PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

thedukeryan

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Jul 21, 2009
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I am gonna be getting the dogs pfd's for christmas this year. My concern is finding ones that will fit them properly and have enough float to keep them safe. I have a 75lb boxer, 15lb peke and a 65lb english bulldog. None of them can safefly swim on their own. The peke can paddle around on her own but not for long before she wares out. The boxer has tried but is to chest heavy. I won't even let my bulldog try cause I know he is not built for water. Does anyone have any experience with dog vests? My biggest concern is my bulldog. He is very compact with a very wide short frame. I am afraid that in order to find a pfd large enough to fit his neck and frame I will need one that will be to long and tall.
 

jaxnjil

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

here are jil and my's dogs.
the english bull dog swims like two rocks tied together
we have tried a few different jackets and ordered some off the web
the best advice i can give you is they all work ok but if you want one that realy fits your dog nice, you have to take your pet to a store that will allow you to bring your pet in and try them on. we have 5 different one the result of trial and err. they all work but the 2 we fitted and got at the pet store work and look better.
the yellow is one of the also rand ones(stearns). no pic of the nice ones



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a70eliminator

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

Can't give much input on the canine vests, but wow that does that look like a prop bustin nighmare.
 

thedukeryan

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

Jax... Any idea what brands you had luck with for your bully? Does your bully seem to enjoy the water when wearing it? I would love to be able to take mine out for a swim. The problem I am running into is that I have not seen any locally. I am thinking about picking up three of the cheaper ones on I boats. I only see three listed and one is out of stock. I have my eye on the cheaper red model. Any suggestions?
 

marlboro180

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

We got ours at a local boat shop, before there was a Cabela's nearby. We took the pooches along for a test fit as we had no idea as to how they would work out/ sizing, etc. I think this be a good option for your bulldog.

The old beagle wears a "Paws Aboard" and gets excited when we show it to her, the 40'# husky hates hers, and the 50# lab could not care less.

Having had to drag a dog or two back into a boat, the really well made ones that have a good handle on the back are what we look for. Reflectors are a nice addition.

I've heard that Pet Mart handles them too, and dogs love that trip'-':D
 

thedukeryan

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

gary...we have taken my boxer to the beach and he loves to splash in the water. Kkinda funny cause he HATES rain, baths etc when at home. He tried to swim a couple times at the lake but could not keep afloat even for a few seconds. Do you feel confident that these vests would keep yours afloat safely. Can they handle the water on their own or do you still have to be there to carry them around? Did your boxers always enjoy water or did they need some time to adjust? I just know mine HATES water at home.
 

thedukeryan

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

We have a petco but I have never seen them there. We also have a few locally owned shops. Problem is whenever you mention them they always state that they can special order them. Kinda defeats the point of buying one locally.
 

skargo

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

I bought a Stearns for our Whopper-dog, it even has Scooby-doo rescue team or something on it. :D

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We let him take it off when we anchor.
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jaxnjil

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

Jax... Any idea what brands you had luck with for your bully? Does your bully seem to enjoy the water when wearing it? I would love to be able to take mine out for a swim. The problem I am running into is that I have not seen any locally. I am thinking about picking up three of the cheaper ones on I boats. I only see three listed and one is out of stock. I have my eye on the cheaper red model. Any suggestions?
jil know the brand and will get them for you when see gets home.
befor we got him in the water with the jacket he wouldn't go near the water and was a fight to even get him to walk down the dock let alone on the boat.
now he can swim 20 or feet by his self with out the jacket, we found out one day when jumped off the back of the boat completely by surprise.
they had been out swimming and jill brought him back on board and dried him off and hung his jacket up to dry. we heard a plop in the water and though it was my sarge dog as he will jump in and come back as he pleases. well it was mac and he had swam to shore. we let him swim a little i shallow water with no jacket but now when ever we leave the dock he gets a jacket on. we have found we realy have to keep an eye on him now, when near the water.(now he loves the water as much the catahoula)

we fit them both at pet smart. they both have a lot of chest and skinny stomachs and smaller butts. we were able to try jackets till we found one that fit. when we fit them by weight ect the chest area came out to small with the back end not going small enough to fit snug.

realy mac got to swimming with the yellow one in the pic. the trouble is the strap around the belly is a little loose and it rubs him raw. the better fitting one has a neoprene belly band that wraps around sung and is velcroed with a strap over that. this way it doesn't rub and looks better.
 

jaxnjil

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

scargo; thats the same one we have but your pic is a lot better. we have a blue and red ones that are cut about the same and fit they fit ok on the normaly shaped dogs like your nice looking lab.

the one we like for ours are out ward hound( i think) for ours we ended up with the next size smaller than the charts say for thier weight and then they fit. close to no adjustment on the chest and front but go small enough for the back

PS; DONT TRY TO LIFT THEM WITH THE HANDEL SEWN ON THE TOP OF JACKET
 

skargo

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

scargo; thats the same one we have but your pic is a lot better. we have a blue and red ones that are cut about the same and fit they fit ok on the normaly shaped dogs like your nice looking lab.

the one we like for ours are out ward hound( i think) for ours we ended up with the next size smaller than the charts say for thier weight and then they fit. close to no adjustment on the chest and front but go small enough for the back

PS; DONT TRY TO LIFT THEM WITH THE HANDEL SEWN ON THE TOP OF JACKET

HAHA, he's 100 lbs. so I won't be picking him up more than necessary. He's actually barrel chested, but I got lucky and this seems to fit OK.
 

jaxnjil

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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

jax over rates the bulldog's fondness of the water, he hates to be left behind and is rather bullheaded about wanting to play on the beach so he will jump in and swim to shore or after one of us but not just for the fun of it. The other thing I like about the outward hound neoprene belting is that it also helps to retain their core heat so that they do not get chilled as bad. We usually stay in the water for quite awhile and our water is not all that warm.
 

thedukeryan

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Re: PFD AKA Pet Floatation Device Suggestions

I will say that my bulldog is one of the bullheaded/stubern creatures I have ever came across. I would really like to get a decent vest for him and the rest. One of the problems I run into with him and my others is that they over heat very easy. I think the water will help them stay cool. It will also give me more freedom if I can take them with me. Another nice thing about having a bulldog and boxer onboard is like having a spare gas tank. Between the two of them you could probably collect enough methane to power a small engine non stop.
 
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