SwimWaysPaddle Paws Spring Float Dog Raft, Large (65 lbs. and Up), Blue

I purchased this for my Texas Heeler puppy, not knowing if she would even use it. Let me tell you, she loves it. She jumps into from the side of the pool and she uses it for her king if the hill game with my AM Staf dog and their ball. This raft has taken a beating and is still holding air and floating. This raft is used 4-5 intervals every day and it has been jumped on, scratched at, wrestled on well over 100 times (southern florida and 90-95 degree days). The 2 dogs jump on it, wrestle with the ball on it, launch off of it and it has with stood all the abuse. The vent hole finally gave way to the material this past week but they didn't care and still use it. I tried to order a cheaper 1 for a replacement but it was much smaller in size, too tall for my AM Staff to get in it and the air valve keeps popping open. I didn't think this 1 would last more then a day with as rough as my dogs play on it but it lasted 2 months and I couldn't be more thrilled. I did have to order another 1 of these but that's ok, it's my dogs favorite play place.

This was a great purchase for our dog. She is a 60lb golden retriever and loves the water. She floats perfectly in the raft and it is able to enjoy the pool with us.

Actually, I was skeptical about this. However my pup often takes over my float, leaving me to fend for myself. My boy absolutely loves this product. I could only give it 4 stars though. It was hard to blow up, it needs like a sealing valve like most rafts have so when you take your mouth off it holds the air in. Also once I finally got it sealed the air valve went up inside the outer cover and I am guessing never to be seen again. Providing it lasts the year, I am not sure I would be able to use it another year. It would actually probably be pretty good without air at all and just use a good pool noodle like item inside.Anyway, as far as size goes. I have a very large English Lab, who is very fit and healthy. He runs agility, goes biking, loves swimming and also does doggy pilates. He has no trouble getting into this by himself in a 4 ft pool. Would probably still need a slight boost in deeper pool. He can stand on his hind legs in the 4 ft pool, pull it down on one side and climb in relatively easily. After an hour or so of swimming and fetching he puts himself in a floats around letting the current from the pumps take him around the pool just chilling and relaxing. He still has plenty of room in there. The item is a bit expensive but then again, food, toys, training, pet insurance, vet visits. This really isn't all that much for a happy dog and being able to reclaim your own float.--I came back to edit this review and change it to 5 stars from 4. I was one of the first to purchase and review this item. I bought it in 2016, my boy was 5 years old. This lasted him until his passing in 2024. I see other reviews where it tore or broke or punctured. I would have just bought another one. The price is not too much as I previously said. This became one of his most favorite things. To swim with me until he got tired, then relax out in the water. He was able to get in himself with no issues, till he got older then needed a little boost. Such a little thing can have a big impact and so many memories. This has now been passed on to the neighbors golden who is 8 months old. Who I hope will have as much fun and they build as many memories as I did.

This isn't really the proper review as I just received this product yesterday, but I did want to point something out for others maybe thinking of this product so they can get a fuller vision of it.1st - it came ridiculously fast so shipping = excellent. I purchased on the Sunday before Memorial day and received the item the following Wed. afternoon with Amazon's Super Saver free shipping.And now to the product -Obviously I'll have to update this review with durability, but for now I can say that I took my dog out on it yesterday (the day we got it) and her monster-claws (that need a serious trim which she will receive today!!) didn't even phase this thing.The part that's concerning me about this product is just how much water the dog sits in while floating. My dog LOVES water and so of the two choices of dog-float that Amazon offers I figured this was the better choice because the other one doesn't look like the dog gets wet at all and I figured that would get pretty hot for the pup. And even though there are many good pics for this item, I guess I was still envisioning that the dog would be floating with maybe an inch or two of water in the bottom - just enough to keep her cooled down. That's not the case. For my 100# girl, she is laying in about 4-5 inches of water at all times. Cooling? yes, but comfortable? I'm thinking no, not for a dog; at least not for any real length of time. Buyers should be aware that the pic with the Portuguese Water Dog (that I thought was only THAT full of water because the dog is laying over the edge of the float) is a perfectly accurate pic of just how much water the dog will be sitting in at all times while on this float.In the future hopefully someone will come out with a product that offers just a little LESS contact with the water to create a more perfect balance of cooling and comfort for the dog.UPDATE: So I actually purchased this for a tubing trip that the dog was going to come along on, which we did this weekend.End result for this product: The river was super low so we had a LOT of the dog jumping in and out as we'd hit rocks, a LOT of dragging over long distances of rocks, and some fast moving water - over endless rocks! lol I know this wasn't the intention of this product but as far as any 'ripping' there was absolutely none - and we couldn't have put this thing through it's paces any more than that river trip was!! But as far as the durability of the small ring that makes this hold it's shape - that broke just while refolding the item and I learned quickly how important that was within about 30 minutes on the river. :( The product won't hold it's shape very well at all without it. Oh, also, the air stopper kept randomly coming open and not due to the rocks, just whenever, even in calm water. So that was a problem too.As speculated in the original review, the dog did NOT like being in that much water for an extended amount of time, AND the fabric seemed to almost stretch out a bit because she sat lower and lower (in more water) the longer we were on the river.Now, all that said, in a pool, I think this product would do just fine - where the dog could get out whenever it got sick of laying in so much water - but I still do think the plastic ring will snap in a heart beat just due to regular un/folding, and needs to be rethought by the manufacturer.

We purchased this for our dog since he is always trying to get on the float with us while in the pool. He loves it! The only issue that we have is that sometimes the sides will buckle in.