A dog life jacket is a must for those who want to share their water adventures with their pups. This essential piece of dog gear ensures your pet’s safety on water. Choosing a life jacket for a pup, one needs to take into account the dog’s size, weight, and body shape. Within the framework of this guide, we’ll review life vests and jackets for bulldogs, which are known for their specific physical characteristics.
Table of Contents:
A Bull Dog Life Jacket: Things to Consider
Top-Five Bull Dog Life Jackets: a Comparative Chart
The Best Bull Dog Life Jackets: Our Choice
1. RUFFWEAR – Float Coat Dog Life Jacket
2. EzyDog Doggy Flotation Device Dog Life Vest Jacket
3. SwimWays Sea Squirts Dog Life Vest
4. HAOCOO Dog Life Jacket
5. iChoue Dog Life Jacket
Frequently Asked Questions
Verdict and Recommendations
A Bull Dog Life Jacket: Things to Consider
Bulldogs have some features that make them different from other breeds. These features include a broad chest, a narrow waist, and a relatively short thick neck. Another problem is that, unlike most other breeds, bulldogs are not great swimmers. Frankly speaking, usually, they can’t swim at all.
A good life jacket for bulldogs must meet several basic requirements. Most significantly, it should fit well: both too loose and too tight vests are dangerous to wear. Also, a jacket must be made of high-quality wear-resistant materials and have a strong rescue handle. You must be able to save your pup immediately if it has any problems while being on the water. Finally, the vest must contain enough floatation material (foam) to keep a heavy bulldog on the water surface. We’ve conducted comprehensive research to select top-five vest options that fully meet all the above-mentioned requirements.
Top-Five Bull Dog Life Jackets: a Comparative Chart
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Best Choice
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RUFFWEAR Float Coat Dog Life Jacket
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Also great
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EzyDog Doggy Flotation Device Dog Life Vest Jacket
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Also great
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SwimWays Sea Squirts Dog Life Vest
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Also great
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HAOCOO Dog Life Jacket
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Also great
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iChoue Dog Life Jacket
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The Best Bull Dog Life Jackets: Our Choice
Our list of top-five dog life jackets includes products from popular brands that are currently available on Amazon. For each option, we’ve singled out its key features, pros and cons. Meet the winners!
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RUFFWEAR – Float Coat Dog Life Jacket
Ruffwear offers a versatile and fully adjustable bull dog life jacket (a.k.a. float coat) that is almost perfect for bulldogs. It is made of strong tear- and wear-resistant fabric and comes in several bright colors. An improved floatation is provided by smartly placed panels made of closed-cell foam, which guarantees a natural body position during swimming. The neck closure is slightly wider than usual; moreover, it can be adjusted with the help of side buckles. The vest is comfortable, lightweight, and easy to adjust.
What we think
This float coat has a lot to be loved for. We love both its design and functionality. The handle is strong enough to take a large dog out of water. The vest itself is really comfortable and easy to put on and take off. Thanks to a large size range, choosing the right size is easy. That being said, the jacket is quite expensive if compared to its counterparts.
PROS
- high-quality materials;
- a reflective trim improves visibility;
- provides a natural body position;
- fully adjustable;
- comes in a variety of colors and sizes.
CONS
- it is quite expensive;
- it is not packed with various features.
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EzyDog Doggy Flotation Device Dog Life Vest Jacket
Being marketed as a flotation device, this life jacket boasts an improved buoyancy. According to the manufacturer’s claims, it uses 50% more foam than most popular brands. Thanks to this, the jacket seems a bit thick and oversized, but it is really lightweight and comfortable. All the straps, including the rescue handle, are made of neoprene, which is an innovated tear-resistant material. The vest is fully adjustable and comes in different sizes and colors.
What we think
A great thing about this bull dog life jacket is an extra layer of foam under the throat strap, which keeps a dog’s head above the water level all the time. The flotation device itself is a bit shorter than usual, which makes it fit a bulldog’s body perfectly. All in all, the vest definitely costs its money, though it’s not cheap.
PROS
- great flotation properties;
- an extra layer of foam under the throat strap;
- lightweight and comfortable;
- fully adjustable;
- easy to fit.
CONS
- can be difficult to put on and take off;
- it is pricey.
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SwimWays Sea Squirts Dog Life Vest
If you are looking for a good budget-friendly option, this full-size life jacket by SwimWays is worthy of consideration. It covers the entire body, providing the maximum support of the pup in the water. The jacket is made of high-quality materials – durable and wear-resistant. Apart from a nylon rescue handle, it features a metal ring for attaching a leash. A funny shark fin on the back makes the vest really cute.
What we think
All things taken together, this life jacket is a good value for money. It provides excellent buoyancy while being comfortable and durable enough. It comes in six sizes, which makes it easy to find a perfect fit for your pup. That said, the handle seems to be not too sturdy, especially for heavy dogs. The Velcro fastening on the belly seems to be excessive and sticks to the hairs of long-haired dogs.
PROS
- a good price/quality ratio;
- cute design;
- a full body coverage for the maximum support;
- high-quality materials.
CONS
- the handle is flimsy;
- the Velcro fastening is unnecessary.
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HAOCOO Dog Life Jacket
This is another great low-budget option that comes in a variety of styles and sizes. It is fully adjustable and features convenient quick-release buckles, which make it easy to put on and take off. The under-throat strap is filled with a layer of flotation material that helps to keep the pet’s head above the water all the time.
What we think
There’s not much to say about this dog life jacket. It is a good option for money but it is not packed with features. All in all, it does its job, but beware of sizes, as many customers say it tends to run small.
PROS
- affordable and easy to use;
- a lot of colors and sizes to choose from;
- fully adjustable;
- provides a good buoyancy.
CONS
- tends to run small;
- a plastic ring for a leash is flimsy.
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iChoue Dog Life Jacket
iChoue is a well-made mid-priced option of a dog life jacket with a removable neck float for head support. It is easy to fit and features secure lockable buckles that keep the vest in place during swimming. The rescue handle is hidden, which makes it look so cute. Thing reflective stripes improve visibility.
What we think
The vest is well-made and it does its work as it should. We also loved the detachable neck float. The hidden handle looks well but it’s not very convenient in emergency situations. The lockable buckles ensure a secure grip but they are also made hidden, which makes it difficult to put on and adjust the jacket.
PROS
- high-quality materials;
- an attractive price;
- a nice removable neck float;
- a good buoyancy.
CONS
- the hidden handle is not very effective;
- difficult to put on and adjust.
Frequently Asked Questions
A dog life jacket is easy to choose and use if you know what features you need and how to make use of them. Here are the answers to some popular customers’ questions. Check this section before making a purchase.
Q: How to Measure a Bull Dog for a Life Jacket?
A: When it comes to choosing the best bull dog life jacket, the right fit is crucial. The most important measurement is the chest girth. Other measurements include the neck girth and back length. Match the results with the size chart on the manufacturer’s site and make the choice.
Q: What Size Life Jacket is for My Bull Dog?
A: It depends on your dog’s breed, age, size, and body weight. Normally, manufacturers offer detailed size charts that contain all the necessary information. Also, we recommend to read customer reviews before making a choice, as some vest models can run small or large.
Q: Why Use a Bull Dog Life Jacket?
A: Most bulldogs can’t swim. For this reason, a life jacket is a must-have for everyone planning any water activities with their bulldogs. Using a life vest is the only way to protect a pup on water.
Verdict and Recommendations
With quite a few nice bulldog life jackets available, the one by Ruffwear is our favorite. Despite its higher-than-average price, it is one of the most popular options around, and this is not without reason. A perfect fit, high-quality materials, and an improved buoyancy make it a great choice.
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