6 Best Dog Life Jackets for Safe Swimming
Fitting your dog in a life vest is the safest way to go when you're taking them boating, kayaking or maybe even just to a pool party.
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A big plus of dog ownership is being able to take your furry friend on outdoor adventures. If that includes going out on the water with your dog — boating, paddleboarding, playing fetch on the shore — experts including veterinarians who write about dog water safety and the American Kennel Club recommend using a dog life jacket.
If your pooch gets in trouble from rough waves or falling overboard (it happens, one tester told us, when his dog tries to jump from Dad's kayak to Mom's kayak) your dog stays safe. Using one protects an older dog or one who is nervous around water, but even if your dog is a great swimmer, a sporty life jacket gives an added layer of protection.
The best dog life jackets include a grab handle so you can guide and lift your dog. Read size charts carefully so you buy the right one and then use all of the adjustable straps so the jacket stays on your dog without restricting their movements. At the Good Housekeeping Institute we have plenty to help you care for your pet. We created this list with the help of real-world testers and made sure our final picks are well-reviewed and from brands that our Lab experts have come to trust.
Best Deal
Pros
- 90 percent five-star ratings on Amazon
- Praised for high-quality construction
- Appropriate for either strong or weak swimmers
Cons
- Priciest on our list
Not only did Ruffwear's Float Coat come recommended to us from pet owners who use a dog life jacket, we found it praised on Reddit and, as of press time, a solid 90 percent of its Amazon reviews were five-star. Users mention its high-quality fabric and buckles and that it's easy to get on and off. However, it also has the highest price on our list.
We like that the Float Coat has enough flotation for a dog who doesn't swim well but is also streamlined enough for a large dog that loves to swim, with plenty of room for movement around the front legs. There's a D ring tucked under the handle so you can attach a leash. It comes in six sizes, for small dogs (as narrow as a 13-inch girth) and large dogs (as wide as a 42-inch girth). Ruffwear is a respected brand when it comes to doggie outdoor accessories; it makes our favorite no-pull dog harness for long walks or hikes and our favorite dog coat for snow.
Sizes: XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL Range of girth: XXS starts at 13", XL ends at 42"
Pros
- Inflation under the chin helps keep a dog's head up
- Two grab handles
- Good choice for poor swimmers
Cons
- Bulky choice
- No D ring for attaching your dog's leash
Outward Hound makes the Granby for "maximum visibility and flotation" so it's good for dogs you might worry about, like the ones who aren't strong swimmers. Added flotation under the chin helps your dog keep its head up. The Granby looks similar to a person's life jacket in that it's a little bulky. This affordable choice is not as sleek as our best overall, but in addition to the robust foam there are two rescue handles on the back, which might help you better lift your dog out of the water if or when you need to.
Our biggest issue with the Granby is that it does not have a D ring that you can use to attach your leash to the life vest. For some users, that means their dog wears its harness under the life jacket. Five sizing choices encompass a slightly larger range than our best overall pick. The XS starts at 11 inches and the XL goes to 44 inches. The brand recommends sizing up if your dog is at the top of a size's range.
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL Range of girth: XS starts at 11", XL ends at 44"
Pros
- Sleeker choice for strong swimmers
- Mesh panels help keep an active dog cool
- D ring lets you easily leash your dog
Cons
- Not the best for beginner swimmers
The Standley, also by Outward Hound, is for a more sporty dog. It's sleek and allows more unrestricted movement for dogs who are good swimmers and adept at boating, playing fetch in the waves or jumping off piers into deep water. A breathable mesh top and mesh belly panel help keep an active dog from overheating. The long rescue handle sits close to your dog's back for an aerodynamic look. The D ring sits right at the neck, to use when you need to leash your dog (especially good at a busy beach or dock).
The size range is the same on the Standley as it is on the Granby, our value pick. Outward Hound says that the Granby is its recommendation for beginners and this Standley is its choice for doggie-paddling pros. The brand makes a third dog life jacket, the Dawson, for mid-level swimmers.
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL Range of girth: XS starts at 11", XL ends at 44"
Pros
- Fits many large or thick-necked dogs
- Two rescue handles, oriented differently
- Machine washable
Cons
- If using a leash, this one is best for dogs who don't pull
You can fit your XXL dog — up to a 45-inch girth, which includes most big shepherds and retrievers — in the largest size of the Surf n' Turf dog life jacket. Reviewers with thick-necked breeds, like bulldogs, also like this choice because the neck is so adjustable. For instance, the small size of the jacket can fit a dog with a neck anywhere from 12 to 23 inches around.
Reviewers praise Kurgo's jacket for giving their dog water confidence without restricting movement. We like that the two rescue handles are oriented differently: one is vertical, the other horizontal, giving you more ways to grab, guide or lift your dog. The D ring is in the rear, near the tail, for attaching the leash. (That placement is best for dogs who don't pull.) While most dog life jackets should just be rinsed clean, Kurgo says its Surf n' Turf is machine washable. Kurgo also makes our favorite dog walking harness for large dogs.
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL Range of girth: XS starts at 14", XL ends at 45"
Pros
- Streamlined fit but very buoyant
- Many sizes for small dogs
- Comfortable neck adjustment for fit
Cons
- On the pricier side
Users praise the buoyancy of the EzyDog life jacket, and it comes in five extra-small and small sizes to help fit a small or slender dog, including those as little as 7 pounds. It's very streamlined and not bulked up by foam, so it doesn't overwhelm a small pup. Even so, there is flotation help provided at the belly, which helps keep your small dog upright and swimming level to the water.
The collar adjusts at the top of the neck, where the rescue handle is, and not at your dog's chest or chin, so it can be more comfortable for some dogs — large ones too, as the EzyDog also has sizes for big dogs. Reviewers note that this jacket is on the pricey side, but often follow that up by saying it's worth it for the quality.
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Sizes: 4XS, 3XS, 2XS, XS, S, M, L, XL Range of girth: XS starts at 12", XL ends at 41"
Pros
- Fun, decorative fin on the back
- Many colors and patterns
Cons
- Still smart to pick a shade that's highly visible
Have the most stylish pup at the pool party with this doggie life jacket, not just flag-bedecked but sporting a decorative shark fin on the top! There's a rescue handle, too, in case you need to guide your dog out of the water, and there's a D ring near the collar so you can keep your dog leashed if they draw a crowd of admirers.
Dogcheer's vest comes in more than a dozen fun colors and patterns including a dog life jacket in a mermaid theme and one that's the doggie equivalent of a Hawaiian shirt. We just wouldn't recommend the gray which, though it's funny and shark-like, is not as highly visible as the others.
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Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL Range of girth: XS starts at 11.8", XL ends at 39.4"
How we choose the best dog life jackets
We don't have a pool, lake or ocean in the Good Housekeeping Institute Labs, and while we can see the Hudson River from our 29th floor, we weren't going to require dogs to jump in to test dog life jackets.
Instead, we relied on testers around the country to give us feedback about their favorite dog life jackets and how they use them. We also poured through online reviews and leaned into brands we've grown to trust. You can find more product recommendations for dog people on our site, including the best air purifiers for pets (we've tested about 50 of them!) and the best dog beds, done with the help of our Textiles Lab pros.
What to look for when shopping for the best dog life jacket
When making your choice, your top considerations are:
✔️ Sizing: Fit is critical for safety and comfort. Measure your dog's girth, but also check out a dog life jacket's dimensions to see if you think it will match up with your dog's short or long torso, for instance. We've also marked our choices for small and for large dogs, if you're very concerned about size.
✔️ Your dog's swimming ability: If your dog is not a natural swimmer (looking at you, French bulldogs and boxers) you might want something like our value choice with a lot of extra floatation. But if your dog is pretty great swimmer, like most retrievers, you could get something more sporty that lets them move freely, like our best for boating. Our best overall choice splits the difference — it's got flotation without being bulky.
✔️ Visibility: Most dog life jackets come in highly visible neon colors, plus reflective trim, so you're probably pretty safe here. It's a reminder of why you're shopping for a dog's life jacket to begin with — so you can spot your pup in murky or choppy waters, or if the light dims during a storm or as evening comes.
✔️ Rescue handle: We've only included dog life jackets that have a rescue handle or two on the back, which can help you grab and lift your wet dog out of the water if there's trouble, or guide it to shore.
✔️ D ring: We prefer dog life jackets that include one, so your dog doesn't have to wear its harness under the life jacket. If you're on a boat you can leash your dog securely to the boat on one end and to their life jacket on the other, rather than leashing their collar, so their neck won't be injured if they go overboard. Boat-ed.com has other tips for safely boating with dogs.
Do dogs need life jackets?
Just like humans, dogs are safest around water when wearing a life jacket — even if they know how to swim. The ASPCA reminds dog owners that even strong canine swimmers can get cramps while swimming, grow exhausted far from shore or get overwhelmed by strong tides. A doggie life jacket is a "better safe than sorry" investment.
Then there are the dogs who aren't strong swimmers to begin with, like Teddy, pictured. "Teddy is a 10-year-old rescue. He's half bulldog, half pug, therefore he does not float," Teddy's owner told us. "But he loves the pool and barks until we let him in. He swims with his life jacket until he gets tired and then he floats on a raft."
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have been evaluating consumer products for almost 125 years. We have scientists, engineers, chemists and more who test appliances, tech and soft goods including bedding and apparel. A few of our popular stories include the best mattresses, best outdoor security cameras and the best washer and dryer combos.
Dog life jackets fall under our Parenting Lab, because aren't dog owners pet parents? Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn shares a house with a dog who won't go anywhere near water (except for a bath) so she relied on her reporting skills as a trained journalist for this story. Other pet-centric stories she's written include a look at the best cat litter and the best dog strollers.
Jessica (she/her) is a contributor with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home, pet, and parenting products for families. A mom of two young adults and a cat, she was previously the Entertainment Editor at Parents and the Senior Lifestyle Editor at American Baby. When not testing toys, subtly starting at people's strollers, or taking meetings to learn about new car seats, she likes to travel. In 2026, she's made it to every continent except Antarctica.
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