I was wondering if anyone might have a suggestion about a doggie-lifejacket to fit our little guy.

I went to petsmart and Petco and they seem to have the same brands. The predicament is: the x-small is too tight on his little abdomen, but, when I put the small on him, it was so bulky that he flopped over on his back and just turtled for a while till I helped him up.

His little legs aren't long enough for him to run with the small lifejacket on, I'm sure this will be less of a problem when he's fully grown, but we are going on a beach trip in less than a month and he LOVES to swim as fast as his little legs can take him, I'm just concenred he'll get tired and be too far out.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
AmandaFay

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Not sure what you mean by "going on a beach trip".  If you are going out on a small boat and the dog will be loose, you definitely need a life-jacket for safety and someone else may have some brand suggestions.  If you will just be at the beach and the pup likes to swim,  I would put him on a long leash or make a long line (20 feet or so, but not the retractable kind) and go in with him.  We had friends in Florida whose dog liked to swim in the bay, their house was on the water, and that's what they did when they allowed him in.  Worked great.

Sometimes you will have better luck finding a life jacket on ebay because you can take his exact measurements and find a jacket just his size.
Just do a little looking around on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DOG-LIFE-JACKET-DOG-LIFE-VEST-in-XS-S-M-L-X...
This is where I got Chase's jacket from. The Medium at petsmart fit Chase, but I like the designs on these better.
It has a sizing chart where you can apply his measurments.
Also, if it's too big in one area and too small in another, you should always get the bigger size. It will be more comfortable. You would just have to keep an extra close watch on him.

I agree with Anna that you should just put him on a long leash. The beaches in our area can be quite dangerous as far as undertow and rip tides so we NEVER let our dogs get very far out. I would think in the ocean you should never let him swim all that far, and if he gets too far away even a life vest won't save him. I'd either keep him close and in the surf or put him on a long leash. A life vest doesn't hurt for safety but you shouldn't put a life jacket on and then allow him to swim as far as he feels like. Franklin will get a false sense of security when he has his life jacket on and attempt to swim across the river, but the river flows fast and he could easily get swept away if I don't pay attention to him. I have one made by outward hound in a medium and it fits his adult size, sounds like for your pup a small is all that will fit because you don't want one that is too extremely tight like the x-small was.

 

 

If you have a West Marine in town you could try there.

The leash sounds like the best idea. I'd put a harness on him with the leash so he can't get out of it, even though I'm not a harness fan, and so he won't choke if you have to pull him in. Watch him carefully. A pup that little is good shark bait or bird of prey dinner. Also most beaches require your dog to be leashed even though some people think that rule doesn't apply to their dogs!!!! Take poop bags for the beach!! Take a bowl and water for him also and rinse him after swimming and digging in the sand.

Amanda, a harness can work well, but make sure it holds up to the salt water.  If the fabric gives, the fit could alter. I would look for a 100% nylon harness or collar with a tight weave.  Nylon will not "give".  I also think buckle collars are safer than the ones with a plastic snap, under these conditions.

Hi there,

 If you're looking for a life jacket, I've had the best experience with the Paws Aboard brand. I tried other brands that just didn't fit as well. You can find them on e-Bay, usually. They're about $25 and pretty well put together. I have one for each of my dogs. My dogs both wear a medium.

I agree with the long leads for beach time.Besides,if You bought a vest right now,he'll outgrow it very fast.I saw someone said the medium vest sizes at Petsmart fit well.Both of Our corgis have vests from there and they wear the mediums too.Love to go kayaking with Us :)!Enjoy!!

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