I'm sure this has been asked before, but I cannot find it on here - does anyone have experience of life vests for dogs? Jack Russell is sturdy, long-backed and very short-legged...

Before ordering one (found a supplier here Pet Lifejackets - Lifejackets for Dogs and Cats) does anyone have reservations about them? Suppose the best ones are the most expensive!

Trish

Mixed blessing - in a river a B.A. can pose a significant snag hazard and most dogs swim pretty well "straight out the box".

In a boat the big win is the grab handle which allows you to hoick the beastie back inboard relatively easily.

Marine Warehouse Ltd Dog Life jackets

As ever with B.A. it should fit - a loose one is a bloody nightmare.

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Plusnet/Madasafish > Liars to the internet community

Thanks Downstream. She won't be prancing about the river bank in a fluorescent jacket, just in a boat. Will just order something and see if it fits, send it back, and repeat until I find the right one. Comfort is an issue because she is already inclined to announce the end of river fishing when she gets bored, there'll be hassle in a boat if the BA is uncomfortable.

I know, leave her in the car! Have to give it a try though

Trish

Dog life jacket ezy dog seadog floatation device stop your dog from drowning with the dog life jacket


The sea-dog jacket is about £30 - lucky dogs.!!

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Save the softmouth trout

I just can't see the need for them at all. Dogs are amazing swimmers. How often do we hear of owners drowning trying to save their dogs, yet the dogs almost always get out ok.
It is the danger of straps getting tangled in something that puts me off, even in a boat. You don't need a handle to pick a jack russel out of the water either, that's what the scruff of th neck is for! I've pulled full grown soaking wet collies out this way a few times, they really don't mind at all when the option is being swept away


Andy

Not a fan I'm afraid.

I couldn't keep my last dog out of the water, he loved it.

I was taking him round Orkney and Shetland on a dive boat and as the sea gets really lumpy up there I decided to get a bouyancy jacket for him, just in case.

Granted it kept him afloat but it had a tendancy to roll him onto his side and he actually started to fight it and panic, so much so that after a couple of trial runs the old b*gger refused to let you anywhere near him with it.

Vics

i thought they floated naturally? my choccy lab loves the water and is a great swimmer. Looks like a big otter when she gets in though!
I think they're like the other pet clothing, just over-priced **** that dopey women buy and then say 'awwww, isn't it cute.' No it's not. the thing looks bloody stupid. Best one i heard is 'he looks just like a person'. What, with the fur, four legs, shorntess and waggy tail?

Oh and i agree, you don't need a strap to lift a jack russel out. In fact best thing to do with a jack russel is leave it in there! (kidding)

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Chris

Gott weiss ich will kein Engel sein