RandyMoon wrote:Jackie M, where did you get the doggie floatation devices?
You can find them at PetSmart for $15.99. But since we needed five, we ordered them online (I'll have to check where). We tried every dog life-vest around and actually tested them on the dogs in the spa (checking floatation) and at a small beach. We bought the Outward Hound because
1. Ease of putting them on and securing them.
2. Good overall floatation (some of the other brands of vests we tested floated the dogs too high in the rear causing them to struggle to keep their heads up)
3. Good floatation under the chin for a tired swimmer.
4. Bright orange makes it easier to spot them in and off the water
5. Reflective strip on back
6. Grap loop to retrieve them
7. Neoprene wrap under the belly to help with floatation, help with warmth, help in supporting them when picking them up using the grap loop
8. Easily adjusted to fit a range of shapes in that size (we used small)
9. Loop for leash attachment.
10. Quality fabric which will last a long time
Most of them had to get used to wearing them. For some reason, the vests caused them to lean and walk sideways and fall over. It wasn't long, however, before they were jumping all over the boat and running along the shore and chasing each other with the vests on.
Dogs need to get a chance to learn to swim and swim with their vest on before a emergency situation. Swimming does not always come automatically to every dog. You don't want a dog in the water to panic (and some can and have), and you especially don't want them to panic if you or any children are in the water with them, especially a large dog.
This might be where we ordered them for $11.49 (small):
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/pet-guys/-700603005900.html
While the price was good, it wasn't the deciding factor. These are excellent vests that do more than any of the others and we believe that pet safety adds to our own safety.
Jackie
I mean, after all, they get mohawk's in the summer, for god's sake! 
