BoatU.S. - May/June 2012

TOP CHOICES
THE JACKETS WE TESTED performed ifferently based, in part, on the size of the dog, so we broke down
our test results on jacket size, rather than
brand. We rated on a 1-5 point scale, with
5 being the best score. The six scores for
each jacket were then averaged for the
final score. Jackets were rated on the fol-
lowing factors:
n Ease of fit and adjustment
n Comfort when worn dry
n Adjustment needed when wet
n Swimming characteristics and
water performance (how well
thejacket floated the dog or
helped its ability to swim)
n Observations from the dog’s owner

SMALL DOGS

Our small dogs, a 12-pound rat terrier (Spring), and a 20-pound Jack Russell (Skipper), neither of which are “water” dogs, had decidedly negative outlooks on taking a plunge. Because they were small, active dogs, there was less wiggle room for a poorly fitting jacket. Everything from strap and buckle location to amount and placement of the foam had to be just right for the dog to be comfortable. The jacket that best suited both dogs was the West Marine neoprene jacket ($34.99), which just edged out the Outward Hound ($15.99).

MEDIUM DOGS

Our medium dogs, a 36-pound border collie
(Zip), and a 40-pound golden retriever pup
(Stella), seemed to be much more willing
to take a swim than our small dogs — not
much of a surprise, especially for Stella.
There’s a substantial size difference between
a small and medium jacket, and the fitting
was easier for Stella and Zip than it was for
Skipper and Spring. The jacket that best
suited both dogs was the Outward Hound
priced at $29.99, which just edged out a
foam jacket from West Marine called the Pet
Flotation Device ($24.99), or cleverly called
the “PFD.”
to consider include having reflective tape
and a jacket made of bright colors to make
it easier to spot the dog in the water in
adverse conditions. And keep in mind, if
the jacket has Velcro-style closures, your
dog’s shedding might clog it up, and neces-
sitate frequent cleaning. LL BoatUS 1-2 Pg Ad Sale Ends Sept 15_Half Page Landing Loop Boat US Ad 3/28/12 2:02 PM Page 1