The 5 Best Dog Life Jackets For Your Doggy Paddler

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An Outward Hound dog life jacket we recommend on a blue background

The Spruce Pets / Lecia Landis

Even dogs who are natural doggy paddlers are at risk of drowning, and should be closely supervised around bodies of water. Dogs are especially at risk around unfenced pools, ponds with steep sides, and other spots where it's easy to get into the water but difficult to get out. Some dog breeds are weaker swimmers too, including brachycephalic—more commonly known as flat-faced—breeds like bulldogs and pugs.

Water safety begins with close attention. Dogs should never be around water unattended, and it's crucial to watch for signs of exhaustion while swimming. Some dogs have so much fun playing that they don’t want to stop for a break. A dog life jacket can further ensure their safety, especially if they're out on a boat with you and there's a possibility of them falling into open water, away from shore.

The best dog life jacket will fit properly, come in highly visible colors, and will impede your dog's natural movement as little as possible while still providing protection. The perfect life jacket will also have reflective portions and a handle on the back, which can allow you to pull your dog out of the water in an emergency.

Our favorite life vest for dogs is Outward Hound's Granby Splash Dog Life Jacket, because it will fit almost any dog well, has bright colors paired with reflective accents, and a beefy pull handle that will allow you to reliably lift your semi-aquatic friend into a boat with relative ease.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

Outward Hound Granby Dog Life Jacket

 Outward Hound Granby Splash Orange Dog Life Jacket, Large

Amazon

What We Like
  • Beefy double rescue handles

  • Multiple points of adjustment

  • Smooth-clicking clips for easy on and off

  • Highly visible, with reflective accents

  • Durable

  • Available in five sizes

What We Don't Like
  • No leash clip

  • Some colors have limited availability

The Granby Splash Dog Life Jacket from Outward Hound is the best choice for most dogs. Most important is its reliable fit, which uses two adjustable straps across your dog's belly and one across their chest. The neoprene belly band keeps the straps from chafing your dog's undercarriage. Selecting the right size requires only a single measurement—once you've measured your dog's chest girth, then it's easy to pick between the five different sizes, which are suitable for dogs between five and 100 pounds.

The Granby Splash is made from durable ripstop fabric and is designed to impede your dog's natural movements as little as possible. Part of this design is the front neck float, which concentrates padding to keep your dog's head above the water's surface. The life jacket also incorporates rescue handles on the back—two handles on larger sizes, a single handle for smaller sizes—which can be used to pull your dog from the water in an emergency.

It's also highly visible, with reflective accents. The Granby Splash is available in bright pink, yellow, or orange (Amazon has a few additional color options), though we've seen some limited availability, so not every color is can be had in every size.

Sizes: X-small, small, medium, large, x-large | Weight: Suitable for dogs between 5-100 pounds | Materials: Polyester, Polyurethane Foam | Colors: 5+ options

What We Like
  • Softer, PVC-free foam conforms better to your dog's body

  • No velcro, so fitting won't scare skittish dogs

  • Attractive color schemes

  • Machine washable

  • Durable, 800-denier shell

  • Thick and useful lift handle

What We Don't Like
  • Neck opening needs to slide over your dog's head

The Ruffwear Float Coat Dog Life Jacket makes several improvements on the design common to most other dog life jackets. It's also made of durable material, and a softer, PVC-free foam that conforms well to your dog's body (its CLPE foam is often used for packing medical equipment). It's also significantly more expensive than most other dog life jackets.

Similar to our favorite, the Granby Splash, Ruffwear's Float Coat primarily relies on chest girth for picking out the right size, making it easy to measure your dog and select between the six different size options. The jacket itself is durable and should last years, with an 800 denier ballistic polyester shell and polypropylene webbing. The telescoping neck is probably its most innovative feature, replacing the standard hook-and-loop closure with a nested sleeve design that can be loosened or tightened with a duckbill tension lock. This makes it a good pick for dogs that are scared of Velcro, but not such a good pick for dogs who recoil when something is pulled over their heads.

The Ruffwear Float Coat has lots of other useful features too, including a low-profile but usefully thick lift handle on the back, a D-ring for attaching a leash, and reflective accents. It's even got a loop designed for attaching a light, such as The Beacon Dog Safety Light. You can machine wash it too.

Sizes: XX-small, x-small, small, medium, large, x-large | Materials: 800 denier polyester, CLPE foam, polypropylene webbing, plastic | Colors: Red Sumar, Blue Dust, Wave Orange

Best Budget

Frisco Dog Life Jacket

Frisco Dog Life Jacket

Chewy

What We Like
  • Incorporates four reflective accents

  • Has grab handle and D-ring for leash attachment

  • Available in five sizes

What We Don't Like
  • Only available in two colors

  • Exclusive to one retailer

  • Requires a little more measuring to find proper size

The Frisco Ripstop Dog Life Jacket is remarkably similar to the Granby Splash, while also costing less. It's even got one distinct advantage over our favorite: a D-ring for attaching a leash. Similar to the Granby, Frisco's dog life jacket has a front flotation pad designed to keep your dog's head up, three adjustable straps, a padded neoprene belly band, and reflective accents. However, it's a little trickier to lock in a perfect fit with the Frisco version.

It's also available in pink.

Sizes: X-small, small, medium, large, x-large | Weight: Suitable for dogs between 5-100 pounds | Materials: Polyester, neoprene | Colors: Orange, pink

Best for Swimming Beginners

Frisco Frisco Neoprene Life Jacket

frisco neoprene dog life jacket

Chewy

What We Like
  • Front flotation flap keeps head elevated

  • Neoprene belly band

  • Includes D-Ring neck attachment

  • Grab handle for safety

  • Thicker foam than Frisco Ripstop life jacket

What We Don't Like
  • Extra padding can impede movement more than other jackets

  • Only available in red

The Frisco Neoprene Dog Life Jacket is similar to our favorite budget life jacket—also from Frisco—but has foam panels on the side that are approximately 50 percent thicker—1.21 inches compared to 0.8 inches. This makes it the perfect pick for dogs that aren't every strong swimmers, including flat-faced breeds and puppies. The Frisco Neoprene has other standard features, including a grab handle, front flotation flap, and a plastic D-ring so you can attach a leash.

The all neoprene construction and three-strap system helps keep the fit snug, but the thicker padding may limit your dog's movement a little bit compared to our other favorite jackets.

Sizes: X-small, small, medium, large, x-large | Weight: 15-100 pounds | Materials: Neoprene, polyester | Colors: Red

Best for Big Dogs

EzyDog Doggy Life Vest Jacket

EzyDog Doggy Life Vest Jacket

 Amazon

  • Contoured neck for a more comfortable fit around the head

  • Can accommodate more barrel-chested dogs

  • Nylon D-Ring for leash attachment

  • Reflective trim

What We Don't Like
  • Grab handles aren't as easy to grab, with a single loop instead of dual

  • Only available in two colors

Many mistakenly think that their large breed dogs don’t need a life jacket, especially working breeds such as Labradors. But the truth is, even your Olympic canine swimmer needs water protection. The EzyDog Premium Doggy Flotation Device is a great choice for large breed dogs because its largest size accommodates a chest girth measurement up to 48 inches, compared to the 44-inch limit for our favorite overall from Outward Hound. It's also got a contoured neck and a substantial amount of flotation foam, which should make it more comfortable for especially big dogs while still ensuring buoyancy.

The EzyDog also has a safety grab handle (though having two would have been better) and reflective bands. It also features a strong D-ring for a leash—and even a zippered storage pocket, so you can hide a few treats for post-swim. True to its name, the EzyDog Premium Doggy Flotation Device is made from a more heavy duty polyester, designed to stand up to wear and tear from larger dogs. It's available in red and yellow.

Sizes: X-small, small, medium, large, x-large | Weight: 15-90+ pounds | Materials: Polyester, neoprene | Colors: Red, yellow

Final Verdict

The Outward Hound Granby Dog Life Jacket is our top pick because it features dual grab handles, a neck float, and adjustable straps. It's available in a wide range of sizes, which makes it a solid choice for dogs large or small. If your dog is half-fish and you spend a lot of time around water, considering upgrading to the Ruffwear Float Coat Dog Life Jacket, which has more features and a high-quality foam that conforms well to your dog's body.

What to Look for in a Dog Life Jacket

Size

The most important thing to look for in a canine life jacket is the right size for your dog. A well-fitting life jacket can be a lifesaver for your pet. You’ll need to know your dog’s weight and chest measurement but some jackets may require you to measure the body length and neck circumference as well. Use your dog’s weight and measurements along with the manufacturer’s size chart to find the right size life jacket. In addition, most versions are equipped with adjustable buckles that will help you dial in the fit so that the jacket fits just right, rather than being too tight or too loose. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that adjustable buckles can make up for ordering the wrong size life jacket for your dog. 

Visibility

Many dog life jackets are available in bright, bold colors for good reason—they improve visibility. If your dog is in the water, a brightly colored life vest can make it easier to spot your pet. You may also consider looking for a life jacket with reflective strips if you will be using a life jacket on your dog in dusky or dark conditions. 

Handle and D-ring

Look for a dog life jacket with a secure, sturdy handle on the back. The handle can be used to pull your dog from the water in the event of an emergency. Be sure that the handle is designed and attached in a way that will support the weight of your pet. It’s a good idea to test it out before heading to the water for the first time. 

In addition to a handle, many dog life vests have an attachment point for a leash. This D-ring is usually located near the base of the handle and gives you a spot to secure a leash, in the event that you remove your dog’s collar while using the life vest.

FAQ
  • Do dogs need life jackets?

    A life jacket is a good idea for any dog that spends time on, in, or around the water. Though most dogs instinctively know how to swim, they may grow tired or become frightened—inhibiting their ability to continue swimming. Plus, most dog life jackets have a handle on the back that you can use to grab your dog in a potentially dangerous situation.

  • Do dogs have to wear life jackets on boats?

    Laws may not require your dog to wear a life jacket while on a boat and the U.S. Coast Guard does not regulate flotation devices for dogs. However, a life jacket is a good idea for any dog on a boat or a dog kayak. In the event that your dog falls overboard (or jumps into the water), the life jacket can provide buoyancy support and also provide you with a handle to assist in pulling your dog back in.

  • How do I measure my dog for a life jacket?

    Most manufacturers of dog life jackets provide specific measuring instructions. Generally, your dog’s weight, chest, and neck measurements will determine what size life jacket is required. To measure your dog’s chest, place a tape measure behind the armpits and at the bottom of the rib cage—this should be the widest part of the chest. Bring the tape over the dog’s back and down to the rib cage to find the total girth of your dog’s chest. You may also need to measure your dog’s neck and body length to find a life jacket that fits securely and comfortably.

  • Can dogs wear human life jackets?

    You should always use a proper fitting canine life jacket for your pet, rather than attempting to make a human life jacket fit. Life jackets designed for dogs have support panels and buckles in the right places to support canine anatomy and ensure a secure fit. In addition, most dog life jackets have a D-ring for a leash, along with a handle, to keep firm hold on your pet.  

  • How should a dog life jacket fit?

    A properly fitting dog life jacket should fit close to the body without being overly restrictive. It should allow your dog to breathe easily and also allow for a full range of motion—including walking, running, and jumping. 

Why Trust The Spruce Pets

This article was written by Ellie Welles, a pet expert and product reviewer for The Spruce Pets who specializes in gear for small animals. She lives with her two cats in Brooklyn, New York. For this roundup, she evaluated safety claims and sought out high-quality guidance regarding fit and water safety.

A previous version of this article was written by Ashley Knierim, a journalist with more than 5 years experience in evaluating and testing pet products. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her two rescue dogs.