Our Comprehensive Dog Life Jacket Buying Guide
Observing the current market to purchase without adequate knowledge of what you’re looking for may lead to wrong picks. Some dog owners have purchased dog life jackets that offered low value for their money. In this buying guide, we shine some light on characteristics of a good dog shark life jacket and these are what to look for when buying one:
Material Used and Buoyancy
The material used to make the life jacket determines three vital aspects; longevity, visibility, and floatation. Buy a vest that is easily noticeable owing to the color, one that offers floatation and has a long service span.
Handles and Ease of Use
Having looked at the essence of handles, look for a dog life jacket that has a handle, better for one that has an additional D-link. The two features offer great usability in terms of moving your dog around and lifting them from the water.
How Good Does It Fit Your Dog
Also, but a jacket that is well-fitting for your dog. Do not pick an undersized or oversized jacket as the former causes discomfort for your dog, and the second one may come off during swimming. If your dog’s life jacket comes off when swimming because of being too big, this poses risks of drowning for your dog.
Positioning of Buckles and Straps
The positioning of buckles and straps determines how well the jacket fits your dog. Considering the resistance offered by water when swimming, a wrongly positioned straps and buckles might not be able to hold the jacket on the dog, therefore risking coming off or breaking. Buckles should be positioned on the front and the underside parts for sturdiness. There exist other brands that have buckles on the sides and at the front, and these are also effective in securing a jacket.
3 Ways of Picking the Right Dog Life Vest
Are you overwhelmed with the numerous dog life jacket shark fin options you can choose from? Well, the first thing to note is that dogs are different and this variability is a vital factor to note when buying a life jacket. Here’s how to pick the right vest for your dog:
Material of the Jacket
While the jacket should be durable, it shouldn’t be very heavy for your dog. There are dog life jackets with too many excessive parts to the extent that they are heavy and feel like a drag when dogs are swimming or strolling. Purchase a bag that features a buoyant material to support floatation. Also, go for one with a visible color to make it easy for you to locate your dog.
Prescience and Positioning of Handles
Ensure you buy a jacket that has a strong handle that is located on the top part. The rescue handle makes it easy to pull your dog out of water or lift the pet whenever necessary such as when walking. Noteworthy, grabbing the handle should feel comfortable in your hand, therefore, go for one that has a sizable handle.
How Comfortable Is a Jacket
Choose a life jacket that fits your dog well. If you have a dog of a small breed, and you get a large jacket, this might cause problems for your dog as long as swimming is concerned. Also, check the adjustability of the fasteners and ensure they stay in position after the adjustment. With various size options available, pick a life jacket that would offer a snug fit for your dog.
The Bottom Line
Our pets mean a lot to us, and, therefore, their safety in whichever environment is essential. In the case of swimming, though dogs have a good swimming ability, the risk of drowning cannot be disregarded. It is important to provide your dog with a reliable life vest to ensure the safety of the pet. With that said, the question of which is the ideal life jacket for your dog comes to mind. Making the right purchases calls for keenness in looking for specific vital features.
The jacket should offer some degree of buoyancy to help your dog to stay afloat. The whole point of having the life jacket is to curb drowning. Therefore, your preferable jacket should help with this. It should also be strong enough, and this is determined by the strength of the material used in the design. Visibility being an essential aspect when a dog is swimming, this should foster your choice of a jacket. It is likewise essential to consider the color and the reflectivity of a jacket.
That said, the outer layer of a jacket should be reflective to some degree. Take note of these factors, and it’ll be easy to identify a good life jacket for your canine friend. How has the use of a life jacket helped you to maintain the safety of your pet while in the water? Which other life jackets have you used before or are you currently using? You can share your opinion in the comment section below.