help, we’ve narrowed down our top four water safety accessories and our favorite life vest for dogs:

1. Outward Hound Granby dog jackets

This brand of dog life vest is a favorite in the dog community. Not only is it bright and easy to spot, but its lightweight material, variety of sizes, and adjustable straps make it a comfortable fit for dogs of all shapes, sizes, and ages. As well as being on the cheaper end of the spectrum at $25.99, these dog life jackets are durable and loved by pet parents around the globe.

2. Ruffwear Lunker Floating Throw Dog Toy

Keeping dogs safe in water can be fun! Whilst strapped into their stylish new dog life vest, why not enjoy a game of fetch with this floating throw toy? Making sure your dog keeps its head above water is a key part of dog water safety, so having a floating toy will help keep them buoyant. Coming in various vibrant colors, these toys withstand plenty of playtime and are machine washable.

3. Kurgo Surf ‘n Turf Dog Life Jacket

Our second favorite doggie life vest is the Kurgo Surf ‘n Turf. Although slightly more expensive than the Outward Hound, this dog jacket boasts lifetime durability. Ranging in sizes from extra small to extra large, this dog life vest is perfect for slightly rougher waters and doggos who like to venture over rocks and cliffs.

4. LumoLeaf Collapsible Dog Travel Bowl

Despite being next to water, it’s important to remember that not all water will be suitable for a doggo to take a drink. As well as being a key tip on keeping your dog cool in summer, carrying a lightweight and foldable dog bowl should be an essential, particularly at the beach. LumoLeaf is our favorite for collapsible dog bowls as it is compact and can be used by all dog breeds and sizes. Just because your dog is playing in water doesn’t mean they’re hydrated!

Always consider, is this a good idea?

Heading to your local natural swimming or paddling spot may seem like the easy go-to for comfort on a hot day. However, be sure to go through a mental checklist before venturing outside:

• How are my dog’s energy levels today?
• Is this the first bit of exercise of the day, or is there a chance they could become tired quite quickly?
• How strong and confident of a swimmer is my dog?
• If you’re planning to head to a river, how quickly is the current flowing today? Is it too strong?
• For those heading to the beach, how high are the waves? Are they causing usually visible rocks to be hidden?
• Do I know what to do if my dog looks like they’re in trouble? How far out is too far out for me to reach them if something happens?

These are the questions many pet parents already ask themselves when planning a doggie dip. However, it doesn’t hurt to make this a regular routine and always consider if this is a good idea today. Just as you would pack your towel or sunscreen, include your dog life jacket and reflective strips in your backpack. It’s a  small habit to start that can make a big difference to your summer.

Meet our veterinary expert, Lily

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lily Richards BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lily qualified from Liverpool University in 2011 and spent 5 years as a veterinarian working in mixed animal practice. As Lily’s passion for exotics and exploring more complicated small animal medical cases developed, she stepped into small animal-only practice. By 2018 Lily was leading a busy branch of a large hospital practice with a fantastic team, enjoying working on both surgical and medical cases. Since falling poorly in 2021 Lily has found a new passion in medical writing. Sharing medical knowledge and writing for the public is a particular passion. 

We hope this information on dog water safety has been useful for you. Of course, we’re always keen to hear if our members have any additional tips, tricks, or stories they would like to share. Head to our community forum to discuss other dog water safety ideas, or anything else pet related on your mind. If you’re looking to find a trusted and canine safety conscious sitter, be sure to search for dog sitters near you to find the perfect match for you and your pup.