Summer 2014 47
LOCALadk
Astral Bird Dog Life Vest
By LOCALadk Staff
If you take your dog on the water, then you are going to want to check out the Astral Bird Dog life vest! As a
recovering river guide/kayaker, this is my first introduction to an Astral life vest, and if this vest is any indication
of the company's quality, my next Personal Flotation Device (PFD) will be an Astral. With two dachsunds who
tend to behave more like submarines than swimmers, I have tried my fair share of pet store life jackets, and had
little success. Just looking at the Bird Dog, I knew it would be different. First off, the foam is hinged for a more
natural fit. There are plenty of ways to adjust it as well. Two straps underneath without velcro allow for a comfy
fit, and the vest has an adjustable neck strap as well. The shell is made of tough Cordura fabric with a large grab
handle on the back that has a well-placed leash loop at one end. There
is reflective piping to help you see your furry friends while they're
running around the lake at sunset. This is the first life vest that I have
found that fit my dachshunds! Even with their different body types
(Gary is more of an athletic tube, and Ollie is just a tube-tube), it was
easy to adjust them for proper fit. Being too early for swim season,
the only field test I was able to do was in the bathtub (luckily our
dogs are small). The ergonomic design made it very easy for the dogs
to paddle, so they were much more boat-like than submarine-like.
The only possible con I could find would be the price, which ranges
from about $50 for x-small to $80 for a x-large. It may seem a bit
steep for a dog life vest, but you are getting what you pay for. Having
already wasted time and money on vests that were ill fitting, I would
recommend the investment. It will last!
Retail: $49.95 - $79.95, depending on size.
Gary's fashion shoot, Jay Rocks, Wilmington, NY. Great fit!
