Do Dog Life Jackets Make Sense?
With the spring thaw now, and with the hot and steamy of summer days coming, it might be time to think about the time you’re planning to spend on the water with your dog. I’ve had a couple of experiences as the owner of water-loving, ball retrieving lab, that’s made me very conscious of this. It’s a good idea to consider your dog’s safety when you’re planning those boating or swimming trips, or just a lovely day on the beach.
A personal story
After a day of swimming
I almost lost my lab a few years ago. Like many retrieving breeds, she is ball obsessed. And she loves to swim. I was walking her, off leash, by a local river in the spring. The water level was about 20 feet higher than usual, it was moving at an insane speed, and there was a ton of debris in the river – fallen trees, for example.
A young boy happened to be standing by the river, saw her, and immediately threw a ball across the river for her to get. Before I could stop her, she was in the water and after the ball. She is a very strong swimmer, but the current was so strong, the undertow so intense, and there was so much fast-moving debris that she almost didn’t make it back to shore that day. The conditions were such that there was no way any of us on the shore could have gone in after her.
I got very lucky that day and have been much more conscious of water dangers ever since. My border collie mix, for example, refuses to swim. If she ever fell into a river where I couldn’t get to her, she simply doesn’t have the swimming skills or stamina to get out on her own.
Where dogs can get into trouble
big dog and small dog
There are dog breeds who are simply not built for swimming. For example, some of the tiny teacup breeds don’t have the strength to swim far or be able to manage in rough water. (Consider the little dachshund in the picture.)
Some of the muscular breeds are so top-heavy that they just aren’t built for spending time in the water and swimming.
When you stop and think about it, so many things can go wrong when you’re with your dog at or in any kind of water.
- Dogs fall out of boats by jumping or being swept over by waves, or the boat turning unexpectedly
- They can get caught in an undertow that no-one sees at the beach
- They can get caught under a wave
- Not all dogs have the stamina required to get to shore if it’s a long way or if the water is moving quickly
It’s really important, even if you have a strong swimmer, to keep them protected in the event of an unforeseen issue. Do consider getting them a dog life vest. It’s very, very worthwhile investment.
I’ve found some nicely designed dog life jackets and offer them on The Camping Dog Supplies website. In fact, the life vest shown in the video below is one of the many choices offered.
