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If you own a Great Pyrenees, you probably know they can get pretty hot when it’s warm outside! They’re huge dogs, with plenty of fluff to go around. I know some big dogs who like nothing more than to cool off by taking a swim!
Odds are, your Great Pyrenees isn’t the best swimmer. Finding the right life jacket for them will make their swims so much safer! For such a large dog, it’s important to think about the fit, material, weight rating, and a few other things when picking out the right life jacket.
In this article, we will describe everything you need to know about picking a good dog life jacket. But, if you want to skip ahead, these are our 6 favorite life jackets for Great Pyrenees.
- Best Overall: RUFF WEAR Float Coat Life Jacket
- Best For Water Sports: Kurgo Surf n' Turf Dog Life Jacket
- Most Comfortable: Paws Aboard Dog Life Jacket
- Most Flotation For New Swimmers: EzyDog Premium Doggy Flotation Device
- Most Unique Design: Queenmore Dog Life Jacket
- Best On A Budget: Outward Hound Granby Splash Dog Life Jacket
Keep reading to find out which one will be the best option for your furry friend!
Should You Teach Your Great Pyrenees To Swim?
Labs, Golden Retrievers, and Spaniels are some dog breeds that are known to love water! But what about the Great Pyrenees? Should these dogs be swimming at all?
While these dogs aren’t water dogs by nature, many of these dogs enjoy swimming during the warmer months as a way to cool off and it can also be a good way to remove some loose hair and reduce shedding in your home.  Great Pyrenees originated in the mountains, but who’s to say they didn’t enjoy lying in a cold spring in the Summer?
Great Pyrenees are strong dogs, with webbed feet that can make them decent swimmers. So, if you want your Great Pyrenees to swim, you should definitely try to teach them.  If you’re nervous, a life jacket is a great way to ensure the safety of your animal while they are getting acquainted with the water.
What To Look For In A Good Life Jacket
Regardless of whether a life jacket is on a human or on a dog, a good life jacket is one that can save your life when you’re in the water. The function of a life jacket is to ensure that whatever happens, your head (or your dog’s head) remains out of the water and you stay afloat.
But, beyond that function, how do you know which life jacket will be best for your Great Pyrenees?
For dogs, picking the right life jacket is essential! Let’s go over some of the important things to think about when purchasing a life jacket for your furry friend!
Multiple Points of Adjustment
Great Pyrenees are big dogs! Even if you ended up with a smaller member of this breed, they will usually end up weighing somewhere around 100lbs!
Many of these dogs are tall and leggy, but some are thicker and shorter than others. This means it’s important to purchase a life jacket that is adjustable at multiple points.
A good life jacket for a larger dog should be adjustable in more than one place. Actually, the more areas that are adjustable, the better!
Ideally, there should be adjustable buckles, straps, or velcro around the neck and chest. Two points of adjustment around the chest are almost necessary for these dogs.
The more adjustability your life jacket has, the more likely it will be to fit your big pup!
A Good Leash Attachment Point or D-Ring
If you only plan on having your dog swim in private areas, like your pool, you don’t need to worry about this.
However, if you want to take your dog swimming at the beach or lake, you will need to have them on a leash at some point! The best place to attach this leash is probably going to be on the life jacket. This way, you are able to keep your dog’s collar dry and out of the water. Plus, in extreme situations, a collar can quickly become a choking hazard to a swimming dog, while a life jacket will just keep them safer.
Since you have a dog, you’re going to want to get a life jacket with a durable D-ring or leash attachment. It’s probably best if you can find one with metal hardware, not plastic. If your pup likes to pull on the leash, a plastic piece probably isn’t going to hold them back for long. But if you do end up with a plastic D-ring, just make sure it is fastened securely to the life jacket.
A Strong Handle
Don’t worry, you won’t have to use this handle to pick up your 100lb dog. But, a good handle is a useful tool to have on your Great Pyrenees’ life jacket.
With a good handle, you will be able to guide your dog in and out of the water. This can be especially useful if you are taking your dog on a dock or on a boat. They might have trouble climbing up on their own, but with a handle, you can give them the extra push they need!
A good handle should be thick, comfortable for you to hold, and reinforced onto the life jacket with strong stitching. Some life jackets come with two handles on top, in different positions. This extra handle can be helpful if you do end up needing to lift your entire dog out f the water for some reason.
A handle also can also make a good substitute for a leash if you’re in a pinch and need to contain your dog.
High-Quality Material
All of these other metrics won’t really matter unless the life jacket is made from high-quality material.
Some of the materials you will find on dog life jackets are nylon (ripstop), mesh, and neoprene.
Nylon, especially ripstop nylon is usually going to be best for the outside layer of a life jacket. It is strong, durable, and resistant to tearing. Nylon is also light, which means it won’t get heavy as your dog gets wet. The downside of nylon is that it isn’t insulating at all.
Neoprene is a great material for cold waters for your dog. Neoprene is the material that wetsuits are made out of. It is light, stretchy, and slightly buoyant on its own. The inside layer or the part around the dog’s abdomen of a life jacket might be made of neoprene.
Some life jackets will have a mesh lining. Although mesh is not as strong as neoprene, it will also give your dog some added warmth and comfort, just like neoprene. Unfortunately, mesh is not rip-resistant, so you need to be a little more careful with this material.
A Buoyant Material
Obviously, buoyancy is something that every life jacket should have! But what we want from a life jacket is a good balance when your dog is floating.
For a Great Pyrenese, you will want a lot of buoyant foam on a life jacket. This foam should be focused around the front part of your dog’s body. So, there should be more padding around your pup’s chest and shoulders, as compared to their stomach.
A High Weight Rating
One underlooked factor for a large dog is making sure the weight rating is correct.
Some large dog breeds, like Great Danes, have a slim build, but are still quite large! The girth or circumference of their chests might not be in line with their weights.  This can also be true for Great Pyrenees. While their chest measurement might put them into a large-size life jacket, you need to make sure that their weight is supported!
If you find the perfect life jacket, but your dog is over the weight limit, you can still use it! Just be aware that in an emergency, there is no guarantee that this life jacket will keep your dog afloat. Not all life jackets provide a weight rating, so in this case, you will want to err on the side of caution.
A Bright (& Cute) Color
The last thing you should consider when buying a life vest is the color!
A bright color is always a good idea for safety reasons. At a lake, a bright color will stand out and keep your dog safe from passing boats. In the ocean, bright color makes your dog easier to spot in an emergency. Reds, pink, oranges, and warm colors stand out especially well in dark water.
Another, maybe less important reason, to buy a bright-colored life jacket is that you can choose a flashy or cute design! This is a fun and easy way to add a little personality to your Great Pyrenees’ summer outfit!
How Do You Know If The Jacket Will Fit Properly?
Most of the life jackets you will see available for purchase are sized based on chest girth and neck girth.
To get these numbers, just measure around the widest part of your dog’s chest and neck! When looking at sizes, you want to make sure that this number falls somewhere within the middle of the size range for your dog’s life jacket.
This way, you can adjust it to fit just right, but it won’t end up being too small or too big! The life jacket shouldn’t be digging into your dog’s skin anywhere, but it also shouldn’t be loose!
Remember you want your dog floating levely in the water, with their head always floating the highest!
Best Life Jackets for Great Pyrenees
Now that you know what to look for in a good life jacket, let’s weigh the pros and cons of our 6 favorites!
Best Overall – RUFF WEAR Float Coat Life Jacket
- Fully lined with flotation
- Strong durable material made for adventuring
- Adjustable and sizes up to XL
- Size L fits my 90lb Great Pyreness
This RUFFWEAR float coat earns its spot for best overall because of its durable material, extra foam flotation, and design.
This life jacket is a great pick for a Great Pyrenees because there is more flotation than normal. Obviously, this will help to support to the weight of your 100lb+ dog. The foam flotation on the life jacket can be found not only around the neck, back, and shoulder, but also along the belly.
And don’t worry, it seems that the extra padding does not make it bulkier. Rather, it is described as a sleek option!
The design and look of this jacket are truly very sleek overall. There arent any extra things on the life jacket besides what you need. The material is the same throughout, and the loose ends of the straps can be tucked away after buckling. The colors are bright enough to stand out in nature but still fashionable!
The durable nylon material that lines this entire jacket ensures that it will last a long time. It also helps that this life jacket has a sturdy handle, and a D-ring attached to the nylon material.
The only downside of this life jacket is that if you have a plus-size doggie, the nylon won’t stretch as a neoprene material might. You would need to make sure that your dog’s girth does indeed fall within the range of this jacket.
You can read more reviews, see color options, and find the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.
Best For Water Sports – Kurgo Surf n’ Turf Dog Life Jacket
- Combination of both nylon and neoprene
- Removable flotation tuns this jacket into a raincoat
- Durable exterior and warm interior makes it great for long swims
- Two handles help with lifting dog onto boat
The Kurgo Surf n’ Turf Dog Life Jacket is our top pick for water sports!
For Great Pyrenees, this life jacket sizes all the way up to XL. It seems to be an extremely adjustable option that fits all sorts of dog breeds!
This life jacket is a great combination of floatation and warmth. While the outer material is durable nylon, the inside is lined with neoprene. Because of the neoprene this life jacket would be a comfy option if your dog will be spending a lot of time in cold water. Again the nylon on the outside makes a super strong layer good for durability and attachments.
For water sports, we love the double handles. If you aren’t able to lift your dog on a boat with just one handle, there is a second place for you to grab on. This jacket also has a metal D-ring, that would come in handy for walking your large dog to the water.
What really sets this item apart from the others on the list is that the foam padding is completely removable. This means that this item can double as a raincoat or snow jacket, and be worn throughout the year.
The biggest difference between this and our best overall life jacket is that there is less flotation overall. Because the entire belly isn’t lined with floatation, we can’t guarantee as much buoyancy with this option.
You can read more reviews, see color options, and find the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.
Most Comfortable – Paws Aboard Dog Life Jacket
Paws Aboard Dog Life Jacket
- Light and quick drying
- Velcro and mesh closures under the belly
- Full neoprene material gives extreme comfort
- Velcro made a nice snug fit from the chest to the abdomen
The Paws Aboard Life Jacket might be the most comfortable life jacket we’ve seen for a dog.
What really helps this jacket stand out is that the material is mostly neoprene. For a larger dog, this is a relief because neoprene stretches and gives more than nylon does. The neoprene also keeps your dog warmer and more comfortable in cold water. It dries quickly too, so you won’t have a wet life jacket sitting around for too long after your swim.
The mesh and velcro closures on the belly seem to help with the fit of the life jacket for a bigger dog. A Doberman appears to fit nicely in the large size of this life jacket. And, the size goes up to XL.
The only downside of this life jacket is that it’s not the most buoyant. If you know your dog can’t swim or float without a life jacket, this might not be your best choice. Because the neoprene is so soft, it’s possible that the handle on top or the D-ring could rip out.
But, if you have a confident swimmer on your hands, this is a comfy, stretchy and warm option.
You can read more reviews, see color options, and find the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.
Most Flotation – EzyDog Premium Doggy Flotation Device
EzyDog Premium Doggy Flotation Device
- 50% more flotation material
- Strong, adjustable straps
- Guaranteed floatation for dogs over 90lbs
- It fits my 185lb Mastiff, with room to cinch down
While all of our picks are safe choices, the EzyDog Premium Doggy Flotation Device is the safest of them all. While it may not be the sleekest or most comfortable, this life jacket will keep your dog floating.
This life jacket is the only one on our list that has a weight rating of 90lb+. That means even if your dog weighs 150lb this life jacket should keep them floating. This is mostly due to the 50% extra padding that this life jacket has when compared to others. Because this life jacket is so buoyant, it really is the best choice for dogs that have no idea how to swim.
Another great feature of this life jacket is the strong adjustable straps. These two straps over the chest and abdomen are a thick material that will last you a long time. In an emergency, it seems like you can count on these straps to keep your Great Pyrenees safe.
The only thing I don’t love about this jacket is that it is only available in a bright yellow or red design. While these colors are obviously the most visible and safe, they won’t be the best-looking dog on the beach. This jacket can always act as a started life jacket, and when your Pyr starts to get more comfortable in the water, you can move on to something sleeker.
You can read more reviews, see color options, and find the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.
Most Unique – Queenmore Dog Life Jacket
Queenmore Dog Life Jacket
- Shark fin design is unique and visible
- Bright colors increase visibility
- Rated to float up to 121lbs
- This life jacket didn't bother my dog at all
There is no denying that the Queenmore Dog Life Jacket is the most unique on our list!
But, don’t be fooled, this life jacket is cute and functional at the same time. Before we talk about the design, we have to highlight the size ranges for this life jacket. This life jacket is sized all the way up to XXL and has a max guaranteed weight rating of 121lbs. Remember, even if your dog is over this limit, they can still wear this jacket, you just can’t depend on it to float their entire weight in a pinch.
But, what really sets this life jacket apart from the others is the design. There are a couple of different unique designs offered in this jacket. You can choose either a shark fin design or a mermaid design. this jacket is so cute, we think it could even be worn to a costume party! Beyond being cute the designs still help your dog to be visible in the water, the shark fin sticks up out of the water and the mermaid design is a bright flashy color.
This jacket seems to be pretty comfortable overall, with three different points for the adjustment. The life jacket is made of nylon and mesh, so keep in mind it won’t stretch much!
The only thing I would change is the grey color. We think that a life jacket is a safety tool first and a fashion statement second. The grey color could be a dangerous camouflage at a lake or in the ocean. Picking a brighter version of this life jacket would probably be best for visibility!
You can read more reviews, see color options, and find the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.
Best On A Budget – Outward Hound Granby Splash Life Jacket
Outward Hound Granby Splash Dog Life Jacket
- Extra flotation panel to keep dog's head afloat
- Double handles make picking your dog up easier
- Budget-friendly option for testing out the water
- Low profile and not too bulky
If you’re looking for a deal, it will be hard to beat the Outward Hound Granby Splash dog life jacket. On a budget, this life jacket provides most of the desired features we are looking for!
One of the best things about this life jacket is the extra floatation panel under the dog’s head. This extra panel is built-in and meant to keep your dog’s head above water, no matter what happens.
The sizes on this jacket go all the way up to XL, and the jacket itself is very adjustable. Not only are there three points of adjustment but the belly band is made of flexible neoprene. The XL size is rated to float up to 100lbs of weight. Because of this, if your dog is larger than 100lbs, it might not be the best option for a very first life jacket.  But remember that extra panel upfront will still keep your dog’s head up and dry!
This life jacket has two safety handles. This means that you will have twice the grip power if you need to pull your Great Pyrenees out of the water. The colors are bright but fashionable, with more choices than just the classic red.
One of the only downsides is that this life jacket has no D-ring or leash attachment point. That means you might need to keep your dog’s collar on while you have them on the leash.
You can read more reviews, see color options, and find the latest price on Amazon by clicking here.
What Do You Do If Your Dog Won’t Wear A Life Jacket?
So you’ve ordered one of our favorite life jackets, but your Great Pyrenees refuses to put it on?
That’s okay! Not every dog will want to wear a life jacket right away. But, with a little training, you can get your furry friend excited about wearing one. With positive reinforcements techniques, you can make your dog feel comfortable and happy in their new jacket.
This video shows some training techniques for how to desensitize your dog to their new life jacket!
Notice that she uses treats (positive reinforcement) to encourage her dog to accept and wear the life jacket!
Final Thoughts
Finding the right life jacket for you and your dog is important. You want to make sure that your not so graceful Great Pyrenees is safe and supported in the water. The 6 options above all have something different to offer, but all of them can help your dog learn to swim and love the water this summer!
