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Summer in my family means it’s time to escape the heat by going swimming or boating on the nearby lake. Instead of leaving my dog Enzo at home, I wanted to be able to safely carry him (and tire him out) on our water-related adventures—that’s how I rate Lifejackets Outward Hound’s Granby Splash for dogs.
Try on a Granby Splash dog life jacket
Enzo is a extremely Enthusiastic swimmer, sometimes letting errors happen. The herding dog’s herding instincts and penchant for leaning over the side of the paddle to tumble in the waves make him an unpredictable and unwieldy passenger. To better rescue Enzo from his inevitable quagmire, and to keep him safe in the water, I decided we needed a dog life jacket.
Outward Hound is a popular pet brand that offers three different life jacket designs, each geared towards different needs: Granby Splash prioritizing maximum buoyancy, Standley is all about performance and Dawson focus on warmth and insulation.
Enzo rejoiced at the waves.
I also considered several other options, including Ruffwear Float Coat and Kurgo Surf N Turf, both are appreciated. Since I was most worried about Enzo’s buoyancy and there was a solid way to lift him out of the water, I eventually landed. Outward Hound Granby Splash Life Jacket.
The Granby Splash life jacket promises its buoyancy – that was evident on initial testing. It has a thick foam on the top to ensure your dog stays bouncing in the water, and a front-supporting neck to cushion his dog’s chin. The jacket comes in several easy-to-see color options and has some very sturdy handles.
I was also impressed by the fit. One of the most important factors when measure your dog for flotation devices is their circumference (the widest part of the thorax). That measurement, combined with their weight, is a great way to estimate which size will fit. If your dog is in between sizes, you should increase the size.
Granby Splash suits wet Enzo a little differently than dry Enzo.
When our mid-size life jacket arrived, I worried it might be a little too small for Enzo. But once he got wet and his fur shrunk, it fit perfectly. Life jackets come in different sizes, from extra-small to extra-large (sizing chart below):
- XS: 11-15 in; 5-15 lbs
- SM: 16-20 in; 15-30 lbs
- Area: 21-27 in; 30-55 lbs
- LG: 28-32 in; 55-85 lbs
- XL: 33-44 in; 85-100 lbs
We put the jacket to the test on an 85-degree sunny day, and both Enzo and I were very pleased with its performance.
What we like:
- Durable ripstop material, foam sheet and neoprene belly band
- Mattress on the stomach and chest area to make sure the straps didn’t chip while Enzo rowed furiously
- Firm, well-padded handle at the top is comfortable to use (extra and small sizes have one handle, while medium and larger sizes have dual handles)
- Fit that doesn’t restrict any movement
- Four different bright colours and reflective strips for display
- Three adjustable straps (two under the belly and one in the front) with Velcro attachments at the end to make sure they don’t come loose
- Front neck float to help keep Enzo’s head above the water
- Not floating on the bottom, which means not overturned mice
The two handles on the life jacket are both useful for pulling Enzo back to the ship.
Some considerations:
- No lanyard. My dog wore Wonder Walker harness underneath, works fine, but it’s a bit difficult to attach the lanyard and it has to be on the front as the back loop is completely covered.
- The straps require a fair amount of adjustment for first use, this proved difficult when trying to swaddle a highly excited dog. (We recommend preparing it all at home in advance!)
- Pull handle. In the case of the Enzo, the strap on the front had to be tightened to the point that it was too long to attach the Velcro head to anything. I ended up stuffing it in a life jacket, but I don’t think it stayed for long.
- I feel the handle is sturdy, but my dog weighs 45 pounds. Some reviewers stated the handle also won’t hold for dogs over 60 pounds.
We find this dog life jacket to be a great choice for both vigorous swimmers and novice water dogs who need a little extra support. The front collar buoy is a great feature for energetic dogs who try to keep their faces out of the water—especially long, flat-faced breeds.
The large size range and strong adjustability make this harness suitable for dogs with unusual body types (especially with the many rave reviews from Dachshund parents).
Granby’s padded collar keeps Enzo’s nose free from water.
The handles on the top of the life jacket work great to grab Enzo after he’s launched himself off the top of my paddleboard—handy for 50-pound pups that likely need some help climbing. back to the boat, dock or dry. soil.
We recommend Granby Life jackets for:
- Dogs need a lot of buoyancy
- Little mice have a hard time keeping their faces out of the water
- Varieties with unusual body shapes
- Dogs may need support from a firm handle
Who Should Consider Other Dog Lifejackets?
Through the Hound life jacket outside are a great choice for many types of dogs, there are several other great coats for puppies with specific needs. For example, dogs that get cold in the water and need a little extra insulation might be better served with an option like Outward Hound’s Dawson Jacket.
I want to keep Enzo around so I can bring him back when needed (I highly recommend investing in waterproof leashor one climbing leash if you want a longer option). Pet parents who prefer a leash might also want to try other options with EASY ring. Overall, this is my biggest headache with Granby, even though we’ve managed to work out a workaround.
This enthusiasm is why we need a lanyard.
Granbys come in a variety of sizes, but dogs at either end of the size spectrum may benefit from models that are more specific to their size. The EzyDog Doggy flotation device consistently get high marks from parents of large dogs, while Aboard feet Life jackets are suitable for smaller dog breeds.
Try another life jacket for dogs:
- Additional insulation against the cold
- Easy leash attachment
- Very small or very large dogs
Final Verdict: Four Soggy Paws Up for Granby Splash!
Enzo and I had a great experience with the Outward Hound Granby Splash life jacket. Although it has the thickest foam of all their models, it doesn’t limit Enzo’s extremely enthusiastic playtime and he barely seems to notice he’s wearing it. He seemed to feel much more confident about venturing into the pool – to his delight and to my dismay at times.
I love the reassurance of knowing that I can easily lift him back to my paddle if needed. We think this doggy life jacket is a great choice for beginners as well as experienced swimmers!
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