Paws Aboard Dog Life Jacket Review: Does This Swim Vest Keep My Pup Safe?

Introduction

Last summer, I took Max to the lake, and it was the scariest day of my life. He jumped in the water, and he was swimming, and he was having so much fun, but after 10 minutes, he got tired, and he started to sink. I saw his head go under, and I ran in after him, and I pulled him out, and I was crying, because I thought I was going to lose him. I was so tired of that—every time we went to the water, I was terrified that he’d get tired, and he’d drown, because he’s not a very strong swimmer. That’s when I ordered the Paws Aboard Dog Life Jacket, and after using it all summer, I’ve put together this in-depth Paws Aboard dog life jacket review to share everything I learned.

Before this, I’d tried everything to keep him safe. I tried holding him, I tried those cheap life jackets from the pet store, but they were so flimsy, they didn’t work. I was this close to just not taking him to the water anymore, until I found this stuff. I was skeptical, because I’d heard so many mixed things about dog life jackets, but I was desperate, so I decided to give it a shot.

Why I Wrote This Paws Aboard Dog Life Jacket Review

So, what exactly is this thing, anyway? This is the Paws Aboard Dog Life Jacket,the neoprene one for swimming and boating. It’s a dog life vest, built specifically to keep your dog safe in the water, by giving them extra buoyancy, so they can float, even if they get tired.

It’s made of quick-dry neoprene, too, which is the same stuff that wetsuits are made of, so it’s soft, it’s flexible, it dries fast, no more wet, heavy vest that weighs your dog down. It has a breathable mesh underbelly, too, so it doesn’t chafe, it doesn’t overheat your dog, which is perfect for hot summer days. It has adjustable straps, too, so you can adjust it to fit your dog perfectly, no matter what their shape is. And it has a top handle, too, so you can grab your dog, and pull them out of the water, or onto the boat, if you need to.

My Summer on the Water: A Real-World Test

When the life jacket arrived, I was excited to try it, but I was also nervous that it wouldn’t work. I’d spent so much money on other things that didn’t do anything, so I wasn’t getting my hopes up.

I took it to the lake, and I put it on Max. At first, he was a little weirded out, he kept shaking, like he was trying to get it off, but after a minute, he got used to it. I clipped the straps, adjusted it, and I let him go in the water. And it was amazing. He floated! He didn’t sink, even when he got tired, he just floated, like a little boat. I couldn’t believe it. I saw a review from a woman who said her dog had almost drowned before, and this was the first thing that kept him safe, which is exactly what I saw.

The handle was perfect, too. When he was done swimming, I just grabbed the handle, and pulled him out of the water, no problem. I didn’t have to grab his collar, or his fur, I just grabbed the handle, it was so easy. The neoprene dried fast, too, after we were done, it was dry in like 10 minutes, no more wet, heavy vest that smelled like lake water.

But it wasn’t all perfect. The size was way too small. I ordered the medium one, because Max is 50 lbs, and the size chart said medium was for 30-50 lbs. But it was way too tight. I had to adjust the straps all the way to the end, and it was still squeezing his chest. A lot of other reviewers said the same thing— the sizing runs small, you have to order a size up, even if your dog fits the size chart. I had to return the medium, and order a large, which fit him perfectly.

Also, the buckles are a little thin. After a month of use, one of the buckles started to get loose. It didn’t break, but it was kind of wobbly, which made me nervous. A lot of reviewers said the same thing— the buckles are thin, and they can break after a while, if you use it a lot. One reviewer said his buckle broke after 3 months, which is kind of a bummer.

Also, the Velcro strap, the one on the front, it started to come loose after a while. Max would shake, and the Velcro would come undone, so I had to re-stick it, which was kind of annoying. A lot of reviewers said the same thing, the Velcro isn’t that strong, so it can come undone if your dog shakes a lot.

What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like

After using this all summer, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.

What I Liked

• It actually keeps him afloat: That’s the best part. No more panicking that he’s going to sink, no more running in after him. He can swim, he can play, he can get tired, and he just floats, safe. A lot of reviewers said the same thing, it gave them peace of mind, because they knew their dog was safe.
• It’s so comfortable for him: The neoprene is soft, the mesh is breathable, he doesn’t overheat, he doesn’t chafe, he can swim, he can run, he can do everything, no problem. He didn’t even mind wearing it, after the first minute.
• The top handle is a lifesaver: I can grab him, and pull him out of the water, no problem. When we’re on the boat, I can grab him, and keep him close, if we hit a wave. It’s so convenient, and it’s so safe.
• It dries so fast: After we’re done swimming, it dries in 10 minutes, no more wet, heavy vest that smells like lake water. It’s light, it’s easy to carry, it’s perfect.

What I Didn’t Like

• The sizing runs way too small: I ordered the size that fit the size chart, and it was way too small. I had to return it, and order a size up, which was kind of annoying, because I had to wait another week to use it. A lot of reviewers said the same thing, the sizing is way off, you have to order a size bigger than you think.
• The buckles are a little thin: After a month of use, the buckles started to get loose. They’re not that strong, and if you use it a lot, they can break. A lot of reviewers said their buckles broke after a few months, which is kind of scary, because that means the vest could come undone.
• The Velcro isn’t that strong: The front Velcro strap comes undone if your dog shakes a lot, so you have to re-stick it, which is kind of annoying. It’s not a big deal, but it’s something you have to watch out for.
• It can wear out after a while: A lot of reviewers said that after a year of use, the neoprene starts to wear out, and the straps start to fray, so you have to replace it, which is kind of a bummer.

Is This Life Jacket Right for Your Dog?

So, is this life jacket right for you and your dog? For me, absolutely— but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone.

If you have a medium dog, that loves to swim, or go boating, or go to the lake, and you want to keep them safe? This is a no-brainer. It’s perfect, it keeps them afloat, it’s comfortable, it’s easy to use, and it gives you peace of mind. I don’t have to panic every time we go to the water anymore, because I know he’s safe.

On the other hand, if you have a really big dog, over 55 lbs? Then this isn’t going to work, because the medium one is only for up to 55 lbs, and the large one is only for up to 80 lbs, and it’s not strong enough for bigger dogs. Or if you use it every single day, then the buckles might break, because they’re not that durable. But if you’re like me, just using it on the weekends, for swimming and boating? It’s 100% worth it.

If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: [buy link: Paws Aboard Dog Life Jacket] (affiliate link)

Common Questions

I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here:

Can this life jacket work for dogs that don’t know how to swim?

Absolutely! That’s what it’s for. It gives them extra buoyancy, so they can float, even if they don’t know how to swim. It keeps their head above water, so they’re safe, even if they can’t swim at all.

Do I need to order a size up, even if my dog fits the size chart?

Yes, that’s what I would recommend. The sizing runs small, so even if your dog fits the size chart, you should order a size up, because otherwise it’s going to be too tight, and it won’t fit them properly.

Is this safe to use for boating, or just swimming?

It’s perfect for boating, too! It has the handle, so you can grab your dog, and keep them close, and it keeps them safe, if they fall overboard. A lot of reviewers use it for boating, and they love it, it’s perfect for that.

My Top Takeaways

All in all, this life jacket has been a total game-changer for us. It’s not perfect— the sizing runs small, the buckles are a little thin, and the Velcro can come undone— but the pros way outweigh the cons. It solved all my biggest problems: I don’t have to panic every time we go to the water anymore, I don’t have to worry about Max sinking, and I can actually enjoy the day, instead of holding my breath the whole time.

It’s not the cheapest life jacket out there, but it’s worth it, because it’s durable, it’s comfortable, and it keeps my dog safe. I don’t have to worry about him getting hurt, or drowning, anymore, which is the most important thing.

Final Thoughts

I can’t believe I waited so long to get this. Before this, every time we went to the lake, I was terrified, I was stressed, I couldn’t enjoy the day. Now, I can relax, I can swim, I can have fun, because I know Max is safe.

Do you have a dog that loves to swim, but you’re worried about them getting tired? Have you tried this life jacket before, or were you skeptical about dog life jackets like I was? Tell me your story in the comments!

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A Quick Disclaimer

I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.