Ruffwear Float Coat Dog Life Jacket

The Ruffwear Float Coat is a foam dog life jacket with a lift handle on the back and reflective accents. Ruffwear sizes it by the girth of your dog’s rib cage.

Who it suits

Dogs that swim or go on boats and paddleboards often, from small to large. It has no leash ring, so clip the leash to a collar or harness instead.

Key facts

• Sizes by girth around the widest part of the rib cage, XXS 13 to 17 inches up to XL 36 to 42 inches; size down if between sizes (Ruffwear)
• Layered EVA and PE foam, PVC-free, with panels placed to support a natural swimming position (Ruffwear)
• Low-profile handle positioned to help dogs out of the water (Ruffwear)
• Tonal reflective accents and a loop for a clip-on light (Ruffwear)
• 800D ballistic polyester shell and a telescoping neck closure (Ruffwear)

What reviewers say

Treeline Review named it the best overall dog life jacket after ocean fetch sessions with a nearly 70-pound dog, saying it “kept Miles’ head above water through two hours of non-stop fetch”. Its downsides: “Stiff, long straps”, and the hook-and-loop adjusters came undone frequently.

Whole Dog Journal tried it in a pool and a lake in 2021 and noted that the belly panels are about one inch shorter than on the original model. The BoatUS Foundation swim test (2021) called it a “Nice cut; conforms to shape” and listed Ruffwear for best fit and best quality. We did not test it ourselves.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Picked best overall in Treeline Review’s ocean test
• Pro: Listed for best fit and best quality by the BoatUS Foundation’s swim test
• Pro: Girth sizing from 13 to 42 inches covers small to large dogs, per the maker
• Con: Treeline found the straps stiff and long, and the hook-and-loop adjusters came undone often
• Con: No leash D-ring listed by the maker
• Con: One handle only

Cautions

• Never leave your dog unsupervised in or near water, even in a life jacket; the AKC and VCA both say so.
• Check the fit before every outing: snug, with room for about two fingers under the straps (AKC), and make sure you can lift your dog by the handle.
• Let your dog get used to the jacket on land first, as the ASPCA suggests, before the first swim.
• Dog life jackets are not Coast Guard certified and there is no design standard for them (BoatUS Foundation).
• If your dog shivers, vomits or seems unwell after swimming, contact your vet.