The Search for the Super Sucker of Dog Towels
Experts used to tell dog owners not to bathe them too often, on the grounds that too-frequent bathing strips a dog’s coat of valuable oils that keeps the fur smooth and glossy and may dry the skin. The recommendation used to be to not bathe your dog more than a couple times a year.
However, most veterinarians and dog-care professionals are now recommending that dogs be bathed about once a month, and some dogs should be bathed even more often than that, depending on their breed, skin condition, and lifestyle. Bathing helps keep your dog clean and smelling good, can promote healthy skin and a healthy coat, and prevent pet health problems due to dirt and parasites.
No matter the size of your dog or the frequency of bathing, it’s a good idea to have specialised towels for dogs, rather than using your own.
If you’re in a hurry check out our top pick for the best dog towel in the UK:
Dog towels can be used to:
- Dry dogs that have been outdoors in wet conditions before they come inside
- Place beneath a dog’s feet to clean off mud and dirt before they proceed indoors
During a bath, towels serve many purposes:
- A towel under a dog’s feet gives them traction and prevents slipping
- A towel over a dog’s body in between washing and rinsing helps to prevent splatter from shaking
- A towel after a bath contains splatter from shaking, and dogs should be towelled off even if they will later be blow-dried
In the UK, where we experience wet weather many months of the year, dog towels are more important than they may be in other climates. Not only does our famous rain get a dog wet, but muddy conditions make it necessary to bathe dogs more often.
Many people simply use old terrycloth household and bath towels for these purposes, and that is a simple and inexpensive solution. However, those towels are typically not designed to stand up to the dirt, mud, and hair that are frequently on a dog’s coat, can take a long time to dry, and, in some households, there may be confusion about which towels are for the dog. Modern dog drying towels are designed to absorb far more water than terrycloth, manage dirt and mud, and be quick drying, which means that the same dog towel could potentially be used more than once a day.
Because dog towels are so useful and necessary, Doggy Dream Team has taken a close look at the most popular dog towels today, to determine which is the best dog towel and why.
Note that, while many people use dog onesies or dog towels with hoods, those designs are not as universal or versatile, and much more breed-specific. For the purposes of our review, we are examining simple dog towels for the easiest one-to-one comparisons, and the most useful recommendations.
Best Dog Towels: Our Top 5
Let’s check out the various towels in more detail here:
Snuggle Safe Micro Fibre Dog Pet Towel
The Snuggle Safe dog towel is made of super absorbent microfibre, so it is lightweight and quick-drying. The generous size of this towel makes it a good choice for dogs of all breeds, and the spacious 140 cm x 76 cm makes it large enough to protect a car seat, wrap up a wet dog, or wick away all the water from a bath.
Likes
This towel is inexpensive and durable, and many people find them so useful that they have purchased more than one.
Dislikes
Some people would prefer a thicker towel
SUMMARY
Overall, 90% of customers give this product high marks, and it’s a generous size for the price. The fact that it stands up to long-term use makes it an even better value. This dog drying towel is highly recommended.
Easidri Pet and Equestrian Grooming Towel (small)
The Easidri grooming towel reduces grooming times by up to 60%. This washable, reusable dog towel can be disinfected for extra protection from parasites, and to eliminate odours. It is durable and resists tearing and shredding. Unlike other towels on this list, the Easidri towel is made of super-absorbent biodegradable polyvinyl alcohol. It should be rinsed in warm water and wrung out before each use and rinsed and stored damp inside the included container between uses. The small size measures 43cm x 32cm.
Likes
People love the sponge-like absorbency of the Easidri, soaking away water in no time at all
Dislikes
Most customers who have a negative experience with this product have treated it like a conventional towel, and not used or stored it properly.
Some owners report that keeping the damp towel in the container for extended periods of time can make it smell a bit, but that it doesn’t mould, and the smell is eliminated with a machine wash. If it’s completely dried out, it can become stiff and unusable, so the Easidri shouldn’t be treated like a conventional towel and allowed to lay out to dry.
SUMMARY
While it may seem like a high purchase price relative to the size of the towel, this revolutionary material soaks up far more water than the dimensions would seem to indicate. This dog-drying towel is particularly recommended for dogs that swim or are bathed frequently, or for breeds with coats that retain a lot of water.
Ancol Micro Fibre Towel
- Ideal for after bathing your dog
- Folds up small and is machine washable
- High absorbency towel
The Ancol dog towel is made of microfibre cloth, so it’s super absorbent and easily washed. It measures 100cm x 50cm, so it is compact and portable, and is an attractive blue colour. Microfibre towels for dogs’ speed drying time and easily remove dirt and mud from a dog’s coat.
Likes
Customers love how well this dog drying towel absorbs water.
Dislikes
Customers find that the colour bleeds in the wash.
SUMMARY
This towel does an excellent job of drying smaller dogs, and knowing ahead of time that the colour will run will help customers wash it accordingly. It is a good dry dog towel. However, there are other comparable towels without the drawback of the colour bleed that you may want to consider instead.
PAWPUP Dog Towel
- ✅ Pack Includes - Our best value for money package includes 2 soft microfibre dog towels, 60cm...
- ✅ Pet Friendly Material - Made with 80% polyester and 20% polyamide, our personalized dog towel...
- ✅ Loop Design - Unlike others, our microfibre dog drying towel is equipped with a black ribbon...
The PAWPUP Microfibre dog towel is a quick-drying, super-absorbent towel with a cute design. Made with 20% polyamide and 80% polyester, it is extremely efficient at soaking up water and removing dirt and soil from a dog’s coat, and absorbs 10x the amount of water as a cotton towel. This durable towel will withstand numerous washing and drying cycles without losing absorbency. It has overall dimensions of 60cm x 100cm and comes in a twin pack.
Likes
Customers love how well this dog towel soaks up water and quickly removes dirt and mud from a dog’s coat
Dislikes
Some customers found the colour came off the towel, so be sure to wash it first.
SUMMARY
A full 92% of reviewers have a positive experience with this product, so the small percentage of negative reviews shouldn’t outweigh the positive. It dries dogs well and quickly. The puppy emblem is cute and you’ll be supporting a local business!
Arcadian Large Microfibre Dog Towel
- LIGHTWEIGHT, and QUICK DRYING - Air dries super quickly so it's ready to go sooner. This Large 140...
- SUPER ABSORBENT - Meaning it holds substantially more water than larger and bulkier regular towels....
- RANGE of VIBRANT COLOURS - This towel is available in vibrant colours including blue, green, orange...
The Arcadian premium quality microfibre dog towels come in a choice of four vibrant colours, and weighs just 206g. These dog-drying towels can be air or tumble dried. They are also super absorbent and antibacterial. At 140cm x 70cm, they are large enough for bigger dogs and absorb a lot of water.
Likes
Customers love these dog towels so much that they end up buying several of them.
Dislikes
Some customers feel that more than one towel might be necessary to dry a large wet long-haired dog.
Some negative comments seem to originate from customers who don’t understand the properties of microfibre, or who feel that they need more than one towel for their specific dog. It’s difficult to consider that to be truly a drawback of the product itself, which overwhelmingly lives up to its claims. 140cm x 70cm is a typical size for dog towels, and only a couple brands offer larger sizes.
SUMMARY
Arcadian offers a high-quality microfibre dog drying towel at a reasonable price, and with a choice of colours. The vast majority of customers are extremely happy with this dog towel, and it works well and lives up to expectations.
What is Microfibre?
Many dog towels (and other towels as well) are currently made of microfibre. Microfibre is prized for being lightweight, super absorbent, quick drying, and durable. For people who are unused to microfibre towels, they may seem too thin or light to do a good job, since we associate the thickness of a terrycloth towel with how much water it can absorb. But thickness is not a guide to the absorbency of microfibre: split fibres are.
The most absorbent and effective microfibre towels have split fibres. A microfibre towel without split fibres is simply a very soft cloth, and there are many uses for that type of material. But a microfibre cloth with split fibres will absorb liquid and dirt, which is the most important feature in the best dog towels. However, this labelling isn’t required of manufacturers, so it’s up to the consumer to determine the quality of their microfibre.
For a quick test: If you put water on a smooth, flat surface and push the corner of the towel into it, split fibre microfibre will absorb the water, while non-split fibres will instead deflect the water. Split fibres also make the surface of a towel rough to the touch, and it will catch on imperfections.
For dog owners, split-fibre microfibre is ideal for absorbing water when a dog is wet, and the towel will quickly soak up mud and dirt, because it is designed to attract and hold small particles. Microfibre is also healthy for a dog’s coat, reducing frizz and damage to the hairs. Furthermore, many dogs dislike being wet, so the faster drying time of microfibre can reduce stress. For all these reasons, it’s our recommended material for the best towels for dogs. But, due to the splits in the fibres, if your dog has sticks, burrs, or organic debris that gets stuck in their coat, that debris will probably also stick in the towel and need to be removed by hand.
It’s worth having an understanding of what microfibre is and how it works, because many people order inexpensive microfibre dog towels and then are unhappy with how little water the towel absorbs. And still other people get excellent microfibre towels and are unhappy with some of the specific features of microfibre: its thinness, and its tendency to hold on to particles and debris. An understanding of the features of microfibre may help you choose the right towel for you and your dog.
How to Dry Your Dog with a Towel
Drying your dog with a towel is an easy and popular way simply because humans know how to do it all too well. Or so we think. Using a towel is indeed a great way to get rid of that excess water and even moisture on the body. That is true for dogs too. But not everyone gets it right when it comes to drying their pet.
Drying dogs is not the same as it is with humans because we are dealing with skin. Whereas with dogs, you are dealing with fur. Now, you must remember to be gentle with the fur, especially if your dog is a shedder. Rubbing the towel against their coat vigorously can tangle the coat on dogs that have long and silky fur.
If you talk to an expert groomer, you will learn that when you are drying a pup with a long and silky coat, you must just place the towel on their body and press it gently with your hands to make sure that the water is absorbed. Let the fabric do what it organically does.
Move your hands on the dog’s body like you are massaging it while allowing the towel to soak up all the water and moisture. And if you have a large dog, you want to keep more than one towel handy so that you’re not using a sodden piece of cloth on their skin. That’s not very comfortable for your pooch.
But that can also be managed. Nowadays, you will find towels that are made especially for dogs. Some of them are thinner than your usual bath towels but they can absorb a lot of water. And that’s why they are aptly called absorber towels.
Their surface is smooth and it ensures that your pet is not uncomfortable and the fur does not get entangled while you are drying them. These are also easy to dry and reuse multiple times just like the one you use for yourself. Except, your dog’s towels have to be washed after each use. Here’s how you do it in steps.
Steps to Dry Your Dog Using a Towel
Step 1
Take a soft and dry towel and place it on the dog’s back.
Step 2
Gently rub the dog’s coat while making sure that the water is absorbed.
Step 3
Once the dog’s back is reasonably dry, move to its stomach. Repeat the same pattern of drying.
Step 4
After the stomach, it is time to dry the dog’s chest in the same fashion.
Step 5
Finally, take your little one’s paws into your hands and gently rub them with the towel.
Step 6
At any point in the process, if you feel that the towel is too wet, get a dry one. Ideally, keep a couple of them handy next to you so that you don’t have to leave the dog unattended while it is half-wet.
Step 7
Once the dog is dry, run a brush or a comb through their coat.
Two Other Ways to Dry Your Dog
Using a Hair Dryer
A lot of people wonder if a hairdryer is the best tool to use when drying your dog’s fur. For starters, it is a good option, especially if your dog has a thick coat. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Don’t start the process with a hairdryer. Use a towel to get rid of the dripping water first.
A hairdryer is a quick way to dry your dog’s fur so you might prefer it. But if your dog is new to the experience they might be alarmed by the sound. So, make sure the dryer is at its lowest setting and a little away from the dog’s body. They need a little while to get used to it. You don’t want to scare them and always get nervous when you use the hairdryer.
Keeping the nozzle about two to ten inches away from the fur is a good thumb rule. This is also helpful when you’re actually drying them because you don’t want to burn your pup.
Let your dog take in the sound while you assure them that it is nothing to worry about. If your dog looks nervous you might want to show them that it is okay by using it on yourself.
From there, take it near their paws and start drying them off. Use the hairdryer gradually so that they take their time to get used to its sound and technique. Despite all your attempts, they are likely to put up quite the fight. Be prepared for it.
The other thing about using a hairdryer on your dog is to be gentle. When humans use it on themselves, we move the nozzle organically by feeling the heat. Remember that your pet can’t actually tell you when it is too hot or too close to their fur.
So, start on a low setting in terms of heat and blowing speed. And don’t use the dryer near their face and other sensitive areas even after they are used to it. You might also want to remember not to use the dryer for too long because that can dry the skin.
Make sure you stop using it while there is a little moisture left in their fur. Just enough for it to dry off organically in a few minutes.
Now, here’s how to do it in steps.
Steps to Dry Your Dog Using a Hair Dryer
1. Switch the dryer on and let your pup register the sound of the dryer. If your canine is new to the hairdryer, make sure you keep it on and let them get used to the sound.
2. Keep the dryer on the lowest setting and use it on yourself if you need to reassure your pet that it is safe.
3. Once your dog is comfortable, take the dryer near their paws and let the air touch their fur. Keep the dryer’s nozzle about 10 inches away.
4. Let the dryer run back and forth on the dog’s coat. Make sure you don’t keep it in one place for too long. This is likely to burn their skin.
5. Once your dog is reasonably dry, give them some treats as a reward even if they fought you in the process.
There are a variety of cost-effective dog dryers in the market that can make this process as easy on your dog and you as possible. You might want to do some research on that before grabbing your personal equipment to dry your dog.
Dogs take a few days to get used to a hairdryer. Be patient and make them feel safe instead of trying to yell them into shape. That does not work. And if your dog is not able to overcome the fear, don’t force them.
Try a different approach to dry them after a bath. When you force it on them, your dog might end up panicking and that can sometimes even cause seizures. The other downside to using a dryer is that it does not help get rid of loose fur as effectively.
Experts suggest that if you use a hairdryer on dogs with a long coat, you must move the dryer in the direction of the hair, just like humans do. Otherwise, it will get tangled. And always keep an eye on your dog’s response to the movement.
Air Drying
This is every dog’s favourite way of drying themselves whether it is after a shower or when they get wet for other reasons. That’s because it comes naturally to them just like the process of licking their body to keep themselves clean. And, unlike humans, dogs are not used to accessories. But it might not be your favourite way of doing things and you’re right to feel that way.
However, if your dog has a short coat, air drying can work out well but with a couple of caveats. That does not mean you let them wander out of the bathroom right away.
You must run a towel over their body to get rid of the dripping water droplets. But remember that when dogs air dry themselves, they tend to roll around on surfaces to get rid of the water or moisture. It’s kind of like what an elephant does. They take a shower and come out and pour a chunk of sand on themselves using their trunk to get rid of the wetness. You’d think that’s counterintuitive but that is what works for them.
Your dog does not have a trunk so you will see them roll around in the dirt trying to get rid of the moisture. And by the way, your carpets and furniture are also fair game.
If you have a lawn and your dog is white, you will end up with a green dog. Unless you want that, you might not want to let them outside right after a bath.
If your dog has a long coat, on the other hand, this is a terrible idea. When these kinds of coats are left unattended, they end up with a lot of tangles and matting. That is not just unattractive to look at but is also an easy way for your dog to end up with skin infections and hot spots.
This is particularly true if you live in a place where the weather is humid. The other problem with air drying is that it can cause fungus to develop between your dog’s paw pads or armpits.
Some pet owners like to keep their dog in a kennel or a cage while the canine air dries to avoid a mess in the house or allowing the dog to get dirty.
Conclusion
There are many ways to dry your dog, and dog towels work extremely well! The time you spend bathing your dog and drying them is a great opportunity for you to bond with them. This is a great chance to spend some quality time with your pet.
It is particularly useful if you have a breed that likes to cling to their human. It is also a great way to reduce stress for your pup and that is one of the advantages of doing this at home.
A lot of people also go to groomers to get their dog cleaned. There are a couple of things to note in those situations.
If your dog is new to this experience, they might be alarmed at the loud noises and unfamiliar setting. So, make sure that you are with them at least till they get used to the groomers.
Use the same service as often as you can if they are good at what they do. Make sure to always check your dog after they are back from the groomers to make sure nothing went wrong.
While all of the towels we covered are all excellent towels for dogs, our overall recommendation for the best dog drying towel in the UK is the SnuggleSafe Micro Fibre Dog Pet Towel. It’s an excellent size for the price, works well, and has overwhelming positive feedback from customers.
FAQs
Do dogs need towels?
There are a few reasons why dog towels can be helpful. Dogs are actually pretty good at drying themselves off on their own as they have a natural ability to shake off excess water, and their fur will eventually air dry. However, if you want to speed up the process or if your dog is particularly hairy, then a dog towel can be helpful. A dog towel can be used to wipe off muddy paws or to dry off wet fur. Second, towels can help to protect your furniture and floors from pet hair and dirt. If you have a dog that sheds, using a dog towel can help to keep the hair contained. Finally, dog towels can provide a sense of security for some dogs. Some dogs feel calmer when they have something familiar with them, such as their towel. For these dogs, the towel helps to provide a sense of comfort and belonging.
How do you wash dog towels?
Washing dog towels is a simple task, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your dog’s towel stays clean and fresh. First, always use dog-specific detergent when washing dog towels. This type of detergent is designed to be gentle on sensitive skin, and it will also help to remove any lingering odors. Second, be sure to wash the dog towels in hot water. This will help to kill any bacteria that may be present on the towel. Finally, always air-dry dog towels after washing them, preferably in the sun. This will help to prevent shrinkage, preserve the towel’s shape, and help eliminate any odours.
Is it okay to wash dog towels in washing machine?
It’s perfectly fine to wash dog towels in the washing machine. In fact, it’s probably the best way to clean them. Just make sure to first shake off or vacuum off any hair or dander. Then use a gentle cycle with hot water and to avoid using any fabric softeners or harsh detergents. Use a small cup of vinegar instead. You might also want to wash them separately from other items, just to be safe. If your dog towel is particularly dirty or smelly, you can pre-treat it with a stain and odour remover before putting it in the machine. Once it’s been washed, simply hang the towel up to air dry. With proper care, your dog towel will stay fresh and clean for years to come.