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Life jacket recommendation

Basenji Talk
  • A

    Hello,

    We are going on a kayak trip this summer, so I need to buy a life jacket for my B.
    I'm looking for recommendations, tips, or any usefull information regarding life jackets.

    Thank you so much!

    0
  • KembeK

    I have the “Outward Hound Granby Splash Dog Life jacket” - you can purchase it on Amazon. We spend most of our summer on a lake @ our summer home. My basenji loves to sunbathe on the pontoon boat but is NOT crazy about the water. I like this life jacket because it has handles on the back in case you have to pick-up the dog out of the water and it has a front neck float to keep their head above water. She has only worn the jacket IN THE WATER a few times in the past 14 years and it does work well. But I do put the jacket on while we are cruising around just in case she falls in - also she doesn’t mind wearing the jacket .

    2
  • A

    @kembe

    Thank you for your reaction.
    The chin floaty is something I haven't seen on other brands before.
    Do you know what size you got?

    0
  • KembeK

    I don’t remember the size and the life jacket is @ our camp. You need to measure your dog -especially the girth.Amazon has the size information on its site. The price is also reasonable - around $12 depending on the size.

    0
  • eeeefarmE

    A couple of thoughts. Although many Basenjis do not like water, most can swim. It's a good idea to give your dog some (possibly unwanted) experience swimming so there won't be panic if they end up in the water. The life jacket is a good idea, especially if you will be any distance from shore, but getting an overboard dog back into a kayak could be tricky.....best to practice this at some point to find out how difficult it might be and how your dog reacts. If your dog doesn't like water and understands the risk of going overboard it may be more cooperative in the kayak. My Perry was good on my paddleboard after the experience of ending up in the drink, because he detested swimming and was careful that he didn't risk another dunking.

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

    1
  • A

    @eeeefarm
    Thank you, that is really great advice!
    We had some opportunities to take him swimming last summer. He can swim but doesn't like it.
    We were already thinking about visiting the dogpool in our neighbourhood, we definitely gonna do that now.
    I've also noted to practice the "dog-over-board" routine.

    0
  • KembeK

    I have also taken Kembe in the water without a life jacket to make sure she would swim in an emergency situation. She can swim - but it wasn’t pretty! Lol! The life jacket definitely gave her the confidence and reassurance.

    1
  • eeeefarmE

    Of the five Basenjis I have owned, two were fine with swimming, two abhorred the water but could swim if necessary, and one was sort of neutral, didn't love it, didn't hate it. My one girl would jump off the dock in pursuit of water skiers!

    "In order to get along with a Basenji, you have to be at least half as smart as the dog!"

    1
  • kaiahK

    We live in Florida and we are on the water alot. We use the Ruff wear life jacket . We have had others but did not love one until we purchased this one. My basenji loves the boat and the Ocean but will not get in the swimming pool.

    0

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