Should My Dog Wear A Life Jacket
Any time you are taking your dog along on an adventure in or near water, your dog should wear a life jacket, just like a human. This is crucial, even if your dog is an excellent swimmer. In the unlikely but devastating event of an accident, the life jacket will keep your dog afloat even when its too tired to swim.
The right jacket can also keep your dog insulated and minimize the risk of developing a cold-related illness.
Wellver Dog Life Jacket
Its the best budget-friendly Large Dog Life Vest available online. Not only does it come at a very good price, but it also offers maximum safety to your dogs, while swimming.
Available in four different colors and two different style patterns, Wellver provides you with plenty of options to choose from. The Large Dog Life Jacket is buoyant enough to work well in different wet environments, including pools, rivers, and beaches.
The combination of bright colors and reflective trims provide maximum visibility even in the dark to prevent collision with other sea surfers. The Velcro fitting around the neck and belly region provide quick adjustment and secure fitting for comfortable wear. Its sturdy rescue handle makes it easy to lift your dog in and out of water.
Things We Like:
- ;Not right for medium, large or extra-large dogs
Even Professional Swimmers Get Tired
Though a dog may be a perfectly good swimmer, it is always important to ensure that they wear a life jacket. We all know that even professional swimmers get tired.
Moreover, they are not immune to incidents that may see them drown or have trouble staying afloat or keeping their heads above water.
The same goes for dogs. Even though most breeds are natural swimmers, it is important to ensure that the dog wears a life jacket while on a boat.
Wearing such a life jacket protects the dog and elongates its lifespan should there be an accident where the dog falls overboard and needs to swim to safety.;
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Selecting A Life Jacket For Your Golden Retriever
Dog life jackets come in different sizes, so you can find one that fits your Golden Retriever, whether they are a puppy or an adult dog. Heres how to find the right one:
- Take a tape and measure your pets chest girth.
- Use the tape to measure your pets neck girth.
- While your dog is in the standing position, measure the length of your pets back from your pets neck base to the base of their tail.
- Compare these measurements to those of the life jacket and buy the one that fits or is a close approximate. Most dog life jackets allow for some amount of adjustment to custom fit your dog.
Always wanted your pet to look like a shark or a mermaid? Now you can pick dog life jackets in these styles to make your wish come true. Here are a couple of interesting ones to check out:
You may also want to check out this article about dressing up your puppy on ScoutKnows:;Cutest Dog Dinosaur Costumes
How Do I Get My Dog Adjusted To A Life Jacket
You can help your dog get used to a life jacket in the same basic way youd get him comfortable with any other new garment. Start in your living room, and allow him to sniff the jacket and check it out, maybe while sharing a few tasty treats to build up a positive association. Then try to gently put it on him, but take it off after a few minutes. Repeat this as necessary until he seems comfortable and happy wearing it. At this point, you can move to the water and see how he does.
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Kurgo Surf N Turf Dog Life Jacket
The Surf N Turf is a multi-purpose jacket with a mid-range price tag. When not being used as a life jacket, the floatation liner may be removed to convert the jacket into a rain coat.
It may be also converted into a warm three-season coat when Kurgos Dog Coat is inserted into the shell.
Two metal D-rings allow for secure leash connections while two transverse handles provide quick and easy control or extraction in the water.
You never have to worry about losing your dog in this jacket, as the red color is bright and the trim is highly reflective. The Surf n Turf lacks floatation material in the belly so that even tired dogs have an easy time staying upright in a current.
Available in five different size ranges with a minimum girth of 14 inches and max girth of 45 inches, Kurgo offers a size chart to help you find the perfect fit for your faithful companion.
Kurgo also offers a lifetime warranty for their products, provided they are bought new from an authorized seller. Between the versatility and fit of this life jacket, you and your dog will be able to enjoy many fun outings together.
What To Look For In A Good Golden Retriever Life Jacket
Your Golden Retriever is a large dog with a dense coat. This can often make it difficult to find an appropriately-fitting dog life vest, so its important to take your time to consider your options to ensure you find a safe and secure fit for your dog.
A few features that may be beneficial to consider when selecting a good Golden Retriever life vest include:
These are just a few things that you may want to consider when finding the right product for your Golden Retriever. Never use any product with your dog without seeking professional veterinary consultation.
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How Should A Dog Life Vest Or Jacket Fit
A dog life jacket that doesnt fit well might not do much good in an emergency. In order to ensure that your dogs life vest fits correctly, youll need to start with accurate measurements.
First, weigh your dog to make sure that they are within the weight range of a given size and brand of life jacket. Next, measure your dogs length from the neck all the way to the base of the tail. Finally, measure your dogs girth around the widest part of the neck and the widest part of the chest.
When ordering your dogs life jacket, make certain that your dogs measurements stay comfortably within the manufacturers recommendations.
When your life jacket arrives, follow these steps to get started.
- Unclip and loosen all buckles and straps.
- Put the life jacket on your dog.
- Connect the neck clip.
- Tighten it until its snug but still allows your dog some room to move around.
Connect, adjust, and tighten the chest straps until snug. The chest straps do most of the work holding the life jacket in place, so a tight fit is goodas long as your dog is comfortable and can breathe easily.
Before using the life vest in the water, have your dog run around a bit while you watch to make sure the life jacket stays in place and that your dog seems comfortable and happy.
Can A Dog Still Drown While Wearing A Life Jacket
Unfortunately, it is possible for a dog to drown while wearing a life vest. “Dogs who are not well supported from a flotation perspective can panic or tire from treading water, increasing the risk of drowning,” said Wolko. Dogs wearing life jackets may also face extreme danger if they become trapped under the water or if waves or rapids are splashing in their nose and mouth, McGlynn added. A life jacket that is properly fitted can help minimize the risk, as can educating yourself about canine water safety before enjoying the water.
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Use Caution When Connecting A Life Vest To A Leash Or Tether
Most good life jackets and vests come equipped with a D-ring to which you can attach a leash or tether. This can make it easier to keep your dog safe while walking to the pool or lake.
But, youll want to test out the strength of the D-ring before you rely on it to keep your dog from running out into traffic. The included D-rings are generally intended for light-duty use, so they may not be capable of withstanding your strong huskys pulling behavior.
These rings will also make it easier to keep your dog from straying too far in the water if you switch out the leash for a long rope when it is time to go swimming.
This is also a great technique for dogs who stop listening once they start swimming sometimes they have so much fun swimming, they become rather disobedient. But with a tether, you can just drag them back to shore.
Just be sure to use caution when tying your dog to a tether while swimming. If the rope gets caught around your dogs legs or neck, he could become unable to swim or suffer an injury. Using a tether requires constant vigilance from the owner.
Some owners find that it is easier to keep the rope from entangling a dog by attaching something buoyant to the rope about 1- to 2-feet away from the ring. This isnt a foolproof technique, but it will keep the rope out of your dogs way to some extent.
Why Should I Use A Dog Life Jacket
The simplest answer to why you should use a dog life jacket is because its your job as a dog owner to keep your dog safe. Every parent knows that the only way to keep their children protected when boating or swimming in open water is to stick a life jacket on, no matter how well they swim and no matter how much they dislike it. As dog owners, we have that same responsibility to keep our dogs safeeven if we sympathize with their desire to ride the waves unencumbered.
Furthermore, even if your dog is a great swimmer, wearing a life jacket can help make your dog more readily visible in case youre separated on the water. In cold water or water with strong currents, even a few seconds can make a big difference in guaranteeing your dogs safety.
There are also some dogs who just arent built to be swimmers. Dogs who have naturally low body fat, for example, like a Whippet or Greyhound, can have a lot of difficulty staying buoyant and keeping warm in cooler water. Older dogs or out-of-shape pooches might lack the stamina they need to keep doggy paddling for too long. Or short-legged dogs might use up all of their energy because they need to paddle more to keep themselves afloat.
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Do Dogs Have To Wear Life Jackets
Do dogs have to wear life jackets?
Many dog breeds are fond of the water and given a chance, they will instantly jump into a pool, lake, or ocean.
One of the joys some of these dog breeds enjoy is a day out in the open water just to sit and feel the breeze in their face.
Is it necessary for them to wear a dog life jacket if they will sit inside the boat all through? Yes, it is important for all dogs to wear lifejackets as it guarantees their added safety and prevents them from any harm that may come due to cold.;
Be Careful Attaching Leashes Or Tethers
While many dog life jackets have a D-ring to attach a leash or tether to, you should;use them with caution. On land, a dog may pull hard enough when they are on a leash to rip the D-ring off the life vest. In the water, a long tether may wrap around your dogs legs and interfere with their swimming.
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Best Dog Harnesses For A Golden Retriever In 2021
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If youre familiar with Golden Retrievers, you already know that they are highly trainable. Thats why they are commonly used as service dogs and make a fantastic family pet. However, they are still a large breed of dog and will need a lot of patience and attention as they learn and grow.
Leash training is a huge part of any dogs training process. That is why the right harness is so important. Were here to give you some pointers on what you should look for. We also want to give you some highly sought after options on the market.
Before you know it, you and your puppy will be well on your way to finding the best Golden Retriever harness that fits your style, purpose, and budget.
Vivaglory Sports Style Ripstop Dog Life Jacket
The Sports Style Ripstop Dog Life Jacket from Vivaglory has a more open design than their original style and gives even more freedom of movement. It is available in extra small, small, and medium sizes, and many colors. The strategic neck design keeps your dog in a more natural swimming position and reduces panic and anxiety.
- 600D oxford cloth for durability
- Bright colors and reflective trims so your dog is always visible in and out of water
- Constructed from materials that have passed CA65 safety standards
The Outward Hound Dawson Dog Life Jacket is designed for novice canine swimmers. The foam neoprene side panels provide maximum buoyancy and help keep dogs warm while swimming. It comes in 5 girth-based sizes from XS to XL.
- High visibility red or orange color comes with reflective piping
- Emergency lifting handles to make sure you can remove the dog from any situations needed
- Warming insulation makes an ideal jacket for cool or cold water use
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Some Dog Life Jackets For Your Golden Retriever
A good dog life jacket is a must if you and your dog are going to spend a significant amount of time on the water. It will keep your Golden Retriever safe from the risk of drowning, and your pet will be happier and will feel more secure as they swim in the water. You will also be more at ease knowing that your pet is well-protected and can be rescued quickly in case of an adverse event.
Paws Aboard Life Jacket
The two things we love best about this life jacket are the funky fabric optionsalthough wed still recommend a bright color for visibilityand the versatile fit. It features extra fabric below the belly straps for comfort, a leash clip, and extra padding in the front to support the head. Though it has a top handle, its a bit thin, so it might not be a strong choice for the heaviest dogs.
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What Breed Produces The Most Puppies
As mentioned earlier, a dogs size and therefore her breed is probably the most important single factor that influences litter size. Larger dogs produce larger litters, so it stands to reason that breeds with larger average size will produce more puppies than breeds with smaller average body size will.
Simply put, Great Danes will usually produce larger litters than Chihuahuas will. We cant find a reliable study that has sought to determine the most fertile breed, but it is surely one of the largest ones, such as one of the mastiffs, Irish wolfhounds, or Great Danes.
However, it is a bit more difficult to determine which breed will usually produce the most puppies over the females entire lifetime. This is partially due to the fact that small dogs routinely live much longer than large breeds do. A Pomeranian may, for example, live to be 15 years of age, while Irish wolfhounds usually only live for about half as long.
So, while the Pomeranians litters are likely to be much smaller than those of a wolfhound, the Pomeranian will have the chance to produce many more litters over the course of her life.
Additionally, small breeds tend to experience their first heat at a younger age than larger breeds do . They also tend to cycle more quickly, which also makes them more likely to produce more litters than larger breeds.
Six More Highly Rated Dog Harnesses For Labrador Retrievers
Next up are dog harnesses for different situations, such as training, car rides, and more.
Given Labs are super social and love greeting everyone they meet, they are one of the most notorious breeds for pulling on their leash or harness to excess.
While most no-pull harnesses are front-clip, the Sporn is a back-clip style. It deters pulling with its padded restraints that go under the dogs front legs.
When your pup pulls too much on the leash, the restraints will tickle the dog, creating a sensation most dogs do not care for. The sensation does not hurt, nor is it harmful to your dog.
For added comfort, the chest piece is made out of stretchy mesh, but the rest of it is made out of durable nylon that can withstand repeated pulling by large, powerful dogs such as Labrador Retrievers.
Labrador Retrievers love an adventure and make great traveling companions, so be sure to keep them safe in your car with a harness that is crash-tested such as the Kurgo Tru-Fit Smart Harness.
The Kurgo comes with an extra clip for securing the harness to your cars seat belt, which when combined with the proprietary all-steel Nesting Buckle System, provides the ultimate level of safety while your Lab rides in the back seat of your car.
As your Lab adjusts to walking without pulling, you can start using the back ring to attach your leash to the harness.
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