You have probably seen weighted blankets that are meant to calm you down. These products are designed to mimic the calming feeling of a hug. Research shows that the deep touch pressure a person feels when being squeezed or hugged boosts the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which helps control rest and digestion.
However, this concept of using pressure and weight to reduce stress may have actually started with animals. The famed animal behavioral expert Temple Grandin designed pressure chutes to make livestock feel relaxed before veterinary procedures. It then comes to no surprise that companies have started creating weighted blankets for dogs. These blankets are meant to decrease anxiety in pets. They may also improve your pup’s sleep. Below are some reasons to give your dog a weighted blanket.
Why You Should Purchase a Weighted Blanket For Your Dog
There are many different benefits of weighted blankets. For starters, this type of blanket is a simple way to relieve your dog’s anxiety, and to address any unruly actions that accompany it. Your dog may bark incessantly or run throughout your house when he hears thunder or fireworks outside. Training him to stop this behavior takes time and effort. A blanket is a much easier solution. All you have to do is wrap it around him and watch it work.
Hiring a trainer to help your dog cope with his anxiety is also expensive. Ignoring the problem or hoping it will go away on its own is pricey, as well. After all, an anxious dog often scratches floors, chews furniture, rips clothes or urinates on rugs. A weighted blanket is cheap compared to the cost of replacing damaged items in your home.
Finally, a weighted blanket is a completely natural solution to your dog’s anxiety. While there are anti-anxiety medications for dogs, they could make your pet lethargic or constipated. Medicine may also affect his appetite. Unlike pills, you can easily stop using the blanket if for some reason it does not work. You can instead utilize it as a regular warming blanket when the weather gets cold.
