Better and worse dog life jackets

[NevisDog]

Suitable for offshore? No, none of them. I have practical experience of this, losing a dog overboard while running under bare poles, when a 90 degree knockdown threw him over the rail. No possibility of turning around to recover him.

Fortunately he was wearing a helicopter lifting/working (free movement) harness that was made-to-measure, so there was no undue stress as it loaded up and he was able to swim freely as we hauled him back aboard. Buoyancy (or lack of) was not an issue, even in those tumbling waves.

The only people in the world who make an "off-the-shelf" version helo lifting/working harness are D-fa Dogs in NZ and they are expensive. (Plenty other helo lift harnesses available but they prevent free movement - dog cannot freely walk around.)

I have their "float-coat" equivalent but it's not the same - same harness built in with tether attachment but the buckles are plastic instead of the stainless steel used for their helo-lift harness. Depends what you want to pay for safety.

Attach a self-activated strobe maybe, in case the tether comes free or breaks?

[Rivatar]

Thanks captain, My thoughts were that with the head not held out of the seas, maybe 3-4m swells and breaking waves, he will drown. Swimming isn't possible at sea, so that doesn't matter. Admittedly rolling the dog on his back might not be dignified, but that is what human pfds do.

[Rivatar]

thanks NevisDog, am on it