I have been planning to order a life jacket from Ruffwear for summer 2025 and was very excited to see the Confluence Dog Life Jacket released. We spend a good amount of time in the summer around and on the water. Kayaking. Canoeing. Paddleboarding. Hiking by rivers. Three cheers for a life jacket made with movement as a priority!
I have an Australian Shepherd who is on the smaller side, weighing in full-grown at 42lbs. We originally ordered a M, but exchanged for an S (more on that later).
PROS: I love the visible and hidden handles. Picking him up with the life jacket on is SO easy. I like the leash attachment option, the straps are well-secured and adjustable. The vibrant color is a great bonus.
CON (potential): When trying on the item, we realized that it went too far down his stomach and wasn't comfortable for my pup in a size medium (definitely a boy-specific problem). Ruffwear has fantastic return policies to we exchanged his size M for a S. I had to tighten the M quite a bit, so we are hoping that a size down will be our perfect fit. That being said, if you are between sizes, especially with a male dog, I would recommend sizing down.