Most dogs just love a trip to the beach, a walk by a lake or simply swimming in any water! These days, smart dog owners, who know the danger that water can present to dogs as well as humans, are making sure their dogs are protected by wearing dog life jackets for safe, fun play near and in the water.
There is an array of dog swim vests on the market and making a choice is difficult, so what features are important to ensure your dog gets the best protection from this product? I have recently bought a dog life jacket for my westie, Dougie - it took me a whole afternoon to compare product features, read various reviews and finally shop around for the best price but Dougie has used it 5 times now and I am very pleased with the informed choice I made.
So here are the key points you should be considering when getting your dog a dog life vest: * USER REVIEWS - does the product have genuine user reviews? Read them and if the product is rated with stars, you should be looking for the maximum score as dog life vests are a safety product which needs to perform 100%.
So 5/5 or 10/10 is of primary concern.
* SIZE - does the manufacturer offer at least 5 sizes (xsm, sm, med, lg, and xlg).
Does the product state how to measure your dog for those sizes? (Amazingly most don't!!) * VISIBILITY - is the dog swim vest available in high visibility finish or even reflective (useful at night if you're taking your dog on a boat)? This is important, as if there is an accident, your dog needs to be seen in the water.
* COMFORT - is the product well-made with adjustable straps that have a buckle rather than just Velcro? It is important that your dog can move around as normal in the dog life jacket, but not be able to wriggle out of it.
I let my westie wear his in the house for a few hours to make sure he was happy and able to do everything he normally does with it on.
* PRICE - shop around for the best deal on the product you have chosen and make sure there is secure purchasing if it is online.
Personally I wouldn't consider buying a used dog life vest.
There is an array of dog swim vests on the market and making a choice is difficult, so what features are important to ensure your dog gets the best protection from this product? I have recently bought a dog life jacket for my westie, Dougie - it took me a whole afternoon to compare product features, read various reviews and finally shop around for the best price but Dougie has used it 5 times now and I am very pleased with the informed choice I made.
So here are the key points you should be considering when getting your dog a dog life vest: * USER REVIEWS - does the product have genuine user reviews? Read them and if the product is rated with stars, you should be looking for the maximum score as dog life vests are a safety product which needs to perform 100%.
So 5/5 or 10/10 is of primary concern.
* SIZE - does the manufacturer offer at least 5 sizes (xsm, sm, med, lg, and xlg).
Does the product state how to measure your dog for those sizes? (Amazingly most don't!!) * VISIBILITY - is the dog swim vest available in high visibility finish or even reflective (useful at night if you're taking your dog on a boat)? This is important, as if there is an accident, your dog needs to be seen in the water.
* COMFORT - is the product well-made with adjustable straps that have a buckle rather than just Velcro? It is important that your dog can move around as normal in the dog life jacket, but not be able to wriggle out of it.
I let my westie wear his in the house for a few hours to make sure he was happy and able to do everything he normally does with it on.
* PRICE - shop around for the best deal on the product you have chosen and make sure there is secure purchasing if it is online.
Personally I wouldn't consider buying a used dog life vest.