Hurtta Life Savior ECO Dog Life Jacket

Yes, a life jacket for dogs! I have been canoeing with dogs for a long time, but it was not until 2010 that I first obtained a doggie life jacket. My lab mutt hated swimming, but loved canoeing, so I thought a PFD ( puppy flotation device ) would be a wise investment. I have used a number of different brand life jackets, and recently was provided with a Hurtta Life Savior ECO jacket for my year old pup Kanootti as a participant in the Hurtta Summer Explorer Program. This life jacket is awesome, and I can highly recommend it! I canoe over 200 days a year, and a pup is with me on 99.9% of those outings. Since we received this jacket, Kanootti has used it over 20 days, on day paddles and canoe camping trips, and even for some swimming and stick-chasing outings at our local lake.

We encourage all dog paddlers to use a life jacket, for several reasons.

1. Not all dogs are strong or efficient swimmers. Even a skilled swimming dog could get tired during a long, cold, or emergency swim.
2. A doggie life jacket provides visibility in the water, especially important when paddling in low light, fog, or where powerboats may cruise.
3. Sometime a dog needs a boost to get in or out of the canoe, especially in some of the tougher access areas we use. A sturdy handle on the back of the doggie PFD is a great assist.
4. Thermal protection; Since I canoe from ice-out to ice-in, the water is often quite cold. I can use a dry suit or other thermal protection. A doggie PFD provides an extra layer of protection for both long and short haired dogs.

When selecting a doggie PFD, we look for comfort, durability, visibility, strong handle and leash attachments, and fit. This life jacket meets all of Kanootti’s needs, and it has proven to be a quality addition to our dog gear supply. The ECO series of Hurtta gear is gear that uses “eco-friendly materials”, recycled materials when possible, and is reported to provide “log lasting durability, comfort, and control”.

Design:

The first thing I noticed about this life jacket was how soft it is. This jacket, made with recycled safe polyester material and webbing, is soft and flexible as it contours around Kanootti. It is easily adjusted with two belly buckles and one chest buckle. There is a snug velcro secured belly band which keeps the jacket from sliding around on the dog.

We are using the Buckhorn (orange) color, in the size for weights ranging from 45-65 lbs. Kanootti is 50 lbs, and it fits her comfortably. With at least 20% adjustability, it seems this jacket would easily fit stockier dogs or dogs with a more fluffy coat. It is also quite lightweight, weighing in at just over a pound.

The back handle is strength tested and easy to grab. The leash attachment is a sturdy stainless steel ring on the handle that slides up and down the handle. This makes for easy use of a leash at access areas ( please do not leash your dog in the canoe, as it presents an entanglement hazard in an emergency). The handle also provides a good spot to attach a safety light, such as the Hurtta Nordic LED light. Note, when there is a light attached to the handle, the leash ring cannot slide the length of the handle.

Buoyancy:

The flotation material provides good buoyancy to Kanootti as she swims. The flotation material is located around the dog’s torso, and under the neck area. The flotation provided allows her to stay upright when swimming, and does not interfere with her paddling stroke. She is not fond of swimming but can easily dog paddle while wearing this jacket.

Fit and Comfort:

When Kanootti is sitting and wearing this jacket, a lot of her neck, nape, and back are exposed. However, this design provides enough room so that when she stands or lies down, the jacket does not creep up and bind the back of her neck. She happily runs, sits, lies down, stands, turns around, scratches her ear, and gives hi-5’s while wearing it!

Safety Features:

The Buckhorn orange color is not a high visibility orange but does provide good visual contrast with the water. There are also reflectors on the jacket, with a luminous intensity of 400-450 lx/m2 (pretty bright). The darker orange color also means that the dirt (inherent with canoe camping) does not show. I also can easily wash off any really muddy spots!

Background

I have used different dog life jackets for many years. I canoe over 200 days per year, and my dogs are with me on most of these outings; each dog gets at least 100 days on the water, and is always wearing a life jacket. We paddle in all conditions, and frequently canoe camp, so I am confident in my ability to assess the performance and durability of dog paddling gear.