If your dachshund spends time near water, a life jacket is essential. This is true for any dog breed, but especially one with short legs and a long body!
Some life vests are better suited to the dachshund’s unique body shape than others though. So, it’s important to choose one that’s comfortable and safe for your pet.
In this article, we’ve listed three of the best life vests for dachshunds. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s our top pick.
Our #1 Pick: Outward Hound Granby
Excellent life vest for a great price
Our top pick for a dachshund life jacket is the Outward Hound Granby. We found that it’s a highly visible vest with a neck float, comfortable belly strap, and adjustable design. It’s also surprisingly cheap for such a high-quality life jacket.
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Best Life Jackets for Dachshunds
Listed below are three of the best life jackets for Dachshunds. All of these vests are available in several sizes, so there should be an option that fits almost any full-size or miniature dachshund.
Our top pick for a dachshund life vest is the Outward Hound Granby. We found that it’s an excellent vest that’s comfortable, has a built-in neck float, and is available in sizes small enough for doxies.
One of the advantages of the Granby is its bright and highly visible design. We like that there are reflective strips on the handle, along with an orange color scheme that makes your dog easier to spot in low-light conditions. The exterior is also made with ripstop material to prevent tearing and increase longevity.
The Granby provides great buoyancy due to foam side panels and a front neck float. The neck float, in particular, is perfect for dachshunds who struggle to keep their head above water. There are also two adjustable belly straps and a neck strap, so you can get a snug fit that doesn’t cause chafing or restricted movement.
Something to note is that larger sizes have two handles, but smaller options – which are probably the ones suitable for your dachshund – only have one. We don’t think this is a drawback in this case, as a single handle that’s parallel to a dachshund’s spine probably provides more support for the long torso.
There are a few other minor issues though. There’s no D-ring leash attachment, which seems a strange oversight considering how well thought-out the rest of the vest is. The neck float may also restrict movement when out of water.
Despite these small problems, we think the Granby is an excellent life jacket that’s a good choice for dachshunds. It’s affordable, durable and provides excellent flotation.
The Outward Hound Granby is a durable life vest that provides excellent flotation. It’s also affordable, reflective and comfortable for a dachshund – as long as its sized and adjusted correctly.
- Handles: Dual on Medium and above, Single on Smaller Sizes
- Price Range: $
- Neck float keeps your pet’s head above water
- Relatively long design and comfortable belly strap
- Three adjustable straps
- No D-ring leash attachment
- Neck float can restrict head movement when out of water
The Paws Aboard Designer Doggie Life Jacket is an affordable alternative to the Granby if you don’t want a neck float. It features reflective strips, a mesh underbelly, and a single handle, along with an adjustable design for a snug fit.
The Paws Aboard is designed to be comfortable for almost any breed. There are seven sizes available, ranging from XX-Small to X-Large, so there’s almost certainly an option that fits your Dachshund.
During our research, we liked that it has a mesh underbelly, which allows your pet to dry without overheating (a common problem in cheaper vests). The built-in handle is useful for lifting, and there are also three adjustable nylon straps (one neck and two belly) for getting a snug fit.
It’s important to note that this vest doesn’t have a neck float. While this might be good for dogs that don’t like being restricted out of water, we don’t think this life jacket is the best option for dachshunds who struggle to keep their head up when swimming. In this case, go for the Granby.
Similarly, we don’t think it’s quite as durable as the Granby – although the low price partly makes up for this. The handle is also flimsy in comparison.
Even so, we think the Paws Aboard Double Designer is a buoyant and comfortable life vest that can fit both miniature and full-size Dachshunds. If you don’t want a neck float, it’s probably the best option.
The Paws Aboard Designer Life Vest is a good alternative to the Granby is you don’t want a neck float. We found that it’s a comfortable vest with several adjustable buckles, mesh underbelly, and an affordable price.
- Handles: Single
- Price Range: $
- Mesh underbelly
- Adjustable straps
- Great price
- No neck float
- Not as durable as the Granby
If you’re looking for a highly durable flotation device, then the EzyDog Premium is an option to consider. It’s pricey, but we found that it has more flotation material than many vests, is made with heavy-duty polyester, and has several adjustable straps.
Our favorite feature of the EzyDog DFD is the durable construction. EzyDog has built the DFD to be stronger than the average vest, with a tough polyester exterior. It also has a D-ring leash attachment, single handle, reflective trim, and neoprene straps.
Despite the heavy-duty design, it shouldn’t restrict your dog when swimming – as long as it’s adjusted correctly.
There are some drawbacks though, which is why we prefer the Outward Hound Granby. Firstly, the underbelly isn’t fully supportive with mesh or neoprene. Instead, there are just two padded straps. While this might not be an issue for most breeds, we prefer a dachshund’s torso to be fully supported when lifted.
The EzyDog also has less taper at the back than most other vests. This keeps a dog flatter when swimming, which could make it more difficult to keep his head above water. If your dog already has a hard time swimming, the Granby is probably the better option – especially as it’s much cheaper.
There’s no doubt the EzyDog is an excellent life vest though. If you’re not worried about the non-tapered design or underbelly support, we think it could still be a good option for a dachshund.
The EzyDog Premium is a high-quality and durable life vest for dogs. It also provides great buoyancy and has a reflective trim. The lack of full belly support could be an issue for dachshunds with long spines though.
- Handles: Single
- Price Range: $$
- Extra flotation compared to many vests
- Reflective trim
- Adjustable belly straps
- Durable
- Expensive
- Lack of underbelly support for lifting
- No tapering at back can make it difficult for dog to keep head above water
How We Chose Our Top Picks
When selecting our top life jackets for dachshunds, the most important thing we looked for was support for this breed’s long spine. In practice, this meant searching for life jackets that were easy to adjust and didn’t restrict the dog’s range of motion. Underbelly support was a key consideration.
What Makes a Good Life Jacket for a Dachshund?
Many of the considerations when buying a doxie life jacket are the same for any breed – but there are a few important differences.
“Like any piece of canine equipment, a dachshund life jacket needs to properly fit to be both safe and comfortable,” says Rebecca Morello, IMDT dog trainer. “This is especially true for life jackets because the wrong size or shape could mean it comes off the dog or fails to provide balanced buoyancy.”
Here’s an overview of what to look for:
- Support for a dachshund’s long spine. It’s important to buy a life jacket that supports as much of your dog’s spine as possible, as a short jacket could mean your dog struggles to stay above water. Getting the right size is also essential. Take measurements of your dog’s girth, length, and height, and make sure you consider the long torso when buying.
- Adjustment straps. Dachshunds have an unusual body shape. Even if you buy the “right” size, according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, the fit probably won’t be perfect. That’s why adjustable belly and neck straps are essential.
- Buoyant design. The most important feature of any dog life vest is a buoyant design. The vest should keep your pet above water even if they are too tired to swim. It’s important to get a balance between lots of flotation material and a design that’s overly bulky though – especially when buying for a small dachshund.
- Unrestricted range of motion. Your dog will get tired if he’s forced to battle against the life jacket. A tight fit can also cause chafing and pain. Dachshunds are particularly vulnerable around the shoulders, so make sure you don’t over-tighten the jacket.
- Underbelly support. Most canine life jackets have underbelly straps so you can lift your dog out of the water. As dachshunds have a long spine, we prefer vests with a full neoprene covering rather than just padded straps. This ensures the dog’s belly has plenty of support.
- Durable design. Weak seams or handles could put your pet at risk. It’s worth paying extra for a high-quality and durable vest.
- Reflective strips. It can be difficult to see a small dog in water when the light starts to fade. Reflective strips and bright colors can make it easier to find a lost dog – especially if your boat has capsized unexpectedly.
- Handle – A strong handle can be useful for lifting your dog into a boat or out of a pool. Nearly all dog life vests have handles, but some are more durable and easier to grab.
The key is to get a jacket that properly fits your dachshund. This is easier with adjustable straps, but be prepared to send back a vest and get a different size if it’s too tight or loose. “The life jacket needs to support the full length of their long bodies as well as being narrow enough to fit snugly around their girth,” adds Morello.
Tip: Looking for a dachshund harness? Check out our guide to buying a harness for a dachshund.
Should Dachshunds Swim At All?
There’s a myth that all dogs are good swimmers. While most dogs can swim, some breeds are more naturally suited to water.
The dachshund is a good example of a breed that isn’t a natural swimmer. Both full-size and miniature dachshunds have long torsos and short legs, so they tend to tire quicker. Sausage dogs are also prone to invertebral disc disease, which can be aggravated when struggling in water.
Being poor swimmers doesn’t mean dachshunds shouldn’t swim at all – many doxies love spending time in water. It’s important to either restrict your dog to water they can stand up in or use a life jacket though.
Keep in mind that any water deeper than your dog’s neck is potentially dangerous. And for dachshunds, that’s almost any water! Whether you’re going on a boating trip, visiting the beach, or just have an unattended swimming pool, your dog should always wear a life jacket.
Always Supervise a Dog in Water
A life jacket increases the safety of a dachshund in water – but it doesn’t mean your pet can be left alone. An exhausted dog with a life jacket can still struggle to keep his head above water if left for a long time.
You should also provide a way for your dog to get out of water. Your pet can’t tell you when they’ve had enough, so it can be distressing if they feel trapped in a pool or lake.
Summary
Dachshunds aren’t the strongest swimmers. Their short legs get tired quickly, which is why a flotation vest is an essential accessory when near water.
Our top pick for a Dachshund life jacket is the Outward Hound Granby. It’s an excellent vest with a supportive underbelly, buoyant design, and neck flotation panel – plus it’s available for a great price.
Do you have any questions about choosing a life vest for your dachshund? Please let us know in the comments below – we’d love to help!
