You often see cool pictures on the internet of a German Shepherd cuddling up in a nice blanket as it sleeps at night. These pictures are quiet and could keep you scrolling for hours. But then again, it could leave you wondering whether or not your German Shepherd needs a blanket at night. Well, there are some factors to consider, but before we look into them, let’s go ahead and answer the question.
German Shepherd puppies or adults with a short hair coat may need a nice blanket to help keep them warm at night. If you live in a country where the temperature reaches minus zero degrees, a blanket could be a game changer in ensuring your German Shepherd stays warm. But before rushing to the store to get your GSD a blanket, there are other factors to consider. This post will look at other factors before getting your German Shepherd a blanket. We would also be looking at another alternative to a blanket.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GETTING YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERD A BLANKET.
Getting your GSD a blanket for warmth at night is an awesome decision. This shows that you care and want to keep your German Shepherd safe. But the fact remains that it may not need it.
So, before you run off to get your dog a blanket that it may not need or use, you would need to ask yourself, where does my GSD sleep at night? How cold does it get at night time? How old is my GSD? What type of coat does my German Shepherd have? Is my GSD healthy? Considering these factors would help you make a better-informed decision. So, let’s look into each question one at a time.
GIVE YOUR GSDS A SLEEPING SPOT.
When getting a GSD, or any other type of dog, breed a blanket, one important thing to consider is where it will sleep. If you didn’t take a little time to think about this, you would be left with many opportunities to make this decision later.
If you have prepared a place for your GSD to sleep from the get-go, you are less likely to experience this problem. Why? Because you would have done all you can to ensure the sleeping area for your German Shepherd is well stuffed and worm. And if that has been taken care of, you would not need to consider getting your dog a blanket.
YOUR GSDS HAIR COAT.
If your German Shepherd is medium or long coated, it is likely capable of withstanding the cold. German Shepherds are known popularly for their double-coated fur. What this does is that it helps keep cold air out while keeping the German Shepherd warm and insulated.
This has been helpful to German Shepherds living in countries with temperatures reaching minus 30 degrees. A German Shepherd being either double or long coated is required to certify it as a purebred. But unfortunately, due to lots of breed alteration and backyard breeders popping up, you would be fortunate to get a German Shepherd with a double coat. So if you have a German Shepherd with a single coat, a blanket may be on the cards to help ensure your dog is safe from the cold.
YOUR GERMAN SHEPHERDS AGE.
Another important thing to consider before getting your German Shepherd a blanket is its age. If you have a GSD puppy, you must include a blanket in his sleeping spot.
This is regardless of whether it is single, double, or long coated. Cold is a common problem among puppies of any breed, and I could be serious enough to kill your German Shepherd puppy.
So, without question, get your GSD puppy a blanket. If your GSD is much older, then the principle above should apply to you.
DOES YOUR GSD STAY OUTDOORS?
Now, if your German Shepherd stays outdoors and is not allowed in the house, it is very important to have a place it can retreat to if the weather gets extremely cold. If it’s a crate, make sure the crate is open and properly insulated.
You could warm your GSDS crate or cage by using a lamp and sawdust. If your dog stays outdoors, a blanket would not be advisable because of maintenance issues. Though it is not advisable to leave your dog outdoors overnight if your circumstances are such that you can’t let your dog indoors, make sure you make provisions to keep your dog warm outdoor.
CHOOSING AND MAINTAINING A DOG BLANKET.
By now, you must have figured out whether or not your German Shepherd adult or puppy needs a blanket or not. The next question is what type of blanket material would be good for a German Shepherd.
If you are new to the whole blanket situation, you would need a blanket that will be durable and easy to maintain. This means you have to purchase blankets made from the best material. And since Fleece is the leading dog blanket material because of its durability, comfort, and warmth.
How do you know which dog blankets have been made from this material and are a top pick? We have narrowed it down to a small table of five blankets. We have also narrowed it down to what they are most useful for. Here are our five best dog blankets.
TOP FIVE BLANKETS FOR DOGS
DOG BLANKET PRODUCT | USEFULNESS |
|---|---|
| Frisco Sherpa |
|
| Pet Throw Harmoney Tan | Great for smaller dog breeds and would be good for GSD pups from 2 to six months. |
| Furry baby Premium Fluffy Fleece Blanket. |
|
| Pet Parents Pawtect Blanket. | This blanket will be most useful for dogs sleeping in the crate. |
| This blanket is arguable of the best value. |
MAINTENANCE.
If you purchase any of the blankets listed above, you would have little trouble maintaining them. This is because the blankets are durable and can withstand any rough handling your dogs decide to throw. It is chew-proof and does not smell easy. So for maintenance, you would need to wash regularly and disinfect. Also, ensure your dog is potty trained and would not mess up the blanket with its excrements making your job much harder.
Conclusion
We here at Caninevile hope this post helps answer the question of whether or not your German Shepherd needs a blanket. We also hope we have helped you make the right choice of the blanket. What would you like us to write next? Let us know in your comments below.
