Dog Life Vests: Our top 5 Picks
Does your canine have a taste for the high seas? Some dogs love to go on boating adventures with their owners, and who can blame them?
While nautical dogs make great skippers, they need to be outfitted with the proper gear to keep them safe. Just as adults and children need life vests, so do dogs.
Why Do Dogs Need Life Vests? Can’t They Swim?
Dogs are great swimmer, but even the best paddlers can’t swim for long, and should an unfortunate disaster occur while out at sea, your dog would have no better chance of swimming to safety than you would.
While even water-loving dogs should be equipped with dog life jackets, they are even more important for dogs with low body fat like Greyhounds, senior dogs, and dogs with health or mobility issues.
Are Dog Life Vests Just for Boat Trips?
Not necessarily. Dogs can get tired and drown just like people do. In fact, there are thousands of dog deaths each year from dogs falling into swimming pools.
What To Look For In a Dog Life Vest
- Buoyancy. Naturally you’ll want a dog life jacket with the proper amount of buoyancy to keep your pet afloat in the water. Some dog life vests have flotation under the belly, as well as the surrounding back and sides. Some vests also have flotation in the neck area to help keep your dog’s head above water.
- Bright Color. Brightly colored vests help your dog stay visible in the water and protect against boaters or jet skiers. Many vests also feature reflective material for even more visibility.
- Handles. If you’ll be needing to pull your dog out of the water, you’ll want strong handles on the dog life jacket.
- Size and Fit. Make sure you’re purchasing a dog life vest that is the proper size for your dog. Make sure dog is comfortable, can sit and lie down comfortably, and can relieve himself. For the best fit, make sure to measure your dog’s girth and torso and choose a matching size.
5 Best Dog Life Vests: Reviews and Ratings
These life jackets for dogs have received favorable reviews and are trusted vendors, setting you up with the best gear to keep your dog safe at sea. We’ll help you choose the very best dog life vest for your canine!Life Jacket
Rating
Price
Ruffwear K9 Float Coat
$$$
Kyjen Outward Hound
$
Paws Aboard Doggie Life Jacket
$
Kurgo Surf n Turf Dog Life Vest
$$
EzyDog Doggy Flotation Device
$$
NOTE: In this review, $0-$25 ($), $25-$55 ($$), $55-$75 ($$$). Prices based off of medium sized jackets. Visit https://www.k9ofmine.com/best-dog-life-vests for information about each vest.
1. Ruffwear k9 float coat dog life jacket
Rating:
Price:
The Ruffwear K9 Float Coat is the highest rated dog life jacket on Amazon, earning a straight 5 star rating and stellar reviews. While it comes at a higher price point, it’s definitely well merited, as this canine life vest is top-notch quality.
- Colors available in red or yellow
- Sizes range from XX-Small to X-Large
- Strategically-placed closed cell foam panels allow for natural dog swimming position
- Extremely durable, abriasion-resitant material
- Hefty handle positioned to easily lift dog out of water
- Reflective trim for optimal visibility
- Extra flotation beneath dog’s belly
- No exposed straps or buckles, preventing potential for snags
- Telescoping neck closure adjusts and fits to your dog’s movement
PROS: Owners adore this life vest for a number of reasons, with many reviewers impressed with the quality of the material and the extra flotation underneath the dog’s belly to keep the dog afloat (a feature that isn’t always present in other dog life jackets).
Many buyers were also very pleased that this vest is designed to have no exposed straps or buckles. Everything can be tucked away, with owners feeling confident that their dog would not get snagged on any foreign objects. Kayakers noted that this feature was especially helpful when lifting their pet into a kayak.
CONS: At $60-$70, this dog life vest is at a higher price point than most others. Still, with close to no 1, 2, or 3 star reviews, it’s clear that this jacket earns its price.
Best For: Kayakers and Active Water Dogs
Paws Aboard Sizing Chart
Size
Body Girth
(in)
XX-Small
13-17
X-Small
17-22
Small
22-27
Medium
27-32
Large
32-36
X-Large
36-42
Interested? Grab the Ruffwear K9 Float Coat on Amazon
2. Kyjen Outward Hound Life Jacket
Rating:
Price:
The Kyjen Outward Hound Life Jacket is the most popular dog life vest on Amazon, with an impressive 4.5 star rating and over 1,400 reviews. The dog life jacket comes in several sizes, ranging from XX-Small to X-Large, so there’s something for every dog!
- Bright yellow color to stand out against the waves
- Top-notch flotation
- Comfortable and durable neoprene belly band
- Top handles that can be used to pull dog into boat
- Fully adjustable chest and neck flaps
- Quick release buckles
- Front float feature designed to keep dog’s head above the water
PROS: Considering the huge number of satisfied customers and extremely affordable price, we can definitely recommend the Outward Hound dog life vest as a smart pick.
CONS: Some buyers have found the fitting sizes to be inaccurate, requiring the return and re-purchase of different sizes.
It’s also worth noting that the model featured here is a newer model with improved quality, so some older reviews you find of the Outward Hound life jacket won’t be accurate.
Best For: Affordable With Quality
Kygen Outward Hound Sizing Guide
Kurgo Sizing Chart
Size
A: Girth
(in)
XX-Small
6-10
X-Small
11-15
Small
16-20
Medium
21-27
Large
28-32
X-Large
33-40
Like what you see? The Kygen Outward Hound Life Jacket can be found on Amazon.
3. Paws Aboard Doggy Life Jacket
Rating:
Price:
The Paws Aboard dog life jacket comes in several different sizes depending on your dog. With a 4.5 star rating from over 200 Amazon reviewers, it’s solid option at a low price point.
- Bright yellow color (although some have reported more of a bright green shade) and reflective strips for visibility
- Top handle for pulling dog out of water
- Adjustable straps
- Heavy duty velcro fastening system for dog’s belly and neck
- Easy and smooth product exchange process (in case you order incorrect size)
PROS: Customers like that this vest is lightweight, easy to get on and off, and a breeze to clean. It’s solid quality at a reasonable price.
CONS: While many customers feel very satisfied with the product, a few have mentioned the straps tearing with larger, heavier dogs. The velcro belly straps may also not be ideal for breeds with lots of fur, as fur can get caught in the velcro.
The Paws Aboard Life Jacket is available from petmountain.com.
Paws Aboard Sizing Chart
Size
Length
(in)
Neck Girth
(in)
Body Girth
(in)
XX-Small
0-6
6.5
7-9
11-16
X-Small
7-15
8.5
8-12
15-19
Small
15-20
11
12-20
17-22
Medium
20-50
14
20-25
21-31
Large
50-90
16
24-30
30-37
4. Kurgo Surf n Turf Dog Life Vest
Rating:
Price:
The Kurgo Surf n Turf coat is an all-in-one jacket, serving as a life vest as well as a 3 season shell jacket. The flotation layer can be removed to double as a waterproof jacket for your canine.
The Kurgo Surf n Turf jacket receives favorable reviews on Amazon and PetSmart (although not nearly as many reviews as other dog life jackets).
- 3 in 1 jacket. It can be used as a life vest, rain jacket, or light coat.
- Two jacket handles for picking up dog
- Two metal D-rings for leash connections
- Bright colors and reflective trim for visibility
- All Kurgo products are backed by a lifetime warranty
Pros: Very versatile, with the ability to serve as a water vest, rain jacket, or light coat. Is stylish and slim fitting compared to other life jackets for dogs.
Cons: Reviewers note that this dog life preserver does not provide as much support and flotation as other offerings, as only nylon straps (with no flotation) support the dog’s underside.
While this dog PFD may be appropriate for shallow waters, I’d suggest other life vests for heavier seas.
Best For: All-In-One Jacket for Shallow Waters
Kurgo Sizing Chart
Size
Neck Girth
(in)
Body Girth
(in)
X-Small
8-13
14-20
Small
12-23
18-25
Medium
18-27
24-32
Large
28-36
35-45
5. EzyDog Doggy Flotation Device (DFD)
Rating:
Price:
The EzyDog DFD comes highly rated on Amazon, with a perfect 5 star rating and over 100 reviews! The most fun about this doggie life jacket? It comes in 4 different fun colors!
- Available in 4 colors: green camo, pink camo, yellow, and red.
- An added amount of ultra-buoyant material, designed to keep your dog in a natural swimming position
- Nylon D-rings for attaching a leash
- Adjustable neoprene belly straps for an ergonomic, secure fit
- Reflective detailing for improved visibility
- Easy-to-grab handles for lifting your dog
PROS: This highly rated dog flotation device provides quality and comfort for water activity.
CONS: Some reviewers wish the design was tapered in the back, rather than square-shaped, since this shape tends to lift dog’s rear horizontally to the head (whereas other designs purposely allow the dog’s bottom to drop, so their head can more easily remain above water). Also, does not have XXS size.
EzyDog Sizing
Doggy Floatation Device
Size
Weight
(lbs)
Body Girth
(in)
Body Length
(in)
X-Small
15-25
19-32
10-13
Small
20-45
21-35
13-16
Medium
40-60
25-39
15-20
Large
60-90
27-44
17-24
X-Large
90+
30-48
20-26
*For best fit measure the girth of the dog. This is the area around the dog at the widest. Measure the general bacl length of the dog. Girth will take priority when selecting a size. The DFD does not need to cover your dog’s entire back length to be effective.