Dog life preserver
 

What type of dog life preserver do you recommend? We have a golden retriever who is 2 years old and she jumps in the water alllllll the time. Thanks!

I have a couple 70lb Goldendoodles I take swimming all the time. I bought the pricey Paws Aboard life jackets for them from Petsmart. They really do not provide enough flotation for the dogs to relax in the water without wearing themselves out. I ended up buying small/medium Kidder life jackets for people from Walmart for them. I just put their front paws through the arm holes and buckle it up on the top of their backs. They work tons better and the dogs can just float and relax. Have fun.. Jeff Wurl

I use an insulated vest from Avery for my Chocolate when duck hunting. He could be in the water for hours. And in the cold water it keeps his heat in. Also it is nice to have the handle to pick him up into the boat when needed.
http://www.averysportingdog.com/products/Vests.php

i got the one from west marine. I have a 85lb yellow lab he hates that crap, and doesnt want it. We only carry it in the boat in the even of an emergency we can put him in it and not have one more thing to worry about

No pic but we have a great dane and we just bought a neoprene vest XL for a person and put it zipper on top and it fits her great, we used too by dog vests and she would wear them out one a year, they were junk, and this one has lasted two years and looks brand new.

My parents and brother both have labs. They use the Paws Aboard one. The handle is nice to help them out of the water. Good snug fit. Neither dog really stops when they're in the water so can't comment on what jwurl said.

We have two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and they both have the paws aboard jackets. They don't swim much, but they seem not to notice the jackets when on. The nice thing is the handle. One's 11lbs and the other's 20lbs, I can snatch them up like two cases of beer when they get into trouble.

Does it keep her afloat?

We use the Ruffwear pet lifejacket. It has padding underneath the straps and let's the dogs stop and relax while still floating. We have one for both of our dogs and the handle is great. You can getting one hand on the handle and one on the back of the lifejacket to get leverage to lift bigger doggy dogs. This really helps since one of my dogs weighs 65 and the other is 85. The large big
eddy works great for our big dog.

I used to think they were silly until our new to us pit fell in while we were docked. By the time I got to the back of the boat and emptied my pockets he was going down for the last time.

Too far from the boat to reach, I had to jump in and haul him back. Bought a preserver at West Marine that day and he wears it all the time he is on the boat except when sleeping. He doesn't mind it at all and I think it helps keep him warm when he swims since he has really short hair.

What ever the brand, please buy one.

We have a 90 pound Golden and we got him the biggest one from West Marine. It works great, we were not sure if we would be able to find one since our Golden is bigger than most. West Marine let us bring him in the store to try them on him before we bought it.

I have a 110 pound Yellow lab and this will hold him up to float. I can also stand on the swimming deck and pick him up to get him out of the water X large size
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Hunti...3Bcat103906980

Yes, very easily. And she seems very comfortable in it.

I've got a 74lb Golden and I bought her a jacket from ruffgear been the best dog jacket I've seen

www.ruffwear.com

Best dog gear ever

i bought my lab a paws aboard life jacket and i agree with "jwurl" they do not provide enough flotation for the dogs.

i have a like new condition dog vest w the handle on top...it goes around the neck and has a buckle that fastens under the belly to the flotation part on the top. We didnt use it much just when he wanted to swim. it held a 100lb american bulldog fine, but he past away and i wont be needing it anymore.

if anyone needs one let me know

Ezydog I have a 80 lb goldendoodle "owen" I found it online for $50 (xl) last summer I forget where just goggle it shold come up

The outward hound jacket works well for my little guy and they are practically giving it away:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...at105315AM.png
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...at110646AM.png

Some of the most important safety preserver items on any boat are the life jackets — for you, your passengers, and of course your "best friend." Since our last report on this topic 12 years ago, the canine life jacket market has taken off by leaps and hounds. Back in 2000, we came up with four viable canine life jacket models. This time, we were easily able to double the number of jackets tested. West Marine has many in regular stock, and so do some of the big-box stores.

Dog on boat
 

I know this is an old thread, but I just joined offshoreonly as a new boater. I have an 80 # pit bull I'd love to bring on the boat, but I'm concerned his claws will tear up the interior. Had anyone tried the doggie booties, or anything else?

I never had an issue with damage to vinyl when our 75# lab was in our boat. Just keep its nails trimmed and filed so they are not sharp.

What Griff said. Keep the nails trim and you should be good. We've had our pups on the boat since it was new with no issues to the vinyl. Boating with your dogs is just better :cool-smiley-011:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x09C...ature=youtu.be

If you use nail clippers make sure that they are high quality and sharp. Better yet use a Dremel with a sanding drum. The dogs usually tolerate it better then the squeezing and pressure of cutting type trimmers. You should be able to find some how to videos. Be careful with the speed of the Dremel as you can get the nail hot. If they are quite long do the nails every other day till they are smooth and short. The reason for skipping a day is because you want the quick to recede between trimming or grinding.

Padraig

best you can get pretty much right here, pricey but worth it, have a couple of their winter coats been through 2 field dogs with the same coat, have their life jackets also.

We got our lab an"Outward Hound" vest.

As for booties, we don't use them and prefer some good nail clippers - I always keep his claws trimmed. And we have never had a problem with seats because of it. Though our boy is really big and heavy.

I like the foam vest similar to the old style foam ski vest.