More and more dog owners come across this new trend: paddle boarding with dogs.
Dog life jackets are becoming increasingly popular.
In most conditions, there is no obligation to put a life jacket on your dog, but it is still extremely useful, as you are usually further away from the shores when paddleboarding and other water sports.
If there are waves or bow waves from passing ships, even experienced paddle boarders will not be spared a dive.
Dog life jackets take the worry about your dog away from you. In addition to the buoyancy of the life jacket, these vests offer very good visibility due to their bright colors.
That’s why your dog should wear a life jacket when you take him out for paddleboarding.
Table of Contents
Best Dog Life Jackets
- SIZING BASED ON GIRTH: Dogs come in all shapes and...
- SPLASH WITH SAFETY: The Outward Hound Granby Splash...
- NOVICE & EXPERIENCED SWIMMER-FRIENDLY: The Granby...
- MULTI-HANDLE DESIGN: Dual grab handles make it easy to...
- Waterproof Breathable Material: This dog life vest is...
- Sizes Fits Most Dogs: The dog life jackets for dogs are...
- Rescue Handle& Reflective Strips: The dog float vest...
- Stylish&Eye-Catching Design: The dog flotation vest is...
- Improved fit: Our new PVC-free GAIA foam panels are...
- Adjustable neck: The telescoping neck closure adjusts...
- Made for the water: Our water-compatible webbing...
- Safety first: Features a strong, low-profile handle for...
- MEASURE BEFORE PURCHASE: before choosing a size, please...
- New Sports Style Design: Exclusive patented...
- Safe Material: The materials of Vivaglory dog life...
- High Visibility: Designed with bright colors and...
- New-Style Upgraded Designs: The dog life vest is...
- General Pratical Designs: The dog floatation vest is...
- Sizes Fits Most Dogs: The dog life jackets are...
- Waterproof Breathable Material: The dog life vest for...
- 【American Flag Dog Life Jacket】Cute Dog life...
- 【Strong Buoyancy】Our dog life vest for swimming...
- 【Tear Resistant Waterproof Material】Made of 600D...
- 【Easy On and Off】Adjustable belt and quick-release...
- PREMIUM MATERIAL: This dog life vest is made of high...
- SIZES AVAILABLE: The pet life jackets are available for...
- CONVENIENT RESCUE HANDLE: The dog float coat features a...
- STYLISH & EYE-CATCHING DESIGN: The pet floating jacket...
- SAFETY - Cozy and secure fit with constructed buoyancy....
- MULTIPLE SIZES - Paws Aboard Dog Life Jackets are...
- CONVENIENT - We've included a handle on top of the life...
- VARIOUS COLORS - Make a splash with our dog life...
- 6 Sizes available for this pet swimming vest: XS, S, M,...
- Durable Fabric with Superior Flotation: The...
- Top Handle & Leash Hook for Rescue: Kuoser puppy life...
- Quick-Release Buckle & Exquisite Workmanship :...
- Waterproof Breathable Material: The dog life jacket is...
- Unique Upgraded Designs: The dog life vest is...
- General Pratical Designs: The life jackets for dogs is...
- Sizes Fits Most Dogs: The dog life jackets are...
- UNIQUE DESIGN:The EMUST dog life jacket design bright...
- AVAILABLE FOR SIZE:The small dog life vest is of 5...
- SAFT MATERIAL:The ripstop dog swimsuit is made of...
- PERFECT DETAIL:The dog life preserver with durable...
- 🌊【High Flotation Dog Life Jacket】Kuoser dog life...
- 🌊【Safe & Protective Dog life Vest】The top of the...
- 🌊【Adjustable Dog life Preserver】The dog life...
- 🌊【Reflective Dog Safety Vest】 Kuoser dog safe...
How to get your Dog on a Paddleboard
First, it is important to understand that dogs are naturally able to swim.
Because of this, a life jacket, can cause a restriction in healthy dogs who go swimming from time to time.
First and foremost, think about what tricks and learning sequences you can use to get your dog on your paddle board. Patience and trial and error will help here. For example, take your paddle board out of its suspension and place it in your room.
Stand or sit on it and get your dog to follow you onto the board. He or she will surely sniff the board first and, depending on his or her character, take a shorter or longer time to come to you. Then you can bring the board out into the open and try the same thing.
A very good practical example comes from Jenny, 32, mother of a daughter and owner of four Dobermans. With her dog she has
“…started practicing bit by bit, sending her over hurdles and wobbly things, and at some point I sat on the board and lured her onto it with food.”
Advantages of Using a Dog Life Vest
#1 Safety, Safety, Safety
Nevertheless, putting on a life jacket is worth it from time to time.
Especially for dogs that do not feel very safe in the water and, when paddling in the winter or cold water, putting on a life jacket is a necessary safety measure.
Also, the handle on top of most dog vests is very useful to lift the dog out of the water.
#2 Enables Some Dog Breeds and Older Dogs to Swim
Dog life jackets also help dogs for who swimming is a challenge (due to their build or weight).
For example, this is the case with small bulldogs. Due to their short legs as well as their massive torso, swimming is enormously difficult for them.
This is where a dog life jacket can help.
Older dogs should, in order to maintain their muscles optimally, take up a swimming lesson now and then.
However, since older dogs usually no longer have such a high level of fitness as young dogs do, a life jacket can become highly important.
In addition, life jackets can definitely perform a useful task in certain situations.
Yvonne, a dog trainer, from Nuremberg, Germany, together with her colleague, a graduate biologist, has already started using paddle boards for dogs “for stability training and muscle building in the pool (as an alternative to the wobble board) for several years”, because “paddle boarding is the perfect joint-friendly sport for them”.
FAQ
Which life jacket size is right for my dog?
In order for you to correctly determine your dog’s size, you should measure the length of the back, starting from the back of the head to the base of the tail, the circumference of the neck and chest.
When measuring the chest, you should place the flexible tape measure at the widest part of the chest, just behind the front legs. If your dog’s back length is between two sizes, we recommend buying the larger one.
Can you attach a leash to the dog life jacket?
Yes. It is possible to attach a dog leash to this vest without any problems. The fastening option is made of hard plastic and sturdy webbing.
Alternatively, it is possible to replace the ring of hard plastic with a snap hook. These can be found in any well-stocked hardware store at a low price and in very good quality.
What to look for in a dog life vest for large dogs?
Some vests are designed so that as the size of the vest increases, so does its resilience. If an L-size vest fits your dog, then you can be confident that it can withstand the forces and weight of your dog. The same characteristic should be met by all manufacturers and suppliers of high-quality dog vests.
Conclusion
In summary, it can be said that dog life jackets should definitely be worn in rough waters or during water sports.
In doing so, they serve both the safety of the dog and the safety of other paddlers.
It’s still not a compulsory paddle boarding accessory, but extremely useful, as water sports usually take place further away from the shore. In addition to the buoyancy of the life jacket, it provides good visibility due to its bright color.
Fortunately, there are dog life jackets in all kinds of design, so that the four-legged can visually adapt to their human or sometimes feel like a shark.
