Dogs in Life Vests

Since Harley had already shown that he was likely to fall in the water, and Lily won't stay out of the water at all, we decided that to go kayaking they needed life vests. I purchased Harley's long before I actually got our kayak, and would put it on him for short periods so he could get used to it.

I put him in the pool with the vest on and had him go for a few short swims. He wasn't exactly happy about it, but then, he never is happy to get wet.

Lily swims alongside Harley for encouragement as he tests out his life vest in the pool. He wasn't wasting any time heading for the steps. >>>

<<< Not a happy dog. I don't even want to know what he's thinking about me right now.

Lily looks like a model as she hangs 15 in the bow of her kayak and swims on the beach.
Harley has fallen off the boat a few times (the sides of our kayak are rounded and very slick), but I only have to grab the end of the leash and pull him in. That handle on top of the vest really is handy - I just pluck him out of the water and keep going! Harley is much surer-footed now, and more confident moving around the boat, even jumping over to ride with Lily for a while.
	<<< Lily likes to swim, but Harley doesn't, so one day she grabbed his leash and dragged him into the water! (This was as deep as she made him go.)