The thought of a life jacket on a dog seems somewhat bogus. No doubt, you may dress up your dog in fancy clothes and still forgo getting him a life jacket. However, you are missing the point. You have to understand that a life jacket is important even if your dog is a swimmer. If he drowns, that vest is the only thing standing in the way of his demise.

If your home is near a water body or your dog loves to spend his time there, getting him a vest will give you peace of mind. Still, that serenity comes after lots of keenness and consideration. Not all vests are the same. You have to get the right measurements for a proper fit. But, before we go into details, let's see first,

What exactly is a dog life Jacket?

When in the water, life vests generate buoyancy by covering the chest. They are composed of a buoyant, padded fabric that helps a pup stay floating if they fall into the water. In addition to this, life vests often have handles and D-rings so that leashes can be attached. These basic but vital characteristics, together with solid fasteners to properly buckle your dog up, are required for any functional life jacket. While in the water, a diversity of color combinations can also aid overall identification.

Explanations of Why Your Dog Should Don a Life Jacket

You may be bamboozled as to "why you should invest in a life jacket" when your dog is a good swimmer, or you have restricted him to water access. Well, no need to scratch your head. Let me tell you five reasons.

1. Not all dogs can swim.

We all know about the doggie paddle. It even convinces you that dogs are excellent swimmers, right? However, whether huge, tiny, or standard size, certain dogs have difficulty remaining buoyant and require buoyancy support. A dog's ability to swim is determined by health issues and the buoyancy of their bodies.

Greyhounds, for example, possess limited fat. Consequently, they do not have high buoyancy or are not accustomed to floating. The chest of some species, such as the bulldog or the pug, has a disproportionate size that makes them feel heavy in the water. Several very tiny breeds of dogs, including Yorkshire Terriers and Shih Tzus, may initially be good swimmers but quickly tire.

To alleviate this tragic scenario, I recommend the WCC Dog's Reflective Buoyant Adjustable Life Vest for Swimming. It's made with polyester that dries out quickly, has a sturdy handle and a long-lasting inflatable core that increases buoyancy.

2. Accidents can occur.

You always have to prepare for anything while in water.  In case of an accident, the vest will prevent your dog from sinking. An accident or crisis can strike at any moment, and deep water is extremely dangerous.  Fortunately, with a high-quality life jacket, " M&Q Dogs' Reflective Vest, with neck float and fasteners for a snug fit, your dog will be able to keep his head above water. If your pet is playing on the beach or onboard a watercraft, a dependable life jacket will keep them safe, should the worst occur.

3. There might be undiscovered dangers in the water.

Even though it appears safe for your dog to swim, there may be undiscovered risks in the water. Although pools are generally safe, rivers may include submerged debris such as tree branches that the canine might become entangled in.

Trying to swim over the flow in a stream may also cause rapid fatigue for your dog. Rough seas might push him from the sea if he is trying to cross through. A life vest will help the dog maintain his head above the water, perhaps saving his life in any of these scenarios.

4. Your dog will be warmer with a life jacket.

Dogs with heavy coats may also get hypothermic when in water, particularly cold. The temperature of a dog is generally between 101- and 102.5-degrees Fahrenheit. Should the temperature fall below 99 Fahrenheit,  their health will become vulnerable, and hypothermia may result.

This M&Q Dogs' Reflective & Adjustable Cute Printed Life Vest for Swimming is an excellent alternative for protecting your dog and keeping him toasty during cold-water swimming. It has a nylon and mesh fabric, which, when combined with polyester, helps reduce rapid heat loss from the canine body. The polyester also provides optimal flotation.

5. Life vests make it easier to spot your dog when in water.

Although a dog may be a "Velcro dog," always with you, a few prefer exploring on their own. As a result, you may lose sight of them when you wade in the water. Again, a dog is hard to spot in the water because it keeps a low profile.

However, that can be alleviated when he is donning a brightly colored life vest with luminous stripes! This WCC Dog's Reflective Buoyant Adjustable Life Vest for Swimming is a great example of a dog life vest that has bright colors. It is easy to spot it even from afar. If he gets into an accident and falls, you can easily rescue him.

How to choose a dog life Jacket

Since you may end up getting a life vest that won't be useful at all, I advise you to check on the following to be on the safe side.

●   Size- The size of the vest should accommodate the chest. Also, it should allow the dog to walk and run freely while wearing it. Besides allowing it to breathe freely, the vest should not slip off while the dog is swimming. So, make sure that you take appropriate measurements.

●   Color: Color may appear to be unimportant, but it is not. It gives the dog more visibility should he fall into the water. You may want it to have reflective tape too.

●   Handles – These may be useful when removing the dog from the water.

●   A D-ring - The D-ring is used to attach a leash, so the vest won’t be donned or doffed when the leash is used.

●   Buckles: Buckles ensure the vest doesn't come off unless untied. However, you have to ensure they are adjustable.

●   Neck float: The neck float brings about buoyancy so that the head won't sink. This is where the dog's life lies.

Other factors

The correct life jacket should be made of durable fabrics to last you for years to come. A UV-resistant vest, saline impervious, has robust material, and other enhancements help avoid fast degradation, which means you do not need to renew the vest after a short period.

To minimize bulk, keep your profile as low as possible. Contemporary materials have a high bulk reduction. It makes the vest fitting and even comfortable. Low-profile choices that minimize weight in the front can help local canines with smaller mouthparts, such as French bulldogs, breathe easily in water.

Summary

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, although the likelihood of your pup sinking is low, it still does occur, so it is time to decide whether a life vest is necessary. Your dog may not need a life jacket if you swim directly by him where you can spot him if your pool has a fence around it so that he can't fall in or if you use shallow water most of the time. But, if you are going to carry him on a boat or swim in deeper waters or against rough seas, swim for longer durations, or if your dog is not a swimmer, it is highly recommended that you acquire a dog life jacket.