Dogs do so much for their owners. They keep you safe, give you countless cuddles when you need them, fight for you, love you fiercely, and always bring a smile to your face. It’s only right that you compensate them for all of these and more. Besides providing them with delicious dog food, your canine friend won’t mind having a paradise to return to after a long day. A warm, comfy bed with an equally soft and warm blanket is the bare minimum.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Blanket Material
The material you choose for your dog blanket can make or break your pet parenting. For first-time dog parents, the dog blanket you buy should be safe for your dog as well as comfortable. Unfortunately, some plush and warm blankets can be dangerous to a chewer. It’s a hazard if he can tear the blanket apart into tiny chewable pieces. Other equally important factors to consider are durability, odour and moisture resistance, and cleaning ease.
Comfortable Fleece
Fleece is without a doubt the most popular material for dog blankets. It satisfies all aspects of safety, comfort, and convenience. This comfy material is designed so that it won’t unravel or fray like other fabrics on the market.
Fleece is created primarily by mixing polyester terephthalate-PET and other synthetic fibres. To form a polymer, the constituents are reacted at extremely high temperatures. The polymer then hardens, forming viscous syrup that is pushed through a spinneret, a metal disc with microscopic pores. When the polymer comes into contact with air, it forms long strips that are subsequently woven into yarns and turned into fabric. A shearing device cuts the fibres and softens them as we know them.
Fleece is popular because it is lightweight and has excellent anti-perspiration properties. It prevents humidity from entering while still enabling moisture to exit. Moreover, fleece is extremely breathable and dries quickly. It’s also a good vegan alternative because it doesn’t involve animal fibres.
Coral, Polar or Berber fleece are some of the options to consider. The Coral one has a higher “pile” than many other fleece materials, making it furrier and thicker. This material is used in the majority of dog blankets since it’s the warmest one. Coral fleece does not pill due to its fuzzy texture, no matter how long it is used or laundered. The only drawback is that if you use a fabric softener during washing, the fibres tend to clump together. If this happens, the fabric’s beautiful soft textures would be lost.
On the other hand, Polar fleece, a popular fabric for sewing tasks, is less hairy than the collar one. You can choose between anti-pill and non-pill solutions. The former is of greater quality because it does not pill or ball up after several washes. The latter is less expensive, but after washing and wearing, it can develop pills. However, Polar fleece stretches better than other options on the market.
Last but not least, the Berber fleece is a high-performance fabric with a flecked look and a curly and nubby feel. When it comes to softness and insulation, it rivals natural hair. It absorbs moisture from the skin and warms it. It is also tough, elastic, and adaptable.
Soft Terry Fabric
The popular French Terry cloth is the second material used to make dog blankets. This is typically a knitted textile with loops and yarn piles on one side and a soft, even surface on the other. It is thicker and heavier than typical T-shirt material, yet lighter than most sweatshirts. This fabric is made with a unique cotton blend with trace amounts of spandex and polyester.
Looking at a jersey shirt is the best way to recognise French terry fabric-especially soft and warm on the inside and then evener on the exterior. It’s also warm and adaptable. However, the only disadvantage is that this fabric does not wick moisture like some other common materials.
High-Density Coral Velvet
DTY microfibre is used to make coral velvet. It is soft to the touch, as are the majority of the materials here, making it ideal for your dog blanket. This remarkable softness is due to the use of a single yarn and a low flexural modulus. The fibres have a high density between each other and a huge surface area, resulting in an amazing fabric covering. The fabric is extremely breathable and wicking due to its huge surface area. Coral velvet is incredibly comfy and will make your dog sleep soundly. The major disadvantage is that it can induce allergies since it generates static charge and hence loses floating air. So, if your dog has a respiratory disease, you should consider other options.
Breathable Microfiber
Finally, microfiber is a synthetic fibre composed of polyamide and polyester. The former is a fancy name for nylon, whereas the latter is a type of plastic. The fibres are separated into ultrafine porous strands that dry quickly. The resulting material is strong, absorbent, and soft, making it ideal for dog blankets among other applications.
Microfibers are lint-free because they use a single continuous filament. Since they don’t have hundreds of individual stands, they do not pile or become fuzzed during washing. This fabric is guaranteed to retain its original shape even after repeated use and washing. The incredible structural integrity makes it less prone to developing creases and wrinkles. Microfiber blankets are extremely durable in addition to keeping their shape. No matter how many times it is cleaned, the fibres do not fade easily.
Perhaps microfiber’s most significant properties are softness and warmth. The threads are closely woven together to keep heat within the material and consequently your dog’s body. When the temperature drops, your dog will be protected from the elements. The fibres will provide a cosy cocoon for him to relax in. This will not only give your pooch a comfortable night’s sleep, but will also lower your energy bill. Furthermore, as compared to other solutions, microfiber is quite inexpensive, making it the ideal option for dog blankets.