Your furry friends are also important parts of your family. Don’t forget to let them tag along to have fun will the other family members. By bringing them on an adventure with you, they will have the best time of their lives. Since most water activities are pet-friendly, it’s easy to take them anywhere with you and let them get involved in all the fun water adventures. However, some of you may worry about your pups’ safety. When you take them to the open water, you’re not sure what could happen. And for that, it’s better to get them the best life jackets for dogs so that you have peace of mind knowing that they will always be safe.
While most fidos are usually good swimmers or can be trained to swim, yours may not. Besides, they can get tired if they have to swim in the water for a long time. This is why it’s wiser to get them the best rated life jackets for dogs so that they can stay afloat on the water and have fun. On the list below we’ll show you all the best life jackets for your fido!
By the way, also check out these water shoes for dogs to protect their paws.
How to Choose the Best Life Jackets for Dogs
It’s not that hard to find the best life jackets for dogs. There are plenty of life jackets to choose from and you will never run out of options. However, some life jackets are better than others in terms of quality and price, which makes it hard for you to decide. Get the right one dog’s life jacket by considering the following things:
Buoyancy
Before talking about anything else, you need to know about the buoyancy level. The best rated life jackets for dogs will offer enough buoyancy to keep your dogs afloat when they’re in the water. A high-quality life jacket for a dog will have many flotation sections. Usually, there’s a flotation section on the back and on the sides as well as under the belly. Some life jackets also have a floatation section around the neck area to keep the dog’s head above the water when they’re swimming.
Size & Fit
Once you’ve found the right life jackets that provide great buoyancy, it’s time to choose the right fit. Make sure you get the best life jackets for dogs that offer a snug fit. This way, your dog will feel comfortable even if they have to wear it for hours. The right life jacket won’t create a problem for your pups. They can sit or lie down easily and have no trouble relieving themselves. To get a matching size, make sure to measure your dog’s torso and girth to get the best fit.
Visibility
Better visibility will raise the safety levels. Pick the best rated life jackets for dogs that offer bright and bold colors. Life jackets that have bright colors will help your dog to stay visible in the water and they will prevent collision with people who are doing other watersports. Always opt for a life jacket that has reflective materials. This way, your dog will stay visible even if it’s getting dark outside.
Handles
Even if your dog can swim, sometimes you need to pull them closer to you when they swim too far or to help them get into the water safely. This is where handles will come in handy if you need to bring them closer. In some cases, you may need to pull your pups out of the water, this is why the stronger the handles the better.
Do dogs need to wear life jackets on boats?
Just like a toddler, dogs tend to do whatever they want. So, yes! Your dog still needs to wear a life jacket even when they’re on a boat with you. Even if your dog is a good swimmer, they may jump into the water and get tired of swimming. It’s always better to put on a life vest when they’re on the water.
Why won’t your dog move when wearing a life jacket?
Don’t worry! If your puppies have never worn a life jacket before, it may take a while for them to get used to it. Just be patient. After a few moments, they will get used to it as they’re able to move freely even with a life jacket on.
How do you measure your dog for a life jacket?
Every manufactures usually have their own size guidelines. That’s why you should consult customer service to get the right fit. Usually, you need to know your dog’s neck circumference, chest circumference, and body length. The weight of your dog also plays a role in the measurement process.
Kurgo Surf n’ Turf Dog Life Jacket
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Not many life jackets offer the ability to double as a two-season coat. Kurgo Surf n’ Turf Dog Life Jacket is a versatile life jacket that can be used to assist your dog when in the water. If you want to use it as a raincoat, just remove the flotation layer, and you’re good to go. There’s also reflective trim for better visibility. This bright-colored vest is visible even from farther distances. That’s why it’s one of the best life jackets for dogs.
Dog owners will love the Kurgo Surf n’ Turf Dog Life Jacket because it’s packed with plenty of safety features. The multiple points of adjustment make it easy for you to adjust for a comfortable and secure fit. This way, your four-legged buddies won’t feel like something is limiting their movements. It’s not wrong if we call it one of the best life jackets for large dogs.
What We Love
A multifunctional life jacket that doubles as a raincoat.
Pros:
- 2 control handles
- Adjustable front buckles
- Reflective trim for better visibility
Cons:
- No padding under the belly straps
AOFITEE Dog Ripstop Life Vest
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If you’re looking for the best life jackets for small dogs, then you should check out the AOFITEE Dog Ripstop Life Vest. It’s a cute little life jacket to keep your little puppy safe. This life jacket is designed to be adorable with a shark fin on the back, making your furry friend look as cute as a baby shark. Other than the cute design, it offers high buoyancy and an easy-grab handle. It’s constructed with a sturdy grab handle to make it easy for you to pull your pup out of the water.
AOFITEE Dog Ripstop Life Vest is made of high-grade polyester oxford and nylon fabric. That’s why it’s very durable and will last for years. Not only is it durable, but the combination of nylon and oxford fabric allows for quick drying and proper drainage. That’s why it’s currently one of the best life jackets for dogs.
What We Love
A cute life jacket with quick-drying materials.
Pros:
- Adjustable belts
- Sturdy grab handle
- High buoyancy
- Hook & loop closure
Cons:
- Not suitable for a full-day water activity
SUNFURA Dog Summer Float Coat
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This sporty life jacket is one of the best life jackets for dogs available on the market. It will make your four-legged buddy look much cooler. This life jacket is designed to be stylish and sporty. However, safety is still the number one priority. It features many safety features that aim to improve the safety levels when you take them to the water. It features a bright color contrast and attractive design, it will put your furry friend at the center of attention.
The extra-large SUNFURA Dog Summer Float Coat is specifically designed for your big buddy. That’s why it’s one of the best life jackets for large dogs. The design allows your furry pal to move freely without any limitation.
What We Love
A sporty life jacket with extra safety features.
Pros:
- Quick-release buckles
- Easy to put on & off
- Reflective strips
- Great breathability
Cons:
- The D-ring is quite fragile
ChezAbbey Dog Life Jacket
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You have a cute puppy? With the ChezAbbey Dog Life Jacket, they will look ten times cuter. Not only does it make your puppy look more adorable, but it will also keep them safe when you take them on a water adventure. This is one of the best life jackets for small dogs because it offers high visibility to ensure it’s easy to locate your dog when they’re having fun in the water. There’s also a front float that assists in keeping the dog’s head above water.
ChezAbbey Dog Life Jacket is one of the best life jackets for dogs because it has so much to offer. Delicately crafted with abrasion-resistant and high-density nylon and oxford fabric with the combination of pearl cotton foam, it’s one of the most comfortable life jackets for dogs. Because it’s soft and lightweight, your dog can wear it for hours and there will be no problem.
What We Love
An adorable life jacket made of high-quality materials.
Pros:
- Abrasion-resistant fabric
- Adjustable belt
- Reflective stripes
Cons:
- The size runs small, it’s recommended to go one size up
Fragralley High Visibility Dog Life Jacket
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The most important concern when taking your four-legged buddy to the water is visibility. It can be dangerous if they swim too far from you because you may not be able to reach them. Don’t worry! Fragralley High Visibility Dog Life Jacket is one of the best life jackets for large dogs that comes with the newly designed bright colors to make your dog easy to spot in the water. Just like its name, it offers high visibility so that you have peace of mind since you can always see them even from afar.
The best thing about Fragralley High Visibility Dog Life Jacket is its material. This brand treats your dog like a human, thus offering the same luxury material as a human life jacket. It’s made of 600D oxford fabric and super buoyant EPE pearl cotton. It enables strong buoyancy to keep your dog afloat in the water.
What We Love
A human-like life jacket with high visibility.
Pros:
- Upgraded rescue handles
- Heavy-duty D-ring hook
- Lightweight
- Money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Not enough flotation in the front
Yosoo Dog Life Jacket
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Never worry about losing track of your furry friends when they’re in the water. Yosoo Dog Life Jacket comes with bold colors and reflective stripes to make it easy for your puppies to be seen in the water. This is one of the best rated life jackets for dogs because it offers comfort and great breathability. This way, your pups will feel comfortable and will be able to breathe properly while swimming.
Yosoo Dog Life Jacket is made of breathable quick-drying material, so you don’t have to wait for hours for it to dry. It also comes with decent straps and a fastening buckle. This life jacket is designed to be lightweight and easy to put on and off. That’s why it’s one of the best life jackets for small dogs.
What We Love
A well-designed life jacket that’s comfortable to wear.
Pros:
- Decent straps
- Reflective stripes
- Quick-dry
Cons:
- It runs short
Yoyoung Camo Pet Life Preserver Jacket
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We don’t understand why there aren’t many manufacturers that create the best life jackets for large dogs that come with artistic designs. Thankfully, Yoyoung came to make the dog life vest’s design less boring. The camouflage print features on the Yoyoung Camo Pet Life Preserver Jacket are one of the best on the market. This kind of artistic life vest for a dog is quite rare. That’s why it’s such a gem. Your dog will love wearing this cool camouflage life vest!
Comes with an adjustable design to ensure a secure fit, you don’t have to worry about your dog’s safety anymore. It’s easily one of the best life jackets for dogs. This life jacket is equipped with ultra-durable velcro straps and adjustable quick-release buckles. The reflective accents along the straps enhance the visibility to keep your fidos visible when it’s too dark outside.
What We Love
A secure life jacket with artistic design.
Pros:
- Neoprene side panels
- Breathable mesh lining
- Abrasion-resistant
- Strategically-placed foam
Cons:
- The buckles aren’t that sturdy
Queenmore Ripstop Dog Life Jacket
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friend wearing a cute shark fin-style costume. With the Queenmore Ripstop Dog Life Jacket, your pups will look cuter and it will save their lives by keeping them afloat when having fun in the water. Made of high-quality professional floating polyester and advanced breathable mesh underbelly, it provides great flotation and proper draining. That’s why it’s currently one of the best life jackets for small dogs.
This cute shark fin-style life jacket is equipped with adjustable nylon straps, quick-release buckles, and a high-quality magic sticker fastening system around the neck and belly. This system offers better security to keep your little buddy safe. This jacket also has reflective accents to help enhance visibility. It’s not wrong if we put it on the list of the best-rated life jackets for dogs.
What We Love
A lightweight but sturdy dog life jacket.
Pros:
- Low-profile nylon handle
- The magic sticker fastening system
- Advanced breathable mesh
- Strong oxford fabrics
Cons:
- Not suitable for long-haired fidos
EzyDog Doggy Flotation Device
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EzyDog Doggy Flotation Device is a high-performance flotation device for a dog. It’s one of the best life jackets for dogs available on the market. Combining the advanced manufacturing techniques and high-performance materials, it provides your four-legged buddy with the most ergonomics and comfortable fit possible. There’s also an integrated grab handle that offers a secure and easy way to guide your dog into and out of the water.
This is one of the best life jackets for large dogs. The adjustable design comes with 50% more flotation material. It’s a superior life jacket with durable construction and has more flotation materials than standard dog life jackets. And with the adjustable neoprene straps, it gives better ergonomics and a secure fit that keeps up with your dog.
What We Love
An ultra-durable life jacket with more flotation materials.
Pros:
- Ergonomic integrated grab handle
- Superior construction
- Highly reflective detailing
- Neoprene belly straps
Cons:
- The neck strap isn’t made of the same material as the belly strap
Deenkk Dog Life Jacket
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Deenkk Dog Life Jacket will make your little buddy the center of attention with its unique mermaid style. It’s one of the best life jackets for small dogs that has an upgraded design and bright color for greater visibility. Your doggo will become a star while swimming with you. Every dog owner loves it when their four-legged buddies attract a lot of attention because they’re adorable. Isn’t that what you want too? By the way, if your four-legged buddy seems like a good surfer, you should buy them the best surfboards for dogs too. They will be bigger stars on the show.
Other than making your doggo look more adorable, they will be less tired while padding since the jacket will keep them afloat and make it easy for them to swim. Also, the breathable mesh underbelly provides proper draining and drying so that your dog feels more comfortable wearing it. And with the adjustable belt and quick-release buckles, they ensure a snug fit.
What We Love
A lightweight life jacket with a cute design.
Pros:
- Premium oxford fabric
- Easy-grab handles
- Pearl cotton foam
Cons:
- The buckles aren’t the best quality
SNIK-S Dog Life Jacket Easy-Fit
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Don’t you like it if a life jacket comes in many different colors? This way, you can buy your four-legged buddy the same life jacket with different colors so that they can look fresh every summer. SNIK-S Dog Life Jacket Easy-Fit is one of the best rated life jackets for dogs because it’s made of high-grade polyester oxford and nylon fabric and constructed of mesh fabric and pearl cotton foam for better comfort and healthier conditions. This life jacket comes in five attractive colors. Just pick some that best suit your dog’s style!
SNIK-S Dog Life Jacket Easy-Fit is designed to provide the most safety features so that you can focus on enjoying the moment when in the water. The front float helps in keeping the dog’s head above water while the reflective stripes and bright colors enhance the visibility to the maximum level.
What We Love
An eye-catching life jacket with plenty of color options.
Pros:
- 30-day replacement warranty
- Heavy-duty D-ring hook
- Quick-drying
- Adjustable belt
Cons:
- The padding is thin
Paws Aboard Dog Life Vest
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Keep your furry friends safe by giving them the best life jackets for dogs. Paws Aboard Dog Life Vest is an excellent quality life jacket that’s made of high-quality and breathable neoprene fabrics. It offers quick-drying and the right level of buoyancy. We love the fact that it’s lightweight and made to be flexible. This way, your little buddy can move around freely without feeling like something is holding them back.
Unlike other standard dog life jackets, the Paws Aboard Dog Life Vest won’t cause chafing and exhaustion. The advanced design features a breathable mesh underbelly that allows for better water drainage and drying so that your pup feels comfortable when you put it on. Also with the adjustable collar and velcro straps, they ensure a snug fit for all breeds.
What We Love
A flexible life jacket with advanced technology.
Pros:
- Breathable mesh
- Maximum visibility
- Ultimate comfort
Cons:
- The top handle isn’t secure enough
Outward Hound Dog Life Jacket
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There are so many reasons why the Outward Hound Dog Life Jacket deserves the number one spot among all the best jackets for dogs on the list. This life jacket is novice-swimmer friendly, which means it will keep your pup safe and secure while testing out the water. It also provides warmth since the jacket is made of high-quality neoprene side panels for thermal insulation. It’s a very sophisticated design that not many manufacturers can offer.
The Outward Hound Dog Life Jacket is designed with a dual rescue handle design to provide easy access to rescue and restraint your dog while swimming. This way, it’s easy to pull them out of the water easily in case of emergency. Also since this life jacket comes with bright colors and reflective accents, it offers much better visibility. And the best thing is, it provides the best comfort for your furry friends when they’re out in the water.
What We Love
A top-quality life jacket that offers the greatest comfort.
Pros:
- High buoyancy
- Reflective accents
- Dual rescue handle design
- Thermal insulation system
Cons:
- Quite bulky
