Faux Fur Dog Blankets: A Guide to Choosing One

A dog will walk past an empty sofa and lie down on the one square of it that has a blanket. The blanket is not softer than the cushion underneath. It is theirs, and that is the whole difference.

Faux fur is the material most people reach for when they want that spot to look like it belongs in the room. This guide covers what the pile actually does, which of our faux fur blankets suits which situation, how to size one to your furniture rather than to your dog, and how to wash it without ruining it.

What faux fur does for a dog

Three things, and only one of them is softness.

It holds warmth. A dense pile traps air against the body, which matters most for short-coated companions, small companions, and older dogs who feel the cold in their joints before you notice it in the room.

It holds scent. A blanket a dog has slept on smells like the dog. That is a large part of why they return to the same spot instead of picking a new one each night, and it is why a familiar blanket travels well.

It gives a defined edge. This is the one most people miss. A dog settling into a space wants a boundary to arrange themselves against. A blanket draws that boundary on an open cushion, which is why a dog will choose a blanketed seat over a bare one that is objectively just as comfortable.

Choosing between our faux fur blankets

We make four styles in faux fur, and they are genuinely different pieces rather than the same blanket in different colors.

Faux Fur Shag Blanket

The longest pile we make, and the one that reads most like a throw you would have bought for yourself. It comes in six colorways: Brown Tip White, Gray, Chocolate, Camel, Pink, and White. Five sizes, from X-Small through X-Large. Choose this one when the blanket is going to be visible and you want it to look deliberate.

Pearl Leopard Faux Fur Dog Blanket

A patterned faux fur in three colorways: Pearl Leopard, Teal Leopard, and Celery. Same five-size ladder as the Shag. The pattern does real work on fur visibility, because a variegated surface hides shed hair between washes far better than a flat solid does.

Cozy Chinchilla Faux Fur Luxury Dog Blanket

A deep two-tone pile in Gray/White, Black/White, or Beige/White. This one comes in a single size, 62 inches by 80 inches, which covers a two-cushion couch or a queen bed. There is no small Chinchilla, so if you want this texture on a chair, the Shag is the piece that scales down.

Cozy Raine Waterproof Blanket

Faux fur with a hidden Luxura-Protect waterproof barrier sealed between two layers of pile. From the outside it reads as a throw rather than as a protector, which is the point. Five colorways: Ivory, Ebony, Latte, Light Gray, and Charcoal. Choose this one if the reason you are here is drool, damp paws after a walk, or an older companion having occasional accidents.

What size faux fur blanket do I need?

Size to the surface, not to the dog. A blanket that fits the dog exactly will be pushed off the edge of the cushion within a week of circling.

Two of our faux fur blankets share one size ladder and two do not, so the numbers below are listed per product rather than as a single table. This matters: the ladders are close enough to look interchangeable and they are not.

Faux Fur Shag Blanket and Pearl Leopard Faux Fur Dog Blanket run the same five sizes:

• X-Small, 21 by 21 inches. A crate floor, a carrier, or a car seat.
• Small, 25 by 25 inches. One chair seat, or a small companion's own spot.
• Medium, 29 by 36 inches. A single couch cushion.
• Large, 36 by 58 inches. Two cushions, or the foot of a bed.
• X-Large, 56 by 58 inches. A full couch seat, or a large-breed companion stretched out.

Cozy Raine Waterproof Blanket runs its own ladder, and it runs larger at the top:

• Medium, 29 by 36 inches.
• Large, 36 by 62 inches.
• X-Large, 56 by 62 inches.
• XXL, 62 by 80 inches. A two-cushion couch or a queen bed.
• XXXL, 62 by 100 inches. A three-cushion couch or a king bed.

Cozy Chinchilla Faux Fur comes in one size only, 62 by 80 inches.

When you are between sizes, size up. A blanket with margin stays on the furniture when a dog turns around on it, and a generous drape covers the front edge of the cushion, which is where most wear happens.

How to wash a faux fur dog blanket

Machine wash cold, and line dry. Follow the care instructions on the piece you own.

Heat is what damages faux fur, not washing. A hot wash or a tumble dryer melts and mats the fiber tips, and once the pile has matted it does not recover. Skip the dryer entirely. Skip fabric softener too, which coats the fibers and flattens them.

Avoid bleach and bleach alternatives. For everyday maintenance between washes, shaking the blanket out and brushing the pile in one direction lifts loose hair more effectively than a lint roller does.

What to avoid in a dog blanket

Loose knits and crocheted throws are the main thing. An open weave gives claws and teeth something to catch, and a pulled loop becomes a long strand a dog can swallow. Our faux fur is a dense pile on a woven backing, which is a different construction and does not unravel that way.

Be wary of anything sold as a pet blanket that is simply thin fleece cut to size. It will not hold warmth, it pills within a few washes, and it slides off furniture because it has no weight to it.

Frequently asked questions

Do dogs like faux fur blankets?

Most do, and the preference is fairly consistent. The pile holds warmth and scent, and the defined edge gives a dog a boundary to settle against. Dogs with thick double coats often prefer to lie on top of a blanket rather than under one, which is worth knowing before you assume a companion who does not burrow is uninterested.

Is faux fur safe for dogs?

Our faux fur is a dense pile on a woven backing, so it does not unravel into swallowable strands the way a loose knit can. As with any blanket, supervise a companion who is a determined chewer, and retire any piece that has been chewed through to the backing.

What size faux fur blanket should I get for a couch?

Match the blanket to the furniture. On the Faux Fur Shag and the Pearl Leopard, Medium at 29 by 36 inches covers one cushion and X-Large at 56 by 58 inches covers a full couch seat. On the Cozy Raine, XXL at 62 by 80 inches covers a two-cushion couch and XXXL at 62 by 100 inches covers a three-cushion couch. When you are between sizes, size up.

Can I put a faux fur blanket in the dryer?

No. Heat mats the fiber tips permanently. Machine wash cold and line dry, and skip fabric softener, which flattens the pile.

Which faux fur blanket is best if my dog sheds a lot?

A patterned or two-tone pile hides shed hair between washes better than a flat solid. The Pearl Leopard Faux Fur and the Cozy Chinchilla both break up the surface visually. If the shedding comes with drool or damp paws, the Cozy Raine Waterproof Blanket adds a hidden barrier between the fur layers.

Where are Animals Matter blankets made?

Finished, inspected, and shipped from Palm Springs, California.

Where to go next

Browse the full range in our luxury dog blankets collection. If you are still deciding whether a blanket is the right thing at all, our guide on whether dogs sleep better with a blanket takes the behavior side of the question.