Do Dog Need Blankets?

Although dogs have smooth coats and others even have double ones, it doesn’t mean that they cannot use extra warmth. Even with its natural covering, you will find your dog shivering from time to time. So, yes – dogs do need blankets. It is very humane to provide them with comfort, you know, in the spirit of reciprocating what they do for us. They give us emotional support and help us in expeditions like hunting. So, although the dog will not blurt out words of appreciation, they will like your gift. So, yeah, go for it.

When winter kicks in, the weather is harsh on anyone – even dogs. Dogs with double coats like Shiba Inu and the Husky keep up with the low temperatures well than others like the Maltese and the Dogo Argentino. Whichever type of coat your dog has, you need to warm up your house. Other factors that will determine your dog’s blanket needs are age, weight, height, and age.

This read will take you through the pluses of getting your dogs covered with blankets. Then, you will learn something about soft blankets and the history that intertwines dogs and blankets together. In the end, you will go through a bonus section highlighting how you can help animal shelters with their blankety needs. Let’s get warm!

The Benefits Of Covering Dogs With Blankets

1. It Is Both Relaxing And Soothing

If you get a blanket at the right time, you will appreciate that it offers some particular soothing, you know, like incubation. If you get the most comfortable blanket for your dog, nights will be different. The dog will remain relaxed, and they will take the blanket as an additional source of peace and comfort, with the other one being you.

Because some dog owners do not share sleeping spaces with their dogs, beds can come in handy. If you get an expertly-designed blanket, it will ensure that the dog is neatly, tightly, and warmly wrapped. Together with the sleeping bed, the blanket will take care of your canine.

Even science supports comfortable sleep and relates it to better rest. A dog that sleeps on the right spot or bed and gets covered with a comfy blanket will always get a good night’s sleep. So, do not let your dog go through the night with nothing but its coat.

2. It Gives A Dog The Much-Needed Warmth

Sometimes, a winter’s night can bring a fierce cold. Even if your dog is sleeping on a soft or hard bed, it will still wish it were more comfortable. Because many dog owners think that fur is protective enough, they may not get concerned with the dog. And sometimes, the temperatures drop a little too low until the dog can’t find any sleep. To change the game, you need to give a safe dog blanket.

Research has it that dogs enjoy sleeping in warm conditions and the best way to provide that environment is by using a blanket. As the dog sits in its crate or bed, lay the blanket and tuck the dog in. Remember that if the dog does not get adequate rest, they will wake up feeling fatigued and won’t enjoy the day’s activities.

3. It Builds Your Relationship With The Dog By Increasing Familiarity 

Once you get the dog a good blanket, you should rub it against your skin. That way, your scent will be the only thing that the dog smells. When the blanket plays its warm and cuddly role, the dog will associate your scent with comfort. This will help the dog to feel safe because it can smell your presence.

This will be quite helpful if you’re dealing with puppies because they always have an issue staying alone or living independently. The blanket will act as a safety tool throughout the night until you come back. The puppies will remain at ease, meaning that their nights will be restful.

If you’re the kind of person who works away from home, your dog will appreciate it if they can still smell you long after you’re gone. And the blanket will fill in that space just correctly. Every pet parents want their dog to be completely familiar with them, and so should you.

4. It Ensures That The Dog Sleeps Well 

Averagely, a dog should sleep between 12 and 14 hours a day. The entire period of sleep should be restful and relaxing, and a blanket will surely make the difference.

If the dog sleeps without the extra warmth, cold nights are likely to be unbearable. This implies that sleep time will be interrupted because the dog will try to get comfortable and warmer. The temperatures inside its kennel or bed will fluctuate, meaning that on one occasion, the dog will have to wake up in the middle of the night.

So, investing in one of the best dog blankets is a proactive thing to do. It will help improve how your dog sleeps, meaning that the dog will lead a quality life. Later in the morning, you can engage the dog in training since it will have rested well.

In the long run, good sleep reflects that your dog will live a longer life. So, it is crucial to consider the thought of getting a good blanket.

As you step out, you should be focused on getting an item that will work excellently for the dog when nighttime comes. And another thing – it won’t be long before you get feedback from the purchase. If the blanket is serving its purpose just right, your dog will wake up feeling energized. This will mean that the dog’s days will be better, warmer, and more powerful.

5. The Dog Will Get Much-Need Mind Peace

How well does your blanket serve you in terms of peace of mind? Have you ever tried sleeping without your blanket, only to find out that you can’t? Blankets create a warm envelope that puts all our organs at ease, including the brain. When your brain is not racing, your mind will feel very peaceful.

In that spirit, your dog needs a blanket that will protect its peace. If you make one excellent purchase, you and your dog will have relaxed minds. At night, you won’t be worried about your dog feeling uncomfortable. In the long run, you will have an improved psyche, and your psychological well-being will have some good shape and form.

With the question of dogs needing blankets, the answer should always come after you put the dog’s bests interests at heart. Always have your dog in mind before anything. Trust me when I say that once you make the change and introduce a blanket, this will change immensely. The relationship you have with your dog will become elevated.

Soft Blanket, Dogs, And A Little Bit Of History

Blankets are life, or, to avoid being too corny, they are a big part of life. Imagine this: you’ve had a tiresome day at work. You’ve just gotten home and want to take a refreshing shower. Once you’re done getting cleaned up, you jump into your couch with a bowl of crisps, ready to binge-watch some Netflix. What is the one thing that could be missing? A blanket!

Blankets – especially the warm, fuzzy kind – are like warmth envelopes, and they will serve your pup as well as they serve you. As established throughout the first part, your dog will enjoy having its piece of warmth, and even it won’t be eating cookies, or chips, or even binge-watching.

How Do You Know That Your Dog Feels Comfortable?

So, what is the best way of telling if your furry canine friend feels at ease? Well, you can start looking for signs similar to those that you would exhibit if you were feeling cushy yourself. You will pick out whether a dog is comfy or not based solely on its body language.

The dog will have closed eyes, relaxed ears, drooling mouths, and their tongues out. Also, they won’t move from a spot because they don’t want to lose it.

An uncomfortable dog will try as much as it can to feel comfier and better. It will sniff, jump up, and pace so that it gets a better place. Also, it could try to occupy your space – maybe the bed or the couch. When you wake up to go and get something, do not get annoyed when you find the dog seated in your spot. They will actually love that you warmed things, and they could get angry and even bark if you try to move them away.

The following table captures some of the overt signs you may notice if the dog is either comfortable or uncomfortable. The info should help you know how to help the pup.

A Comfortable Dog	An Uncomfortable Dog
It will wag its tail	It will try as much as it can to get comfier
It will start drooling (but this may also be a sign of nausea)	It will start sniffing to get a suitable area
Its ears will be dropped	It will engage in a lot of pacing
Its tongue will be sticking out	It will try and make you get off the bed and take your place.

Dogs And Blankets: The History

Very few people would want to know the history of blankets, let alone the history of anything. For many years, evolution has necessitated that humans stay warm. So, we can say that blankets are thousands of years old. When humans and dogs went out hunting, they got fur from animals. Since fur was used as a bedding item, it is safe to say that fur beddings gave birth to blankets.

Today, blankets are used mainly for warmth. However, they also take up the role of floor covers and are useful in decoration. This implies that blankets are one of the most versatile items in the world.

Dogs and blankets have interacted as much as we have with the fur coverings. Since dogs were domesticated a long time ago, we can assume that they have also been using blankets too.

If you walk into any pet shop, you can get a blanket for your pup. Also, pet-care product manufacturers make beds to fit your dog’s size and shape and with the best material. However, many owners let their furry canine friends sleep on a simple pillow or even newspapers spread out in a kennel. The point is that everyone is different. But, you should be extraordinary; you should treat the dog to a soft, clean, and warm blanket.

Blankets And Dogs: The Science 

There’s more to the softness and niceness that a blanket can bring, don’t you think? A dog won’t just love a blanket because of its fleeciness – it always tries to associate the blanket with something else – something good.

As you may already know, dogs are more powerful than humans in terms of smell. The blanket you get will pick your scent, and the dog will take it as a mini-you.

If your pup suffers from separation anxiety, some experts suggest that you should either give your dog a shirt or a blanket that you wore. The scent that comes out of it will make the dog feel calm – the canine gets the impression that you’re there with it.

Also, dogs love blankets because of their sensitive paws. Paws have a significant role to play in terms of detecting temperature changes. So, if the dog is sleeping on a cold, hard surface, the experience will not be delightful.

The dog’s body and joints may also develop issues if they continue resting on an un-cushioned place, such as a cemented floor. So, you should take care of its physical and emotional well-being by getting it a blanket – the dog needs it!

Sleep Training

You can train your dog to feel a particular sense of softness, but there’s something you can do – sleep training. You can engage it in some canine education and guide it to sleep in a particular place. Depending on the level of the dog’s stubbornness, you may or may not be successful. But, you should not give up. Always rewards even the littlest positive behavior.

For instance, if you wish your dog to stop sleeping with you on your bed, you should ask and direct them to go to theirs. Use both verbal and non-verbal methods to communicate with your dog. You can point towards the direction of the bed while saying something like go. When the dog complies, give them a biscuit and praise them immensely.

Other owners go for crate training, where they guide their dogs to sleep in a crate-like structure. Because that type of training is specialized, you should talk to a breeder, a vet, or a trainer.

Sometimes, you may experience situations where your dog does not want to get off the guest bed or your fancy couch. If that is your case, you should give the canine a firm no while using your hand to beckon them off the sofa or bed. If the dog refuses to move, try and help them off.

Whenever you see your dog creeping up onto a no-go piece of furniture, instruct them with a firm no. Ensure that all the members in the house also know what to tell the dog. This is because if the pup receives conflicting messages, it may be confusing and complicated.

Bonus Section: Blankets For Animal Shelters

If you’ve been to an animal shelter, you know how the situation is. Sometimes, the number of dogs there is a little too much. Many dogs are crammed into tiny spaces and don’t enjoy the luxury of being part of a warm household. Because of challenges in terms of funding, they are incapable of providing blankets to the homeless dogs.

You can improve the situation at your local shelter by making dog blankets. For starters, you will need to visit the home’s website. Quick navigation through the pages should open you up to the specific needs and requirements in terms of blanket size. Also, you should know whether or not they have places to store the dogs to figure out the many you can make.

This section will provide you with the sizes, tips, and info to ensure that the blankets you give to the shelter are welcomed and warmly accepted.

First Tip

Before you even start piecing things together, you need to ensure that you have the type and exact sizes required. Since different shelters have different needs, you need to have warmed up before you start sewing.

Second Tip

Size is not the thing that matters when it comes to making the blankets. Remember that an animal shelter has all kinds of animals – cats, dogs, ferrets, hamsters, bunnies, et cetera. Some of them need to have single layers, and others need to be fleeced and double-layered. Once you find out the specific needs of the home, you will have proper direction.

Are The Blankets Needed That Much In Animal Shelters?

Because of little or no funding, shelters do not have enough blankets. Because the organizations and homes are not-for-profit, they won’t be picky about what they get. Whatever item you organize, they will take.

However, others are specific about what they need. Some ask that the blankets and comforters don’t come with anything stuffed inside. This is because the hyperactive dogs will chew the material and make a mess everywhere. So, ensure that you call the establishment and get the right info.

Third Tip

Before you donate the blankets, ensure that they are all cleaned up. It is only considerate to bring them in clean because any dirty items will be trashed.

The Bigness Of A Blanket

Some animal shelters receive all kinds of dogs, meaning that the blankets need to come in various sizes. However, others are specific about their needs; that is, they only accept particular breeds. If you’re working with such shelters, you need to know the breed before deciding on the dimensions.

Altogether avoid working with the one-size-fits-all idea.

Fourth Tip

Ensure that you make a call to the animal shelter before you even start preparing the donations. You may find that the shelter you have in mind isn’t open to the public. If that is the case, you should book an appointment and stick to it as your drop-off day.

Blanket Sizes For Dogs

Toy Dogs

If you are preparing dogs for smaller-than-small dogs, you shouldn’t create blankets that are too large. You can work with something between 7.5 and 10.5 inches square. Remember that toy dogs do not take a lot of space.

Small, Medium, And Large Dogs

The minimum size can be anything between 9.5 to 18 inches. But because some small dogs are bigger than other small dogs, you need to add some extra room.

Medium-sized dogs will be contented with any blanket that measures between 16 and about 24 inches square. The large ones will be okay with anything in the range of 23 – 33 inches.

Generally speaking, a large dog needs a large blanket and a smaller one, well, a smaller blanket.

Fifth Tip

In the making of the blankets, you don’t need to sew new ones. Actually, you can make excellent blankets of the tie fleece kind, and those need no sewing. But you should know that the non-sew tie-fleece coverings are relatively smaller compared to the non-sew fleece ones.

Final Words

Dogs do need blankets – that’s the take-home. Your dog should feel unique – different that all the other homeless, stray, or feral ones. It should get particular warmth from you because it is unique to you. Ensure that you know what type of dog your pup is before you go shopping. Then, choose the best size – which should be bigger (slightly) than your dog’s size.

As you prepare to take blankets to the shelter, ensure that you give your best in terms of effort. Do not make, buy, or sew blankets without care and concern. That’s all from the read, and thank you for sticking around.