The 5 Best Life Jackets for Dogs – Reviews and Tests

Dog life jacket: what is it for? Which life jacket should I choose for my dog? Where can I canoe with my dog? All our answers to your questions in this article!

Ruffwear Float Coat Life Jacket

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Hmmm… the sun is back. It's sunny, it's hot, what happiness! Looking for how to keep you and your dog cool? I have the activity for you: canoeing with your dog. It's the perfect activity to have a good time together and take a dip. Combine sport with your dog and idleness on the banks.

Before sharing with you the top 5 of the most beautiful canoe descents to do with your dog in France, find a special focus dog life jacket. No canoe without safety equipment: I present here different models of life jackets for dogs. We will see together how to choose the best gear for your dog. Discover here the5 Best Life Jackets for Dogs – Reviews and Tests.

Are you looking for adventure but having trouble choosing a cani-canoe spot? Musher and I have concocted the top 5 canoe descents to do with your dog, tested and approved by members of the community. And to make your life easier, I have of course listed the dog-friendly canoe rental companies who rent equipment on these routes.

Here we go !

The life jacket for dogs: useful or futile?

As far as I'm concerned, my choice was made a long time ago. Ensuring the safety of my dog is paramount. When we practice nautical activities such as canoeing , surf, Stand up paddle, boat trip… Musher, my labrador, puts on her life jacket. She may be a water lover and a good swimmer, but if she falls into the water by surprise, she could panic and tragedy could happen. The vest keeps her on the surface and helps stabilize her in the right position to start swimming naturally. It also allows him to tire less quickly and secures him if the conditions are bad: waves, wind, current... And it's the only way to be able to hoist his dog to safety if he falls. There is no question of pulling your dog out of the water by his collar: you risk hurting him very badly or strangling him. Especially since once wet your dog will weigh even more than usual.

The vest will also be a good lifeguard if your dog is afraid to jump into the water. A little help will allow him to gain self-confidence to discover the joys of swimming! Young puppies or older dogs appreciate this help!!

Which life jacket for my dog?

There are many models of dog life jackets or buoyancy aids, but the choice of the latter is important. Don't jump on the first safety jacket for dog that you find. Our Top 10 Best Dog Life Vests offers different products so that you can find the most suitable life jacket for your dog's size. This comparison also contains some tips and features to consider to help you choose the right vest!

To help you choose the best equipment for your dog, I interviewed Matthieu Morin, canine expert at the Morin France boutique. A specialist in dogs, he equips security dogs all over the world! Here are his tips:

“To ensure your dog's safety and comfort, you need to take the time to analyze all of his characteristics. To help you see more clearly, know that four well-defined criteria must be taken into account”

Size

The most important selection criterion is of course the size of the lifejacket. There are life jackets suitable for all types of dogs! To find the one that corresponds to your dog's morphology, you must first measure the chest circumference and the length of your dog's back. If the equipment is too small, your dog will be compressed and have difficulty breathing. On the other hand, if it is too wide, it could come off at any time and your dog's protection will not be optimal. A vest that is ill-fitting to his size may also interfere with his swimming and/or even injure him. An ill-fitting vest is a vest that causes chafing. Repeated rubbing causes very painful irritation for your dog. I know what I'm talking about… One day I was at the lake with Musher. After a few swims, she freezes at the edge and refuses to get in the water again. Which is completely unusual… I approach her and notice that she is injured under the armpits… Madame had put on a little weight during the winter and her waistcoat was no longer her size. The poor..

Buoyancy

A quality lifejacket should have excellent buoyancy. A vest reinforced with floating foam will provide your dog with good buoyancy, and will give him a good position to swim in the water. Some vests are more buoyant than others: your choice will be made according to your dog's needs.

Dogs tend to drink easily from the cup when they are swimming… especially when it is hot because let us remember here that they cool down by panting. It's not easy to swim with your mouth wide open… Some life jackets have a reinforcement under the dog's neck, which keeps his head above water.

The fixing system

A properly fitted rescue harness should fit your dog's body perfectly in order to provide maximum protection. Choose a simple fixing system. Generally speaking, the first step is to pull the vest over your dog's head. Then attach the straps and adjust them to your dog's size. Be careful not to tighten too much, he must feel comfortable in his movements. The strength of the ties is a key point, they should not come undone. Check that your dog's belly is protected from chafing with a strip of fabric. Always favor clips: once set, no need to edit them; rather than straps that have to be refastened every time and that require your dog to be calm and patient.

Finishes

The presence of a handle on the lifejacket clearly makes it easier for your dog to get back on board the canoe in the event of a fall. This handle must be super strong, it should not break when you go up your dog. It must be able to support the weight of your dog. The back handles of my Ruffwear life vest let me out of the water Musher, ma labrador of approximately 30 kg without damaging the vest. I've been using this equipment for 4 years, it hasn't changed a bit! Besides, I tested it during a paddle outing with Musher at Lake Salagou! I'm just telling you my experience here!

A voucher safety jacket is also equipped with reflective strips that help you better spot the dog in the water. Even if your vest is equipped with reflective strips, opt for brightly colored equipment. Being able to pinpoint where your dog is at a glance is imperative.

Some vests have an attachment loop for the lanyard but a safety reminder is necessary here: NEVER attach your dog in longe when you navigate on a paddle, a canoe, a pedal boat... If your dog falls, there is current, and the leash gets caught in a rock or a tree, it can be very dangerous for him. He risks strangulation.

With Musher, we have made our top 3 life jackets for you:

Le Ruffwear life vest : Our favorite. Its price is rather high but the quality is there. It secures my dog wonderfully. I've been using it for 4 years and it's in perfect condition. In fact, I tested it during a paddle outing with Musher at Lac du Salagou! I tell you my experience Fair here!
Le IDC 3 in 1 life jacket – Julius K9 : I tested it recently. What I like is that it is both a lifejacket and a neoprene vest. So my dog floats and once out of the water, the neoprene gives him some warmth. It is ideal for our outings in the cooler seasons.
Le Life Jacket – Surf N Turf : good value for money.

We also had the opportunity to test the Kurgo Surf N Turf Life Jacket, the Red Trixie Life Jacket and the Life Savior Hurtta Floating Vest, both of which are great pieces of equipment.

The opinion of Musher and Sophie: - "This list is not exhaustive ! I invite you to consult our comparison on best dog life jackets to choose the best life jacket for your dog!”

Come on, now that you are well equipped, I take you to discover 5 magnificent rivers on which to canoe with your dog.

The Gorges du Verdon by canoe with your dog

Located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Verdon Gorge are one of the most beautiful and deepest canyons in Europe. It is an essential spot for lovers of water sports and especially cani-canoeing. Its turquoise waters and breathtaking landscapes make it an essential place to visit during your holidays with your dog.

The Tarn gorges by cani-canoe

Without hesitation, this natural site will be one of your fondest holiday memories with your dog. Located in Aveyron, the Tarn gorges offer spectacular landscapes. The cliffs can reach up to 500 meters high. During your cani-canoe outings, look up to the sky! You will not be able to miss these magnificent raptors with a wingspan of 2,50 meters which hover above the cliffs. Yes, yes, I am talking to you about vultures. They were reintroduced in the gorges in 1980. As soon as the first rays of sun hit the gorges, it's a real aerial ballet. Musher and I tested this descent: a pure delight that we recommend.

I am a big fan of the Gorges du Tarn. This is a post where I go regularly with my dog. I invested in an inflatable canoe, the Solar by Gumotex, suddenly, I go down the gorges when I want with my dog. Last summer, the water was very low and we scrubbed the pebbles quite a bit… I was a little worried about my inflatable canoe but it went “cream” as they say! In the 2 years that I have had it, my dog and I have made dozens of outings at sea, in lakes or on rivers. He is on top. A good investment.

Discover the Hérault gorges by canoe with your dog

Just half an hour from Montpellier are the Gorges of the Hérault. It is an ideal spot to share activities with your dog: cani-canoe, cani-rando (…) you will be served. Along the way, stop at Devil's Bridge. The view is superb. Be careful, skip the improvised swim because the beach below is strictly forbidden to dogs. Continue your way to Saint-Guilhem-le-Desert, the busiest medieval town in the Hérault, to enter the gorges.

The opinion of Musher and Sophie: - “To discover the Hérault gorges, go to Canoe Rapido with your dog. He will be welcomed like a king by Marianne and Domino, his canoe-loving border-collie!”

Canoeing down the Ardèche gorges with your dog

The Ardèche gorges have the merit of never disappointing tourists who come to spend their holidays with their dog in this beautiful nature reserve. If you come for a canoe descent, the natural arch sculpted in the rock is a must. It is an emblem of the municipality of Vallon Pont d'Arc. In the middle of summer, it's the canoe highway… Be very careful with your dog to avoid accidents.

The Dordogne by canoe: 150km of navigable river

The Dordogne: land of our history and even of our prehistory. Dordogne it is also a magnificent river to discover by canoe with your dog. It offers 150km of navigable length: enough to fully satisfy your navigation desires. I recommend it to you, it's a pure delight and a very fun way to discover the heritage of this pretty corner of France.

The opinion of Musher and Sophie: - “To wander on the beautiful Dordogne river, Pauline and her Australian shepherd recommend the rental company Canoe Dordogne. "

Tips for canoeing with your dog

Before embarking on a water activity with your dog, you must absolutely be sure that he knows how to swim and that he is comfortable in the water. It goes without saying but by acquired conscience, I prefer to repeat it black on white here! Dogs are like us, some are comfortable and others are totally panicked or petrified by their fear of water. If you don't know if he can swim, take the test! Go for a walk by a lake or an easily accessible body of water. DO NOT force your dog into the water under any circumstances. If he doesn't want to go, he has a reason. Wouldn't you like someone to throw you in the water against your will? Well your dog is the same. Respect it.

Another tip: in order to canoe safely with your dog, he must obey you. In some rapids, he must be able to sit/lie down without moving in the canoe so as not to destabilize the boat, cause it to capsize or simply jump into the water. He could put himself in danger and put you in danger.

Come on! Let's go friends, for a canoe trip in one of these 5 spots. It promises to be a great experience to share with your dog. But you will understand: be careful! No way to go canoeing with your dog without a good life jacket. I hope this Top 5 Best Life Jackets for Dogs (Reviews & Tests) of 2020 will be useful for equipping your dog for your next nautical outings.

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