Sizing for life jackets

The first thing you need to remember - a life jacket isn't a coat! Don't worry too much about it not being long enough.

Your primary concern should be that there is sufficient buoyancy material in the jacket to float your dog (or cat).

Don't expect the jacket to extend the full length of your dog's back; in fact, it will be a more effective buoyancy aid if it stops some way short of the far end of you dog. In this way, if your dog gets into difficulties the jacket's buoyancy will lift the front end of your dog. The absence of buoyancy at the 'far' end will allow that end to sink, pivoting the body; this will assist the rise of the front end and further ensure that mouth and nose are clear of the water level.

If the jacket does extend to the full length of your dog - and this is not unusual, particularly with the smaller dogs where everything is a bit more compressed - then try to avoid the jacket extend beyond the end of your dog; if it does then s/he'll have a problem in simply sitting down!