Do dogs really need a life jacket if they can already swim?

Even strong-swimming breeds benefit from a flotation vest for boating, long open-water sessions, or cold/choppy conditions where fatigue and currents become the real risk. Reviewers across specialist dog subreddits consistently note that life jackets reduce drowning risk for senior dogs, brachycephalic breeds, and dogs that get tired faster than their owner realizes, and the grab handle is useful for hoisting a dog back onto a boat or paddleboard regardless of swimming ability.