Dog Lifejackets

Talulah

Talulah

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I took the dog down to the marina one evening this week.
The weather was miserable.
When we left the boat I lifted the dog off and put it down on the main pontoon (not the finger) and then proceeded to do up the gate in the railings.
Splash. The dog had fallen in.
I couldn't immediately spot it. The dog is almost black and it was dark. Luckily I just caught a glimpse of the white tip of its tail as it disappeared under a pontoon.
I reached in. Pulled it out backwards by its tail and lifted it out. poor thing.
Off to the shower block to give it a shower. It hates the water.

As my wife never allows me to take the dog except on very rare occasions I hadn't bought it a flotation jacket. So this week, knowing my life wouldn't be worth living if the dog went in again I bought a jacket.

The dog doesn't look too happy.
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Don't they just look so cute?
Let's turn this in to a 'show us a photo of your dog in a float jacket' thread.
I have to admit, I'm a dog lover. Not a cat lover. Does anyone put there cat in a similar jacket?
 
I have been thinking about a lifejacket for my dog as he will be coming sailing with me this year. He is a golden retriever and not yet fully grown but I imagine he will be a fair size as at 5 months old he is 20kg. I have been slightly worried about the prospect of climbing from the dinghy up the swim ladder carrying him with one arm! I want a jacket that is sturdy enough that I can lift him with a boat hook through the loop on the back if he falls overboard. Has anyone got experience of having to do these things? Which doggy lifejacket do you recommend?
 
Talulah said:
Don't they just look so cute?
Let's turn this in to a 'show us a photo of your dog in a float jacket' thread.
I have to admit, I'm a dog lover. Not a cat lover. Does anyone put there cat in a similar jacket?
Click to expand...

Yes let's. As for the Petfloat jacket, I can't quite understand what the little zipped pouch on the back is for. On my buoyancy aid I keep a knife and chocolate bars in it but chocolate is not good for dogs and anyway even if he could reach it, he's rubbish with zips! ;)

I can think of a few 'jackets' to put a cat in, but then I'm no cat lover either!!
 
WestWittering said:
That looks a very good jacket. Much better fit than the Petfloat jackets my two have :( my dogs slip out of them backwards when I pick them up by the handles.

Di
Click to expand...

I didn't realise that dogs had handles but I'm more of a cat person so I s'pose I've lost touch with all those new dog breeds...
 
robertt said:
I have been thinking about a lifejacket for my dog as he will be coming sailing with me this year. He is a golden retriever and not yet fully grown but I imagine he will be a fair size as at 5 months old he is 20kg. I have been slightly worried about the prospect of climbing from the dinghy up the swim ladder carrying him with one arm! I want a jacket that is sturdy enough that I can lift him with a boat hook through the loop on the back if he falls overboard. Has anyone got experience of having to do these things? Which doggy lifejacket do you recommend?
Click to expand...


This is why we went for a Working Cocker Spaniel. I love gundogs but couldn't see me lifting 35kg of dog with one hand whilst balancing in the dinghy. The Petfloat jacket we have (as above) is well balanced for lifting and it must feel secure to the dog as he doesn't struggle and happily hangs in it while he is passed onto the boat.

I've never tried lifting him with a boat hook but he is clipped on the entire time we are under way. If he were to end up in the drink I would be able to reach down at the shrouds to pull him out.
 
Looks too bulky and uncomfortable to me particularly around the neck. Your guy is identical to our Archie at that age - Archie is now four. Archie "life jacket" is a lot looser at the front, also we really only use it for lifting him in / out of the dinghy - cockers are made to swim! He seems to find the fit ok as he has no problem with it being on, even sleeping in it. We keep it on him permanently when on the move just in case he fell in - which he never has - and have a way of grabbing him with the boathook.

He has been sailing for 4 seasons and has done the IOM, Wales, Ireland, Barra, Skye, etc. We hope to go round Ireland with him this year - we did it 6 years ago with our previous one. He is great company and a real joy to sail with

Both were full "trained" to poo/pee on the foredeck even on the move so we can go for days on end without having to go ashore even though Archie has now twigged on if we get up before 08.00 we are in for a long day and does his business as we prepare to haul the anchor up!

Archie fell in twice this year without his jacket on - never fallen in in his life before. First in Howth in May in a horrible wet day when he stepped backwards on the pontoon when I tried to lift him on board - fell in, swam, and I grabbed him by the collar and hauled him out. Shook himself all over me and pottered about his business with tail wagging.

Second time in November in Largs. I was on the boat for a few minutes and when I got off he was not on the pontoon as normal. Noticed a few splashes on it which I had not caused. Then went to the end of the pontoon as I heard what I thought was eider duck but nothing. Getting more worried and up between the boat and the pontoon and under the fenders this thing comes swimming - Archie totally relaxed and not a care in the world. Grabbed him again and hauled him out only to get absolutely soaked for my good deed. He then did a few 50m sprints up and down the walkway to dry off.

I think he may have been startled by an eider duck and went in as he was constantly peering over the edge of the walkway on the way back up to the car. If I had missed him I think he would have ended up getting out on the breakwater which he is well used to climbing on.


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Dog life jackets

To Roberrt

Our Golden Retriever, now 8 months old has been sailing with us since she was 12 weeks old. She outgrew her first life jacket in a matter of weeks and we now have one of the Ruffwear ones similar to the OP. The 2 attached photos were taken just 9 weeks apart!

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image.jpgand here she is again in her new Ruffwear lifejacket which was a little on the large size to start with but now fits rather more snugly.
 
The life jacket is to big, take it back get one a little smaller so its less of an issue.

The only reason a dog needs a LJ is for visibility and handle.

PM Me if you want to try a smaller one I have 2 some where, used by my dogs before X wife took them..
 
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