A dogs natural abilities in the water vary depending on the breed, size, physical strength and health. For those who own a puppy, it is important to use a gentle approach when introducing him to the water. Introducing the pup to water through a wading pool and slowly moving on to bigger ponds is sensible. You also want to look into what kind of water conditions your dog will be exposed to. Due to the calmer and gentler water movement of a wading pool, a puppy adapts better to playing around. Excess movement will make your dog anxious and complicate the process of teaching him to swim.

A dog life jacket will not only reassure you, but also serve as an extra safety measure during your outside activities. Life jackets prevent drowning by ensuring your dog floats. In the event of an accident around water, this will minimize anxiety caused by disorientation. Whether human or dog, life jackets are beneficial to all. It is an important piece of equipment and is a statutory element on boats, ferries, planes and any vehicle.

The first time you put a life jacket on your dog he might feel uncomfortable. With this in mind, you want to get your dog used to the life jacket by having him wear it at home, prior to going out on an adventure. Being at home will allow your dog to get used to the life jacket while in safe familiar surroundings, rather than in an unfamiliar outdoor setting. Arrange a pleasant first time experience around water for your dog. doing this, you are increasing the chances of them loving the water.

When selecting your dogs life jacket, you’ll want to keep in mind certain guidelines like the size and weight of your dog. The materials used are also important, so get something that is breathable and durable. Never leave your pet alone wearing a life jacket, as there is a risk of entanglement. Also, be sure to get a life jacket with buoyancy ratings.

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How can we prevent our pet from suffering this horrible fate? Here are a few valuable tips:

1. Never take it for granted that your dog can swim.

2. Keep a close eye on your dog especially if he or she is older. They cannot swim quite as long or as far as they were once able to.

3. Never toss a cat or a dog into the water. They will panic from the initial shock.

4. Obtain a pet life jacket or one of the canine flotation devices (CPD) for your pet. Ensure that they are wearing the device whenever they are close to the water. It is not uncommon for a pet to fall off of a moving watercraft or dock and not be seen.

5. Things like solar blankets and pool covers appear to be a solid surface for your pet. Remove them whenever possible when your pets are around the pool.

6. Install a pet safety gate near the pool area.

7. Check to ensure that your pet does not have an entry into your neighbor’s pool area.

8. Get a pool alarm for your pool or pond.

9. Keep your pet away from rapidly flowing water.

10. Make sure your pet stays away from frozen lakes and rivers.

Seeing your pet drown and the awful guilt that is associated with it can be overwhelming and very difficult or impossible to recover from. I strongly encourage you to have a look around your property for obvious water hazards. Whether it is summer or winter, you need to drown proof your home as well as your vacation property NOW. If your pet is going to be anywhere near water, make sure they are wearing a canine floatation device or pet life jacket.

Jake writes articles on the dog life jacket and about how to find a designer dog life jacket on the internet.