We need to talk about how adorable this dog life jacket is

Ok, we know the purpose of a life vest isn’t to look cute, but you have to agree when it’s on a dog it is pretty adorable?

Putting the cuteness aside, life jackets for dogs might seem a little overcautious – dogs are generally great swimmers – but accidents can happen to anyone (animal or human) and it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?

Dog life vests have been around for a while, but one company, Non-stop Dogwear, felt the designs on offer were bulky, therefore difficult to move around in especially on land and not breathable enough, leaving the dog at risk of overheating.

The Norwegian firm, which specialises in active dog wear and harnesses (so you can take your four-legged friend running, biking, climbing and even skiing) decided to design its own.

They teamed up with experts in dog anatomy, biomechanics and buoyancy and came up with the Protector Life Jacket.

Unlike some pet life jackets, the Protector only has flotation devices on the sides and none on the dog’s back.

‘During the testing process, we found that only the part of the life jacket below the surface will displace water and contribute to buoyancy’, Ole Jørgen Thue Holthe, who has an Msc in biotechnology and was involved in designing the jacket.

‘Elements on your dog’s back will not improve buoyancy,’ he added.

Without the flotation devices on the dog’s back, the vest is easier to move in and cooler, according to the brand.

There’s also ventilating mesh material on the back area that allows water to flow through and helps prevent your dog from overheating.

Other features include a handle in case you need to lift your dog up, reflector stripes for visibility and three lead attachment points.

Non-stop Dogwear recommends using the life jacket when your dog is on a boat or paddle board for example, or even when it’s running free near water and there’s a risk it could fall in or get in trouble if it jumped in.

The Protector Life Jacket comes in six sizes and costs between £112.95 – £130.95.

Author and canine physical and rehabilitation therapist Line Østerhagen is a fan of the vest and said: ‘I have worked as a canine physical and rehabilitation therapist for over 20 years.

‘Of all vests I’ve seen, the Protector life jacket provides the best freedom of movement, has all necessary functions, and the panels are placed correctly.’

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