Until a year or so ago, I thought the idea of a Labrador in a life vest was just ridiculous. After all, these dogs were specifically bred for the water right? Then I heard a story, first hand, about a Lab that fell out of boat on a lake and promptly sunk to the bottom. A perfectly fit, young dog. Don't worry though, there's a happy ending to this. The owner dived into the lake and rescued his dog just in time. So, two lives were at risk here and the situation could so easily have been prevented. I changed my opinion about Labs and life vests about five seconds after hearing that story. I've heard many similar stories since.

So what causes a perfectly fit and healthy Labrador to sink to the bottom of a lake? Fear and anxiety! The shock of suddenly falling into cold water causes some dogs to momentarily 'freeze'. This hampers normal respiration and swimming ability and the dog simply sinks.

Okay so the chances of this happening are slim, but I don't want to take the risk around deep or fast flowing water. When Monty's wearing his vest, he's safe and I can relax. That's important to me. Monty wears a Paws Aboard Life Jacket. I chose this one because I love the simplicity of it. It's incredibly easy to fit...even with a wriggler like Monty!!

Features include:

• High visibility, neon yellow colour with reflective strips
• Handle on top of the jacket for quick and easy grabbing
• Breathable mesh underbelly. Allows drainage and prevents overheating
• Quick release buckles backed up with Velcro fastenings to keep the jacket securely fastened all the time

So, why do I like it?:
I love the no nonsense design of the Paws Aboard Doggie Life Jacket. It's incredibly easy to fit and the chunky buckles and wide strips of Velcro give me confidence that once on, it won't be coming off until I want it to. The handle on the top of the life jacket is a nice feature. It's big and easy to grab!