🐾 Best Dog Life Jackets for 2025

Top Pick: Ruffwear Float Coat

Designed for dogs of all shapes and sizes, this premium, fully-featured life jacket includes thoughtful details like:

✔️ A strong handle for lifting dogs out of the water

✔️ A leash clip-in point under the handle

✔️ Reflective trim for low-light visibility

✔️ Soft, flexible, PVC-free Gaia® Foam

✔️ A sleek, tailored fit that moves with your dog
 
🦺 Buoyancy – 9.5/10

❤️ Comfort – 9.5/10

💎 Durability – 9.7/10

⭐ Scott's product test: The Float Coat has been a go-to in our gear bin for years, and it still sets the standard for fit and durability. It stays put even during full-tilt launches off the dock, and after repeated use in both fresh and salt water, the materials haven’t faded or stiffened. This year's upgraded model only confirms this is one of the best life vests on the market. If you want a life jacket that balances buoyancy, freedom of movement, and rugged construction, this is the one I trust most when the water gets unpredictable.



👉 Learn more about the Float Coat

🐶 View our full selection of Dog Life Jackets

Best dog life jackets for 2025 - 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 – 9.4/10

Our rating for comfort – 9.2/10

Our rating for durability – 9.6/10

Scott's product review: The EzyDog DFD X2 Boost made this year’s review tough because it came so close to unseating the Ruffwear Float Coat as my top pick. Its streamlined fit hugs the body without restricting movement, and the tapered foam panels keep a dog’s swimming position natural and efficient. Our dog testers didn't seem to be bothered wearing this at all - even out of the water. This season’s new colors are a nice touch too - they’re bright, easy to spot on the water, and add some personality to your gear. If you want a vest that feels light, looks sharp, and still offers solid buoyancy, the DFD X2 Boost is an excellent choice. This season also brings new smaller sizes, making the X2 Boost a solid choice for little dogs who need the same streamlined fit and buoyancy as the big guys.

Learn more about the EzyDog DFD X2 Boost

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Best dog life jackets for 2025 - Ruffwear Confluence Performance Life Vest

⭐Brand New For 2025⭐

The Ruffwear Confluence™ Life Jacket combines the streamlined fit of a harness with the buoyancy of a life vest, giving dogs the freedom and confidence to explore in and around the water. Strategically placed foam panels support a natural swimming position, while six points of adjustment ensure a secure, comfortable fit. Water-stable webbing maintains its shape when wet, and reflective trim plus a light loop enhance visibility in low-light conditions.

A strong, low-profile handle makes it easy to help your dog back on board, with a hidden rear handle for extra lift when needed. Built with durable, bluesign®-approved materials and reinforced hardware, the Confluence™ is designed for safety, comfort, and long-lasting performance on every aquatic adventure.

Our rating for buoyancy – 9.0/10

Our rating for comfort – 9.8/10

Our rating for durability – 9.6/10

Scott's Product Test - When testing the Confluence, I was impressed with its harness-like fit. I think this will be great for dogs that are in and out of the water all day. The foam panels are positioned in a way that allowed our dog's swimming stroke to stay smooth and efficient. She wasn’t fighting against the vest. I also really appreciated the low-profile second hidden handle if you need a two-handed lift. Would really help for larger dogs.

Learn more about the Confluence Dog Life Vest

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Best dog life jackets for 2025 - 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 – 9.2/10

Our rating for comfort – 8.9/10

Our rating for durability – 8.9/10

Scott's Product Test - The original EzyDog DFD has been part of our lineup since day one, and for good reason. The neoprene straps make it comfortable for long wear, and while it’s not quite as performance-fitting as the newer vests above, it remains one of the most buoyant and secure dog life jackets you can buy. The price is hard to beat, and its track record speaks for itself - it wouldn’t have stayed in our lineup this long if it didn’t perform reliably and keep customers extremely happy year after year. This year's model only has slight difference from previous years. We agree, don't fix what aint broke :)

Learn more about the Doggy Flotation Device

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Best dog life jackets for 2025 - GF Pet Dog Life Vest

The GF Pet Dog Life Vest is designed to provide maximum support and safety for your best buddy during water activities. This dog life jacket is equipped with a chin floatation flap to keep your dog's head above the waterline. The safety vest is also designed to provide full torso support while allowing your dog to have a complete range of swimming motion. All at a very reasonable price.

Our rating for buoyancy – 9.0/10

Our rating for comfort – 8.8/10

Our rating for durability – 8.4/10

Scott's Product Test: The GF Pet Life Vest is new to our lineup this season, and while we’re still in the middle of long-term testing, we really like what we’ve seen so far. The standout feature is the built-in neck flap, which has done an excellent job of keeping our smaller testers’ heads comfortably above water. For dogs who need that extra bit of head float support, it’s a thoughtful design touch that’s already making a great first impression.

Learn more about the GF Pet Dog Life Jacket

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Best dog life jackets for 2025 - 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

Scott's Product Test - The Micro DFD by EzyDog used to be the go-to option for smaller dogs before the X2 Boost lineup expanded to include little sizes. It’s still a great choice at a lower price point and gets the job done when it comes to buoyancy and safety. Nothing has changed in the feature set for this season, but you can think of it as the “old reliable” EzyDog Original DFD - just scaled down for small breeds.

Learn more about the The Micro DFD life jacket

View our entire selection of Dog Life Jackets