Jake never wears anything like that, he loves the water and goes in the river most days in the summer.

No devices here either, owning gundog breeds I've always tended to find they're natural swimmers. Except for Pickles, who would still paddle like mad in mid air if you plucked him from the water, until he was safely back on terra firma.

I think I may be very lucky in having a dog who loves to swim, but is extremely choosy about where he will do so. If he thinks the bank is too steep or too high he will not go in under any circumstances or any amount of persuasion!

He has learned from his own mistakes as a puppy brought up near the seafront and sea inlets, learning to swim from a young age, and I clearly remember the first time he thought he couldn't pull himself out of astream with high banks, and panicked. He's been very careful to judge the entry/exit ever since.

My dogs would FREAK if I went anywhere near them with a "flotation device".

They like nothing better than leaping in and out of the canal, even in the winter months. The only trouble we have is when they jump in where the bank is shored up with metal anti-erosion devices, which means they can't get out again, so we have to haul them up and over without cutting their paws. We discourage them from going in where there is no natural bank, but occasionally they do a mad leap for the water. At the end of the day, if they were in trouble, I would jump in and save them. The canal is at the most 4 foot deep and I am a very strong swimmer.

my jade swims in lochs and the sea no bother so no probably not.. on a boat then yes, but im a strong swimmer so if she was in trouble id be half a second behind her XD

I don't worry about Dan and Rio so much as they are both very powerful, but Rogue has an Ezydog lifejacket, as she almost got swept away last year and I had to rescue her. She can play longer too and I'm more relaxed. She's a funny shape though and has tiny legs and a big body - bless!