Updated for Summer 2024

The following is a list of our favorite dog life jackets for swimming, boating, kayaking and paddle-boarding. Dogs may need a life jacket for various reasons, such as their breed, size, age, and health conditions. We tested and reviewed the following dog life vests on comfort, buoyancy and quality.

Here are our top picks for the best dog life jacket of 2024.

Best dog life jackets for 2024 - Baydog Monterey Bay Life Jacket

The Monterey Bay Dog Life Jacket is designed to provide maximum support and safety for your best buddy during water activities. This dog life jacket is equipped with enhanced chest flotation which ensures that your dog's head stays above the waterline, even in varying sea conditions, increasing their chances of survival. The safety vest is also designed to provide full torso support while allowing your dog to have a complete range of swimming motion.

The Monterey Bay Life Jacket comes with a rescue handle, which has reinforced stitching to make it easy for you to pull your dog aboard. The bright colors of the jacket make it highly visible and easy to spot, ensuring that your dog is always within sight. Additionally, the reflective trim provides 360 degrees of nighttime visibility, making it easy to see your dog in low-light conditions.

Our rating for buoyancy – 9.4/10

Our rating for comfort – 9/10

Our rating for durability – 9/10

Sample Customer Review "I have tried several other life jackets prior to buying BayDog! These are my 2nd time getting them! They are life savers for my pointers, as we live on the lake and the ducks like to take my dogs out to just about drown them...I have no worries with these life jackets!"

Learn more about the Monterey Bay Dog Life Jacket

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Best dog life jackets for 2024 - Ruffwear Float Coat

For dogs that love to join their humans rafting, kayaking, boating, surfing, and paddle boarding, the Float Coat is the ultimate in canine flotation. Designed for dogs of all shapes and sizes, it's a premium, fully-featured life jacket that includes thoughtful details like a strong handle optimally positioned to lift dogs out of the water, a leash clip-in point under the handle, and reflective trim to boost visibility in low-light conditions. A sleek, tailored silhouette and soft, flexible, PVC-free Gaia® Foam come together to provide both excellent flotation and a plush, comfortable fit that moves with dogs as they swim and run. 

Our rating for buoyancy – 9/10

Our rating for comfort – 9/10

Our rating for durability – 9/10

Sample Customer Review "We picked up paddle boarding as a hobby. One of our boys loves to swim, the other doesn’t. The boy that doesn’t love to swim jumped right in the water with this and paddled around. Must take a lot of the stress off :) We spent all day out on the water and both dogs seemed perfectly comfy all day. Exactly what we were looking for!!"

Learn more about the Float Coat

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Best dog life jackets for 2024 - Baydog Monterey Bay Offshore Life Jacket

The Monterey Bay Offshore Life Jacket supports your dog's entire body from below and lifts their head above the water line due to it's unique padded chest design. The main difference between the standard Monterey Bay life jacket and this offshore version is that the offshore model has two large extra flotation pontoons on the back. The purpose of these pontoons is to ensure that when a dog falls off a boat, even if they are upside down or sideways, they will always seek the surface, and the pontoons will roll them upright.

Additionally, the offshore model has an added larger flotation pad underneath in the chest area - this is unique to the offshore model. This pad ensures that even if a dog falls off a boat and swims in circles until they get exhausted, the lifejacket will keep their head above water while their butt sinks a little bit. Therefore, your dog will float safely until they can be rescued. 

Our rating for buoyancy – 9.6/10

Our rating for comfort – 9/10

Our rating for durability – 9/10

Sample Customer Review "I got to say we were so apprehensive taking a one-year-old, fearless pup out on the boat until we received the Baydog lifejacket. As soon as we had the lifejacket, it was instant relief that even if she did something silly we’d have no problem swinging back to get her. The fit is perfect, and she has no problem swimming in it. On most trips out she gets a chance to jump in for a swim to cool off, and recovery is easy with the two very durable handles!"

Learn more about the Monterey Bay Offshore Life Jacket

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Best dog life jackets for 2024 - EzyDog DFD X2 Boost

The EzyDog DFD X2 Boost is the second generation of the DFD dog life jacket. This new design offers the same amount of flotation, with a more streamlined ergonomic fit. The new DFD X2 Boost uses only the highest grades of materials. Whether you're teaching your dog to swim or simply using it as a safety precaution, the DFD X2 Boost will help your dog stay safe around water.

The DFD X2 Boost features a unique fixed collar adjustment system, which only has to be adjusted once. The fixed collar on the DFD X2 Boost maintains the same positioning at all times, yet still offers ample adjustment. All webbing is contained within neck strap, meaning there's no loose webbing to irritate your dog. The Ultra-Buoyant foam is strategically positioned around the vest, including the section under the dog's belly. This keeps your dog upright and in a natural swimming position at all times. Unlike other vests, the DFD does not hinder your dog's natural movement and can be fastened/removed easily and quickly. A grab handle is situated at the top of the life jacket for quick control over your dog. Reflective piping is used throughout for extra visibility at night. The revolutionary neck adjustment contains buoyant foam, to help keep your dog's head above water.

Our rating for buoyancy – 9.2/10

Our rating for comfort – 9/10

Our rating for durability – 9/10

Sample Customer Review "I initially took my dog out on the paddleboard as a novelty but he really liked it. So my wife said I'd better get him a PFD if we're gonna do it for real. This PFD is very well made and fits well with a low profile. My lab has a big chest but it was not an issue. He swam in it to get comfortable and we hopped on the board. He only fell in once when a large boat wake knocked usaround but I was able to grab the sturdy handle on the back of the PFD and pull him back on the board in seconds. Great product if you're taking your dog onto deep water."

Learn more about the EzyDog DFD X2 Boost

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Best dog life jackets for 2024 - EzyDog DFD Life Jacket

The Doggy Flotation Device combines top performing flotation with comfort for all day wear both in and out of the water. Recognized as one of the top dog PFD's on the market, our dog life jackets are rigorously tested to ensure that they give your dog the most ergonomic and comfortable fit possible. The DFD includes up to 50% more ultra-buoyant material, strategically placed to keep your dog safely afloat while maintaining a natural, easy swimming position at all times.

Our rating for buoyancy – 8.9/10

Our rating for comfort – 9/10

Our rating for durability – 8.9/10

Sample Customer Review "This DFD gave the gift of swimming to our three legged dog. She’s 7 and missing a front leg, so we really just got this life jacket to make wading more comfortable for her... but she jumped right in and swims like a champ! It doesn’t balance her forward too much like other life jackets, so she can keep her head up even with only one front paw. Turns out she’s a total water dog, and we go for swims a couple evenings a week now. Total game changer. Also, our dog has a pointy chest, so the strap system really works great. Other jackets have a single panel that goes under the belly, and those just didn’t fit on her. This this should really fit any dog. Thanks Ezydog for helping our pup swim for the first time in 5 years!"

Learn more about the Doggy Flotation Device

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Best dog life jackets for 2024 - EzyDog Micro DFD Life Jacket

It can be hard to find good dog life preservers for smaller pups - that's why EzyDog took all the technology and innovation from their Doggy Floatation Vest and refitted it for dogs 15 lbs and smaller. The Micro DFD life jacket offers great comfort, security, and style. The ultra-buoyant foam is strategically placed in the vest to help your dog maintain an easy, natural swimming position. The neoprene straps are adjustable for a snug, comfortable fit, and the bright colors of the dog PFD keep your pal visible wherever he plays. The small clip on the dog life preserver is great to use with a dog leash when walking your buddy around on land.

Our rating for buoyancy – 8.9/10

Our rating for comfort – 9/10

Our rating for durability – 8.9/10

Sample Customer Review "My dog is a terrier/dachshund mix, hard to fit. She's my fishing partner. Your sizing chart is right on and her new flotation device fits perfectly. It allows normal movement with flotation protection. Great quality product also."

Learn more about the The Micro DFD life jacket

View our entire selection of Dog Life Jackets