Runner Up: Vivaglory Dog Life Jackets
This life jacket from Vivaglory is our runner-up and makes another great option for Pitbulls. It’s made of 600D cloth, which is a type of heavy-duty polyester fabric and while it won’t keep your Pitbull warm like neoprene would it is easier on the budget.
There are also 10 different color options and each of them features reflective accents on key areas of the jacket. Unlike our best overall pick, you’ll also find a D-Ring on the front of the jacket where you can attach a leash.
However, the D-ring is made from plastic so if your Pittie is prone to pulling it’s probably not the best. But it’s easy enough to upgrade to a carabiner to make it more leash-friendly.
There’s also a nice balance of padding with an extra front floating to help your Pitbull’s snout stay out of the water. While the best overall pick is focused on floatation and warmth, this Vivaglory jacket is more of a general purpose jacket that’s ready for almost anything you can throw at it.
You can read more reviews and check today’s price on Amazon by clicking here.
What I Love About It: It’s got everything you need in a life jacket with tons of color options.
What I Wish It Had: I’d love to see a stronger metal D-ring instead of a plastic one.
How To Find A Life Jacket That Fits Your Pitbull
Life jacket sizing usually takes two factors into consideration: chest circumference and weight. The circumference of the chest, sometimes called girth, is the more important measurement and in most cases, your Pitties weight should line up with their chest circumference.
However, a problem arises when you combine a Pitbull’s thick neck, large chest, and short body. Some dog accessories that were meant to fit like a vest can turn into a dress instead! That’s because our Pitties have the chest of a much bigger dog but not the torso length.
When it comes to life jackets, they typically run shorter than other dog accessories but the overall length is still something we need to pay attention to. I’ve made sure to avoid any extra-long life jackets on this list and they’re all Pittie approved!
With the basics out of the way, let’s dive into the individual reviews starting with our pick for the best overall!
Silliest Design: Queenmore Dog Life Jacket
What’s that in the water?! It’s coming right for us…and now it’s licking us!
Yep, this life jacket will not only keep your Pittie floating but it will also turn them into a bonafide shark-dog with a dorsal fin. Or, if you’d prefer, you can add a mermaid tail!
But I’m definitely all about the shark-dog! Even if you don’t go for a silly design, it’s still worth checking out some of the Amazon reviews to see happy pups proudly wearing their life jackets!
However, this life jacket isn’t all about being silly- it also works!
It’s got a super sturdy handle centered at the top of the life jacket (in front of the dorsal fin of course) and a D-ring right behind your dog’s head. It is a plastic D-ring but it’s got a lot more reinforcement than the one we saw on the Vivaglory. It will hold up to some pulling but I wouldn’t count on it the same way you would a metal clip.
While it will keep your Pittie afloat, it’s missing some of the extra padding on the front that we’ve seen in some of our other options. That makes this a better choice for intermediate swimmers or shorter swimming trips.
There are also reflective accents to increase visibility but the overall color is gray so if visibility is a major concern I wouldn’t go with the shark design. However, the mermaid-style is quite bright so it’s a better bet for low visibility situations.
Overall, even though it’s a silly design, it’s still a functional life jacket. It’s probably best for shorter swimming trips and the D-ring will help you easily transition from swimming to walking and back again.
You can read more reviews and check out the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.
What I Love About It: Would you even believe me if I said anything other than the shark fin?
What I Wish It Had: It’s been an issue across several life jackets, but I’d still love to see this same design with a metal D-ring.
Pittie Has One Obsession In Life: Swimming | The Dodo Pittie Nation
Many first-time pit bull owners wonder, can pit bulls swim? From the many recent studies done on pit bulls, there is no denying that there are many facts and proven statistics about pit bulls that many people do not know.
However, there is a lot of misconception about a dog’sability to swim. A lot of information out there seems to claim that some dogbreeds such as Labradors are born swimmers while others such as pit bulls thathave shorter snouts and large heads are completely unable to swim.
So, is the information true or is it simply based on theory? Can pit bulls swim? Let’s debunk the myths and get down to the real truth on whether pit bulls can swim and are they really as good as labs.
Many dog owners believe that breeds such as bulldogs, pit bulls, American bulldogs, and boxers with short snouts, are top-heavy and muscular are unable to swim. This is because the large heads and the general anatomy of the body distributes weight more towards the front half of the dog. Because of their design, such breeds are more likely to get their heads underwater.
However, while there is a lot of truth to this, some pit bull owners claim their dogs simply relish being in the water. If they were asked the question-can pit bulls swim, the answer would be a resounding YES! Other pit bull owners say that their pitties dislike the water and that their dogs will not even touch the water with their feet. Whether a pit bull can swim or not will thus depend on the individual dog.
That said, breeds such as bulldogs or dachshunds should never be left without supervision near a body of water. Their body proportions, small legs, and overall anatomy makes it difficult for them to gain control in the water and their odds of drowning are extremely high compared to other dog breeds.
Bulldogs, in particular, have such large heads that most have to be born via caesarian section as the pups cannot pass through the mother’s birth canal.
Labs, on the other hand, seem to naturally take to the water and have no problem gaining control and keeping their nose above water.
What every dog owner needs to understand is that likepeople, some dogs are more comfortable in the water than others. Dogsintroduced to water at a younger age can swim much better than dogs that havenever taken to the water all their lives.
It is therefore important to ensure that the dog alwayswears a life jacket whenever they are near the water.
The life jacket should not be too tight that it isuncomfortable for the dog to wear. It should also not be too loose that itcould easily slip off.
Choose a lifejacket that is suited for your dog’s body shapewith straps that fit nicely around the body.
When choosing a life jacket for your pittie, the type ofbuoyancy material is of paramount importance. The jacket should have materialthat is easily buoyant and can take the dog’s weight.
Color is important in a life jacket. It is much easier tospot a life jacket with bright colors than one with dark colors.
Also, it is a good idea to pick a jacket with reflectors foreasier visibility in low light conditions.
Even with a life jacket, it is not a guarantee that the dogwill not drown. A life jacket with permanent straps will allow you to quicklypull the dog out of the water in case they fall in.
Can pit bulls swim and are they good swimmers? The simple truth is Yes! Pit bulls can swim and can be very good at it!
As long as the dog is introduced to water at a young age andbecomes comfortable with it, then you will be surprised at how agile pit bullsare in the water.
Note, however, that if left in the water for too long, any strong swimmer whether dog or human, can tire and drown.
Some pit bulls can dive to the bottom of a swimming pool andretrieve their ball. View here.Take a closer look at the pit bull in the water and notice that their heavierfront makes them float and the slenderer back seems to sink more easily.
One of the best ways of preventing heat exhaustion in pit bulls is by taking them for aswim. However, if you are dealing with a Pitbull that has never been in thewater, there is a high chance they will be afraid of it. This is why it isimportant that you gradually introduce the dog to swimming.
Ensure that the dog is wearing a life jacket and that theyare on a leash. This will help you keep a hold on the dog in case they getthemselves in trouble.
Never throw your pittie in the water as this could causethem to panic which will only heighten their fear of water.
Start by walking your dog in shallow water to get themcomfortable with getting their feet wet. If they are afraid, let them relax andthen try again. Once they get in, provide dog treats and good verbal commandsto encourage them.
Next, introduce them to deeper water. Provide extra support under the dog’s belly. This causes them to kick their hind feet. If a dog only uses his front feet when swimming, they will tire much quicker. Placing an arm under their belly will encourage them to kick with their hind feet when swimming.
Show the dog the easiest way out of the water. This letsthem know what to do whenever they get overwhelmed and need to get out of thewater.
When the swimming lessons are over, give your dog positive verbal praises and treats to create positive associations with the water. Your pitbull should start becoming a pro whenever they hit the water.