It is amazing how interested dogs can be about exploring new things. It’s our job to make sure these new experiences are safe. For example, what if you have the opportunity to explore water ways in a boat or kayak? Getting your pet nvolbed can be a lot of fun.
Although there are a lot of dogs who can swim, some might be inexperienced or even unable to swim. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t forget the life jackets. Take for example Wally here. He doesn’t know or trust the water. But given the chance he will be the first to jump onboard.
Wally in vest
A vest can reduce your and your your dog’s uncertainty. Our Indie, a border collie, would not go into the water. However, once we put the life jacket on him, he would run over to a kayak and jump in and sit down, ready to go.
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Selecting a Lifejacket
Like people, dogs come in all sizes, and some jackets fit better than others.
In the picture above, Wally is wearing a jacket that was too small. So, we ordered the next size up. Of course, It took him a little while to get used to it
Get Your Dog Acclimated to the Jacket
Don’t expect your dog to automatically like the strange thing wrapped around him. Several years ago we bought life jackets for our two dogs. Neither had ever had anything around them. My wife called my on my way home work work and and said the jackets had arrived. When I turned into our driveway, there they were, standing long lawn ornaments adorned with their new jackets frozen in same the same position they were in when my wife put them on, confused what to do.
Having one of these vests available for your dog can help a dog who is tentative to be in the water as well one who likes to swim but might stay in too long. One thing for sure it will help if the dog runs into a problem in water and nobody is around. Our dog Indy, fell off the dock when he was young. Of course he freaked but it could’ve been worse because he fell between the dock and the boat. If he had gotten knocked out, he would’ve been a goner. Fortunately that didn’t happen, and also a friend happed to see this happen and was close enough to grab his collar and pull him back up on the dock.
In any, case, be safe by being proactive and getting a vest that can support your pup.