Karma sporting her new life jacket she got for Christmas. Worked like a charm when I tested it. Or rather when she tested it. Lol. The brand name is Outward Hound and it’s a size small.
I got Karma this life jacket for Christmas. She’d had a couple of ‘close calls’ in the last few months while we were sailing, so I wanted to ensure she would at least float if she ended up going overboard while underway. The thing is….she can’t swim.
I learned that shortly after I adopted her. I was kayaking and when I left the shore she tried following me, but promptly began sinking. I guess her body is too dense and her legs are too short to keep her afloat.
In order to test it, I tied a lifeline to the handle of the life jacket and secured the other end to the boat. I simply lowered her into the water to make sure it kept her afloat. It worked like a charm. Gave her enough buoyancy to give her the sensation she was actually swimming. Initially she seemed a little afraid [who wouldn’t be??], but she quickly settled down and I let her “swim” for about a minute or so.
I’ll definitely feel more secure now, knowing that if she were to inadvertently go for a swim while we’re underway, she’ll be safe until I can turn around to get her.
Does anyone else reading this have a boat dog? Do you use these?
Hey Mike,
While our dogs haven’t joined me aboard yet, we do have vests for them. I think it is smart to introduce them to the water in a controlled way…in fact, we actually got our dogs swimming lessons:
http://thisratsailed.blogspot.com/2013/06/if-youre-going-to-live-on-boat-you.html.
Didn’t want their first swim to be in the middle of big blue.
-Mike B.
Cute dog!