Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Two Pictures Attached! I bought this size *LARGE* for our 7 year old female pit-boxer mix who runs a pretty consistent 46 pounds. She measures 19" from neck to tail, 19" around her neck and 27" around her chest. I had these measurements from the purchase of a Hurtta winter coat for her. She's definitely not designed for cold weather! :-) - This LARGE is a perfect fit for the dog, whose measurements are detailed above. - There are 3 fairly standard buckles, which you can actually see in the product photo. You adjust the straps to fit and the male part of the buckle clips into the female part. You squeeze the two "springy" side of the male part to release. - You can put the life jacket on the dog while still leashed, an important feature when getting ready to go onto the water from a boat launch or other public area. - The jacket is very easy to secure on the dog. I don't THINK that the order you buckle the two parts is relevant.You basically lay it on their back like a horse saddle. (I know all about this kind of thing from having watched all the John Wayne movies.) So, lay it on their back and wrap the chest piece, grey in the product photo, snugly around and up to the other side where there is Velcro to hold in in place. Then, insert the two buckles. I like the wrap-around piece because not only is it somewhat elastic to provide a secure fit, but the velcro helps hold it in place while you buckle it AND it protects the dogs from straps going around their chest to prevent sore spots from rubbing, etc. - Next, you secure what I'd guess you call the throat piece. This piece goes sort of under the dog's chin, is held in place with velcro also, and then you buckle it in. There is also a flap thing to help the dog keep their chin / head out of the water. - Once the dog is in the jacket, it's quite firmly fixed. I picked her up easily with the two grip straps on top and carried her about 20 feet back and forth on the lawn. Between the wrap-around chest piece, velcro and the buckled straps, there's no getting out of that jacket that I can see. - Our dog enjoys playing in the water at standing depth, she's now a swimmer. To test flotation, I went with her about to my chest and let her go. I tried to encourage her to swim around, but she headed straight for shore. I didn't get as good a flotation test as I would have liked, but I brought her out 4 times and it all worked great in that way. - In hindsight, I wish that I bought the Clownfish design. Our 8 year old grandson is really into fish, the Nemo movies, etc., and I think he would have loved seeing our dog in that outfit. I'd absolutely buy this again and love the great price.