The Best Shark Themed Dog Life Jackets
If you are looking for something a little bit more fun then the typical dog life jacket you should totally get a shark themed dog life jacket! These jackets are little costumes for your dog for water play, all having the distinctive shark fin made of foam and fabric located on the top of the jacket. They are so fun because it makes your dog look like a shark while they are swimming underwater and can be a great practical joke to play on your family and friends! Read more for my top 5 shark themed dog life jackets!
Table of Contents
Does my dog need a life jacket?
No, not all dogs need a life jacket however it is a good safety feature for water play or a fun costume that your dog can wear in the water in the instance of purchasing a shark themed dog life jacket. These are some scenarios where dog life jackets can come useful:
- Lean or low body fat dogs to keep them warm in the water
- Senior dogs who don’t have as much strength to swim for long periods of time
- Dogs with health or mobility issues
- Dogs that have not be introduced to water and/or swimming before and need more confidence and help from their ownerÂ
- Dog breeds that are not big fans of water
Quick Picks: The Best Shark Themed Dog Life Jackets
- Best Quality – ASEDRF Portable Dog Life Jacket Vest
- Affordable – MELD Ripstop Dog Life Jacket
- Best Design – XIALIUXIA Dog Life Jacket Vest (It has a shark fin and teeth!)
Features to look for on a shark themes dog life jacket
Shark Features
There are many different shark features that you can find on a dog life jacket. The most common one is a shark fin which is a must for most people. You can also find jackets which have shark teeth as well. If you are looking for a lifejacket that can also be more serious situations you should look for a dog life jacket with a removable shark fin.
Buoyancy
The most important feature to look for when buying a dog life jacket is buoyancy as its main purpose is to keep your dog afloat. Each life jacket brand uses different types of foams and fabrics to make sure their life jackets are good flotation devices which leads to my next point that it is very important to check the weight limits for the size of jacket that you purchase. Manufacturers will test how well their dog life jackets float and publish information on the maximum weight it can hold.
Weight Range
As I mentioned above in the buoyancy section it is vital that you check the weight range for the size of the dog life jacket that you end up buying. This will ensure that the jacket actually works and keeps your dog floating in water. Generally you can find this information in a table that has measurement specifications on the listing for a product.
Handles
Handles are not necessary for a dog life jacket however they can definitely come in handy (no pun intended) to help you lift your dog out of the water. Especially for smaller dogs that don’t weigh too much this feature can be very useful as you will have the strength to lift them out of the water. If your dog is not a very confident swimmer this feature is also useful as you can use it to teach your dog to swim and give them more support.
Fluorescent or Bright Colour
A brighter life jacket can be an advantage if you like to swim in open or shared waters e.g. at the beach or at a lake or river versus swimming at home in a pool. A fluorescent or bright colour will help you keep an eye on your dog if you are not swimming too. You should also look for jackets that have reflective material such as reflective stitching or reflective material bars to increase visibility even more. Not only can a bright colour give you peace of mind but it will also act as protection against other water users such as jet skiers, kayakers, boats and stand up paddle boards. This will ensure you that nobody hits your dog and causes an injury.
Good Fit
As with any dog product you want to look for a life jacket that will fit your dog well. Look for products that have adjustable straps so you can ensure your dog is nice and tight and secure while wearing their life jacket. You should measure your dog’s neck, check and back length and compare it with the measurement tables you can find on dog product listings to choose the best size. Also before heading out to the pool or the beach you should try on the life jacket and make sure that your dog is comfortable and that they can sit down, lie down and importantly go to the toilet without making a mess of the jacket.
Material
You want to look for a product made of a sturdy, rip resistant and preferably a high density material to ensure the longevity of the dog life jacket that you purchase. You also want to look for materials that will quickly dry and drain.
Interior Buckles and Straps
This is not necessary but if you can find a dog life jacket that has internal buckles and straps it is better. This is a good safety feature as it will make sure that your dog does not get stuck on the sides of buoys, docks, boats or anything that protrudes from the water like sticks, rocks or logs.
How to size a shark themed dog life jacket
Before purchasing a dog life jacket you need to measure your dog’s:
- Chest circumference
- Neck circumference
- Back length
- Weight
Once you have these measurements you can cross reference them with measurement tables and then choose the best size.
Recommendations
#1 XIALIUXIA Dog Life Jacket Vest (Shark Themed)
Price
Check out the current price on Amazon here
Review
The XIALIUXIA dog life jacket is perfect for anyone who is going for the full shark look. It is a large detachable shark fin located at the end of the top section of the jacket. What is most distinct about this design though is the teeth headrest located at the front of the jacket with its vibrant red backdrop and pointy white fangs. The design comes in two colours: dark grey and bright yellow. Dark grey is a great option if you are going fully out authentic shark while bright yellow is great if you want maximum visibility of your dog while swimming. The materials seem to be of good quality being waterproof nylon and polyester with internal pearl cotton foam. Overall, the only disadvantage I see with this shark dog life jacket is that the straps are located on the outside of the design however this is not a big deal.
Specifications
| Shark Features | Large removable fin located on the back end of the dog life jacket. Red and white teeth themed headrest |
| Weight Range | From 1.45kg to 3.34kg (ranging from size S to XL, check manufacture specifications for specific weight ranges for each size) |
| Colour | Dark Grey or Yellow |
| Material | Waterproof nylon, waterproof polyester and cotton |
| Handles | Yes |
| Buckles & Straps | Adjustable and located on exterior of belly/bottom section of jacket |
#2 ASEDRF Portable Dog Life Jacket (Shark Themed)
Price
Check out the current price on Amazon here
Review
The ASEDRF portable dog life jacket is a great option if you want a high quality shark themed jacket but not over the top. I really like the multi colour design with the wavy line that separates the cobalt blue top section from the light grey bottom coloured section. The fin of this life jacket is not removable which is a disadvantage however it does look very realistic and is large, located at the end of the top of the jacket. There are three adjustable buckles which makes the design look very secure however they are located on the outside of the jacket which could pose as a slight hazard.
Specifications
| Shark Features | Large blue fin located on the back end of the dog life jacket. |
| Weight Range | From 0.5kg to 35kg (ranging from size S to L, check manufacture specifications for specific weight ranges for each size) |
| Colour | Cobalt Blue and Light Grey |
| Material | Polyester oxford cloth and high density polyethylene foam |
| Handles | Yes located at middle top |
| Buckles & Straps | Adjustable straps. Located on the exterior of belly/bottom section of jacket and the front |
#3 Casakiya Shark Dog Life Jacket
Price
Check out the current price on Amazon here
Review
The Casakiya Shark Dog Life Jacket comes in a wide range of vibrant colours including hot pink, fluro orange and light grey (if you want your dog to look like an authentic shark). The shark details are nice including a medium sized fin in the same colour as the whole life jacket. Beside the colour options, some stand out features of this jacket include the addition of reflective strips located on either side of the jacket which can increase your visibility of your dog. The disadvantages of this jacket is that the buckles are located on the outside of the jacket (this is common for a lot of jackets) and that the manufacturer doesn’t specify weight ranges with the sizing on the amazon product listing.
Specifications
| Shark Features | Medium sized fin located at the end of the top section of the dog life jacket. |
| Weight Range | Not specified on amazon product listing however it does give a sizing guide with sizes ranging from XS to XXL |
| Colour | Hot Pink, Fluro Orange or Light Grey. All have a faint cross hatching pattern over the block of colour. |
| Material | Double layer of EPE foam. Reflective strips for visibility. |
| Handles | Material handle located at centre of design with a metal D-ring that you can attach a leash to |
| Buckles & Straps | Adjustable straps and buckles located outside of design at neck section and top around belly/back section. |
#4 MELD Ripstop Dog Life Jacket (Shark Themed)
Price
Check out the current price on Amazon here
Review
I have rated the MELD ripstop dog life jacket as the most affordable or best value jacket. The design is like an authentic shark featuring a two-tone grey design that is separated with an organic wavy line separating the side colour from top view colour. It has similar features to the products reviewed above including being made from polyester material and having a handle located at the centre top of the design. There are three adjustable grey straps with one located at the neck section and two that wrap around the belly and body of your dog to create a secure fit. As I have mentioned above with all of these shark design dog life jackets, outside located straps are not the most ideal however they do their job. Another disadvantage is that the manufacturer doesn’t specify weight ranges with the sizing on the amazon product listing however by looking at the chest and body measurements you should be able to determine a good fit.
Specifications
| Shark Features | Large dark grey fin located behind the handle at the end of the top. |
| Weight Range | Not specified on amazon product listing however it does give a sizing guide with sizes ranging from S to L |
| Colour | Light grey sides and dark grey top |
| Material | Polyester with breathable mesh on underbelly for draining and drying. |
| Handles | Plastic handle located on middle back and black plastic D ring so you can attach a leash |
| Buckles & Straps | Three quick release buckles and straps located on neck section and two that wrap around the belly/body section. |
#5 Shark Pet Life Jacket
Price
Check out the current price on Amazon here
Review
The Shark Pet Life Jacket is a great option for owners who want a vibrant coloured design in either light blue or orange. A feature that differentiates this product from others is that the shark fin is located in the middle top of the design instead of the back top. This makes it a more realistic fin as it mimics where a real shark fin would be located. Due to the different fin location, where a handle would usually be present, the handle has been moved to the front top and is stitched on horizontally instead of vertically. There are three black adjustable straps included externally on this design which is not ideal however it does it’s job of keeping your dog safe and secure.
Specifications
| Shark Features | Medium sized fin located at the centre middle of the design. |
| Weight Range | 1.6kg to 50kg |
| Colour | Bright Blue or Orange |
| Material | Polyester fabric |
| Handles | Handle made of the same black material as the straps located at the front top of the life jacket. There is also a metal D ring so you can attach a lead. |
| Buckles & Straps | Black adjustable buckles and straps. One is located at the neck section and two are located at belly section |
Before you go!
Do you travel with your dog in the car often?
Why not check out my article where I explain the safest ways to travel with your dog in a car?
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