Got a dog who loves the water? Some dogs love to swim, others love to paddle, while others just want to lounge poolside. Whether it’s a pool, ocean, lake, or river, here are a few tips to keep your dog safe this summer.
Flotation devices 101
There are no standards for dog life jackets. You might want to read that again. The U.S. Coast Guard mandates that human flotation devices be designed for buoyancy in a non-swimming person waiting for rescue, but there is no such requirement for pets. Some poorly designed doggy life vests make drowning more likely! That puts the entire onus of safety on us.
Here are a few tips to purchasing and using a canine flotation device or life jacket:
Does your dog need one? It’s a common myth that all dogs know how to swim. Most dogs can do the doggy paddle, but will need a proper swimming lesson before diving off a dock. In fact, more than 5,000 dogs drown every year in backyard swimming pools. If your dog is going to spe…
