A dog life jacket is a must have garment for dogs who are lucky enough to go on fun trips out on boats in order to keep them safe, should they accidentally fall in the water or go chasing after some seagull and jump in!
Dogs can’t decide themselves when to don a dog life jacket!
If you are a boat owner or go on holiday on boats and have a dog, you’ll know it is great to be able to bring your dog along too to enjoy the fresh air on deck, playing on the beach or running along the shore side with you when you moor up. Whether it is your own boat or a charter, part of the safety equipment should be a life jacket for each person on the boat. Similarly your dog should have a dog life jacket too and wear it aboard the boat, when having access to the deck area, just as small children should. Adults can and do decide when to don a life jacket, children and dogs can’t!
Dog drowning accidents are common, however it is unheard of a dog drowning whilst wearing a dog life jacket. You may be thinking; but all dogs can swim, why do they need a dog life jacket? In fact, like humans, not all dogs can swim and again just like people, if they fall in the water unexpectedly, they panic, especially if the water is cold, rough or they can’t swim. Dog drowning accidents are extremely common and the largest incidence is dogs falling overboard. If a person goes overboard, you can throw them a lifebelt and reel them in with the rope, a dog would not know how to utilize a lifebelt. Unfortunately many people die too trying to save their dogs in situations where they have fallen into water accidentally or whereby the dog has swam out too far and become tired swimming back and got into trouble. It is unheard of however, of a dog drowning whilst wearing a dog life vest.
A dog life jacket is the answer to all these potentially dangerous situations above, as your dog will float with the natural buoyancy the dog life vest provides and with their head kept safely above water, there will be less chance of ingesting sea water (swallowing too much sea water can kill a dog or at the least result in illness to one degree or other). Good dog life jackets have grab handles on the back, making rescue easier too and if your dog can swim, they will do so easier and not tire before being rescued.