Sleep better: 7 reasons why you should give your dog a blanket year-round

Have you ever noticed how your dog loves to snuggle up next to your pillow or jump on a pile of laundry on the floor? Dogs are creatures of comfort. So, why not help your dog create her own special place with a dog blanket?

Why your dog needs a dog blanket

Create a sense of security

Dogs are pack animals, and like the sense of security they get from burrowing into a cozy spot. If you don’t have more than one dog, you can help mimic a dog den by giving your dog a special blanket they can use whether they curl up on the floor, at the foot of your bed, or inside a crate. 

Puppies adjusting to a new home or dogs who’ve recently been adopted from a shelter both benefit from adding a soft blanket to their sleep space.

Support an instinct to nest

Your dog wants to have a spot to call her own. Once your dog starts using a blanket, it will retain her scent, adding to her sense of place. She knows that her blanket is her special spot.

Provide safety from the storm

Most dogs fear loud noises like thunderstorms and fireworks. Snuggling into a favorite blanket can help keep your dog calm.

Protect your dog from the cold

Despite the fact dogs wear fur coats 24/7, some still get cold. Puppies, older dogs, and small dogs need a little extra warmth. Skinny dogs and dogs with short or thin coats also like blankets to snuggle.

Ten breeds known to be a little more cold-blooded include Beagles, Boxers, Chihuahuas, French Bulldogs, Great Danes, Greyhounds, Poodles, Pugs, Shih Tzus, and Yorkshire Terriers.

Create comfort on the go

A blanket is easier to pack than a dog bed if you’re planning a trip. It’ll also help calm your dog in the car and strange places like a hotel room or a friend’s house.

Protect your furniture

Blankets also help shield couches, chairs, or your bed from dog hair and muddy paws. And unlike most furniture, tossing a blanket in the wash is easy.

Help your dog regulate body temperature

Don’t worry that covering your dog with a blanket will make her get too warm. When dogs are cold, they’ll snuggle under blankets. If they get hot, they can quickly push the blanket away.

For this reason, a blanket is a better choice than a sweater or jacket that the dog can’t remove.

Do dogs need blankets year-round? 

While it might seem logical that dogs need blankets during the winter, most dogs like the added comfort blankets provide year-round. 

If you have hardwood or tile floors, they stay cooler, and your dog can get chilled when lying on the floor, even during the warmest months. 

While some dogs might like the blast of cold air from the air-conditioner or a ceiling fan, others will get too cool.

Giving your dog one or more blankets can let your dog stay comfortable no matter the time of year. 

Spring and summer can be tricky months for humans. The temperatures fluctuate, and you’ll find yourself adding or removing a sweater or jacket. Dogs don’t have that luxury. Their coats are permanent. 

But by offering blankets, you allow your pup to choose additional warmth when needed.

Choose the right dog blanket

When selecting a blanket, start with an option that is machine washable. We find FunnyFuzzy’s leaf shape dog blankets are a good option for you.

Available in four colors: elm green, anthurium pink, ginkgo yellow, and pinecone grey, these machine-washable blankets are 100% cotton with polyester stuffing. 

The blankets double as a mat or blanket and are a perfect choice to cover your furniture. The leaf blankets also come in various sizes to best suit your dog. The elm green blanket is 42 inches by 56 inches, the anthurium pink blanket is 47 inches by 43 inches, the ginkgo yellow blanket is 50 inches, and the pinecone gray blanket is 38 inches by 48 inches.

Avoid choosing wool blankets; even washable wool can be scratchy and uncomfortable.

You also should skip any hand-knitted blankets. Keep the heirlooms for the humans. Your dog’s nails can easily catch on the loops. That can make your dog panic and could potentially destroy the blanket. 

And, of course, it should go without saying that you shouldn’t leave a dog who chews on a blanket alone with it. You don’t want to risk leaving your dog with a potential choking hazard. 

Bottom line: Do dogs need blankets? 

Yes. All dogs can benefit from blankets.

Young, old, and sick dogs need the added comfort. 

Small dogs, short-haired breeds, and dogs prone to be more cold-blooded need extra warmth. 

Dogs love the comfort of having a blanket of their own, and blankets make great substitutes for dog beds. They can also help keep furniture clean and keep dogs calm on car rides, in strange places, or during loud noises.

And giving your dog a blanket to snuggle can help her get a better night’s sleep. 

Given all that, a blanket is a reasonably inexpensive investment to help keep your dog happy and healthy.

Sara B. Hansen has spent 20-plus years as a professional editor and writer. She’s also the author of The Complete Guide to Cocker Spaniels. She decided to create her dream job by launching DogsBestLife.com in 2011. Sara grew up with family dogs, and since she bought her first house, she’s had a furry companion or two to help make it a home. She shares her heart and home with Nutmeg, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Her previous dogs: Sydney (September 2008-April 2020), Finley (November 1993-January 2008), and Browning (May 1993-November 2007). You can reach Sara @ editor@dogsbestlife.com.

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