Cynologists borrowed the idea of blankets for dogs from horse breeders . Dog blankets can differ in purpose and are made of different materials - wool, nylon, leather, fur, cotton, etc.
Warm blankets
Dog blanket, unlike overalls, does not hamper the movements of the animal. Another advantage of blankets - it is easy to pick it up even without trying on, it is enough to measure the length of the body from neck to tail. The width of the blanket is adjustable with straps.
Initially, the purpose of blankets is to prevent hypothermia of the animal after active physical activity. It is easily removed and put on, does not constrain movements, does not crush, does not crumple. Blanket for cool weather should be made of materials that easily absorb sweat - cotton, fleece, microfiber.
When buying blankets, pay attention to the quality of the product. There should be no protruding threads, uneven or coarse seams that can cause animal discomfort. Fasteners are of great importance - they should tightly fix clothes on the animal, should not be unfastened themselves. Do not forget that most Velcro do not work well in severe frost, so these fasteners are more suitable for demi-season blankets.
Winter blanket for dogs from above should be made of dense windproof material, it is good if it is also waterproof. But the lining should absorb sweat well. The fixing belt should be wide so as not to cut into the skin. Some blankets may include a collar or hood. Large manufacturers produce breed-oriented clothing, which allows you to choose a blanket exactly for the dog.
Blankets for hot or rainy weather
Dogs no less than people suffer from heat, and for some breeds, young animals, sick, elderly and pregnant animals, heat is a mortal danger. On hot days, walks have to be limited, the dog moistened with water, etc. A blanket can help, but not cooling, but cooling.
This blanket is activated in the same way as the cooling litter. It should be moistened in cold water and squeezed out a little so that water does not drip. Special material will not heat up for an hour. You can buy such a blanket, or you can do it yourself from a cooling bed for dogs.
There are light raincoats made of waterproof material. Of course, a blanket will not protect the dog’s stomach and paws from dirt and water, and will not be suitable for a pet that is afraid of hypothermia. For such cases, you need a jumpsuit. But for pets who walk mainly along clean paths, blankets come in handy. You can also cover warm winter or demi-season clothing with a waterproof cape.
Postoperative Dog Blanket
Blankets are not only clothes. A special postoperative cape made of thin but durable breathable tissue will protect the healing wound or suture from infection. The body cloth fits snugly to the body, but does not crush. If the dog is tearing her, put a collar on him.
For leaving after surgery, one blanket is not enough, they need to be changed, washed and ironed with a hot iron, so you need to buy or sew several at once. The bandage is made of natural fabric - cotton or chintz. The ties should be sewn very tight so that they do not come off.
A properly worn and tied postoperative blanket for dogs does not put pressure on the wound and does not rub. To inspect, process the seam or change the bandage, completely remove the blanket; you just need to untie some of the ribbons.
Due to the abundance of ties, the bandage may present some danger to the dog. It is advisable to provide and remove things for which the dog can cling. For example, it could be the handles of desk drawers. The dog may damage the seams or injure the paw. Keep an eye on the animal.
DIY blankets
The easiest blanket for a dog with his own hands is a regular rectangle, which is thrown over the back and fixed on the chest with the help of ties or any fasteners. Such simple clothes will come in handy after a bath, in windy or rainy weather, to walk quietly.
But the dog blanket for the purpose of active walks has a more complex design. Measure the length of the dog’s torso, the volume of the chest and neck, the width of the cloak to the elbows or just to the middle of the torso. By standards, design a pattern. Pattern blankets for dogs has a simple look.
So that she does not gather in folds, after fitting, make tucks. The final part is a fixing belt running across the chest. It is made of elastic fabric or inserted into a wide strap with an elastic band. If desired, you can sew a collar or hood.