Outward Hound Granby Splash Dog Life Jacket, Life Vest, Pink, Medium

Why it's worth it

The Granby Splash covers the fundamentals: a front float that lifts the head, thick foam padding, a full belly band and two grab handles. It's the jacket to buy if your dog swims a handful of times a summer in calm, supervised water.

The front float panel does the one job a beginner dog needs most. It tips the head and neck upward, which keeps the airway clear while your dog works out what its legs are doing. That's the feature veterinary and training groups point to first for dogs new to water. For a puppy's first pool session, it's the whole ballgame.

Two rescue handles make wet retrieval easier than it sounds. Outward Hound puts dual grab handles on the back, so you can get a grip from either side without leaning way out over the water. On a pool step or a shallow shoreline, that's plenty. Pair them with the quick-release straps and you can have the vest on and off in seconds.

From our review of 10 dog life jackets, by James Bennett, Associate Editor

What we like

• +The front float panel does the one job a beginner dog needs most
• +Two rescue handles make wet retrieval easier than it sounds
• +Bright color plus reflective trim keeps a small dog findable
• +It's light enough to throw in a bag and forget about

What to know

• –The nylon shell doesn't take heavy use well
• –The handles aren't meant for a heavy dog
• –It's bulkier in the water than the performance jackets here