Dog Life Jacket

Dogs love to play outside and if the outdoor play involves being around any kind of water, you want to be sure your pet uses a dog life jacket. Getting your dog his own dog life jacket is the perfect safety choice when spending a day in the sun on the beach. Believe it or not, not every dog knows ow to swim. Many people believe this misconception, maybe due to the swim stroke called the dog paddle. There are some dogs, like pinchers, Dobermans, and boxers who have a lot of trouble in water. Other dogs dislike water and will only swim if they absolutely have to.

There are a lot of factors that affect how well a dog will swim. These include the type of breed, how big the dog is, what his/her fitness level is, and healthy he/she is. For those who own a puppy, it is important to use a gentle approach when introducing him/her to the water. You want to start by taking your puppy into a wading pool and then, only after the puppy has adapted, move on to something bigger, like a beach. You also want to look into what kind of water conditions your dog will be exposed to. Due to the calmer and gentler water movement of a wading pool, a puppy is adapts better to playing in the water. Placing your puppy in water that has too much movement may cause him/her to get anxious. This can lead your dog into having a lot of difficulty when being introduced to water.

You can give yourself some extra piece of mind by putting a dog life jacket on your dog anytime you are going to be around water. This gives your dog extra protection due to all the safety measures that are build into them. Not only will a dog life jacket keep your dog floating when he/she is too tired to swim, but it will also reduce his/her anxiety and disorientation if he/she would fall into the water. Life jackets are beneficial for both dogs and humans. This important piece of equipment should be available anytime you and/or your dog is going to be on boats, ferries, planes, or any other vehicle.

You dog may be a little uncomfortable the first time you put a dog life jacket on him/her. With this in mind, you want to get your dog used to the life jacket by having him/her wear it at home, prior to going out on an outdoor adventure. Being at home will allow your dog to get used to the life jacket while in safe familiar surroundings, rather than in an unfamiliar outdoor setting. You want to ensure that your dogs first life jacket and water experiences are pleasant and enjoyable. By ensuring this, you are increasing the chances of them loving the water.

When choosing which life jacket to purchase for your dog, you want to find one that meets some guidelines and features. First, you want to find a dog life jacket that matches your dog both in weight and length. You also want to make sure the life jacket is made of a material that is breathable and durable. A life jacket made in a bright color that can be easily seen is also a good idea. You always want to keep your dog in site when he/she is in the life jacket to be certain he/she does not get entangled in it. You want to check the life jacket's buoyancy ratings as well.

Fifty-eight million dogs and sixty-two million cats are thought to exist in North America and most unfortunately, every year thousands of them will drown needlessly. Since a large number of incidents will not be reported, a specific number for these fatalities cannot be determined. Since 99% of all dogs are able to swim, we typically are not concerned when our dogs are playing at the water's edge at the lake or around our swimming pool. A significant percentage of dogs and even some cats are only able to swim a little while before they become fatigued. Should they be unable to quickly get back to solid footing, they panic, and this is the cause of their drowning. But it is more than just a problem for pets, for loving pet parents will selflessly and without hesitation dive into a frozen lake or rapidly flowing river in an attempt to rescue their animal.

How do we protect our pets from this untimely demise? The following are several important suggestions:

1. Never take for granted that your dog knows how to swim.

2. Keep watch over an older pet. As they age, they are unable to swim as when they were younger.

3. At absolutely no time should you toss a dog or cat into water. This will cause them to panic from the surprise.

4. Obtain a canine flotation device (CFD) or a pet life jacket for your pet. Ensure that they are wearing the device whenever they are close to the water. Often a pet may fall off a dock or out of a moving boat without our knowledge.

5. Our pets cannot discern between solid ground and solar blankets or pool covers. Whenever your pet is in the pool area, make certain that these coverings have been removed.

6. Put up a pet safety gate to impede a pet's access to the pool area.

7. Check to ensure that your pet does not have an entry into your neighbor's pool area.

8. Get a pool alarm for your pool or pond.

9. Keep your pet away from rapidly flowing water.

10. Protect your pets from access to frozen lakes and rivers.

Observing your pet drown fills one with a guilt that is devastating and an event that will remain with you forever. You would be well-advised to identify any dangerous water access on your property. No matter the season of the year, you should IMMEDIATELY make certain that both your home and vacation property are secured against your pet's drowning. If it is ever likely that your pet will be in the vicinity of water, ensure that they use a canine flotation device or pet life jacket.