Kurgo Surf and Turf Life Jacket 

Andrew Piotrowski

Disclaimer: The video is a little shaky as our dog Jack was way more excited about digging holes on the beach than filming a video. I was always one of those guys who said things like “my dogs have webbed feet, they are natural swimmers, they don’t need a life jacket”.

While it may be true that both of my dogs are great swimmers the above statement is still wrong. I found this out the first time that my Catahoula got a little too excited on the ISUP and splashed off the board a half-mile from shore. He had no trouble staying afloat but it took me about 10 tries to get a good enough grip on him to pull him back on the board.

In the end, it was no big deal, but it could have become one. Add wind, waves, tides, and fatigue and we could have had a different outcome. However, if Jack had been wearing the Kurgo Surf and Turf Dog PFD I could have easily scooped his squirming butt out of the water.

The Kurgo Surf and Turf life jacket has two large handles on the top of the PFD that make pulling your pup to safety much easier. The PFD is packed with features but is low weight, not bulky, and most importantly keeps your best bud afloat.

Key Features:

2 Grab Handles: There are two different handles on the top of the PFD that are great tools for helping to pull your pup out of the water. Both are located in the middle top section of the PFD, one runs the width of the PFD and the other runs top to bottom.

The two different directions allow you to get a good grip despite what direction your dog might be heading. Keep in mind that they are not designed to carry your dog by, the goal of these is to give you a secure placed for one hand while the other reaches around your dog while pulling them out of the water.

However, on occasion (in my video) I have lifted my 45lb pup up by the handle and have had no issues. 

• 2 D-rings: There is a D ring in the back and one towards the front of the PFD. These allow for multiple leash connection points. The size of the dog and the scenario will be key in determining which one to use. Bonus: the front one has a bottle opener built-in! 
• Open Chest: I really like the open chest of this PFD. It allows the dog to run and swim without losing any range of motion. 
• Durable Materials: I have been using this vest a few times a month for about 6 months and have found the durable 400D and Ripstop materials to hold up great. 
• Machine Washable: This is an amazing feature. We use this PFD 100% in salt/brackish water which can leave residue and start smelling pretty gnarly. The floatation materials can be easily removed via the rear zipper and the entire shell can be machine washed. 
• Multiple Adjustment Straps: All three adjustment straps are made with quality buckles that are easily used. The straps are positioned perfectly and work great.
• Reflective Trim/Piping: There are a few lines of reflective material that are positioned perfectly to aid with visibility in low light conditions. 

MSRP: $45.99 to $71.99