For the spot where your dog actually lies, choose a throw you can wash and would not mind replacing. Our cotton-blend throws suit that job: they can be hand washed at 30 °C, they cost £21.90–32.90, and some designs even feature dogs and cats. Fleece is the other practical option, since it usually goes in the washing machine, but it clings to dog hair.
Wool is warm, slow to take on smells, and hair comes off it with a lint roller or a damp rubber glove. But claws can catch in open weaves, and our wool throws carry a "do not wash" label: they are aired and dry cleaned, not washed. So keep a merino throw for your own evenings and fold it away when the dog climbs up.
What a dog asks of a sofa throw
Before comparing fabrics, it helps to be clear about what goes wrong when a throw and a dog share a sofa:
- Claws. Many dogs dig and turn in circles before they settle. A claw that hooks a loop of yarn pulls it out of the weave.
- Hair. Short, stiff hairs work their way into the weave; long, soft hair mostly sits on top.
- Dirt and smell. Muddy paws, a damp coat after a walk and the general smell of dog all end up in the throw.
- Chewing. To a puppy, fringes and tassels look a lot like a toy.
- Staying put. A throw that slides off every time the dog turns round spends most of its life on the floor.
No fabric solves all five. The answer is to match each throw to the job it will do.
Wool, cotton-blend and fleece compared
We do not make fleece, but it is the obvious alternative, so it belongs in the comparison.
| Wool (merino, pure new wool) | Cotton-blend | Fleece | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claws | Can catch in open weaves and fringes | Can catch too, but a pulled thread matters less on a washable, lower-priced throw | No loose loops to hook, though scratching can make it bobble |
| Dog hair | Comes off with a damp rubber glove and a lint roller | The same glove and roller work | Tends to cling and needs the roller often |
| Washing | Our labels say do not wash: air it or have it dry cleaned | Hand wash at 30 °C | Usually machine washable; check the label |
| Warmth on our own scale | Merino 4/5, pure new wool 5/5 | 3/5 | Not rated by us; depends on thickness |
| Price at LYHome | From £49.90 | £21.90–32.90 | Not in our range |
Claws and open weaves
Claws catch where there is something to hook into. Chunky knits, loose basket weaves and loopy, textured yarns are the most vulnerable, and fringes are another weak point. A flatter, closer weave gives a claw less to grip, but no woven throw is claw-proof, ours included.
A few habits make a real difference:
- Keep your dog's claws trimmed. Long claws snag more easily.
- Tuck the throw into the seat cushions so it stays flat rather than bunching up into something to dig at.
- Keep an eye on fringes if your dog chews. Our cotton-blend throws have 10 cm fringes, so with a young chewer, lay the throw so they hang down the back of the sofa rather than in front of its nose.
- If a claw pulls a loop, do not cut it. Gently stretch the fabric either side of the pull so the yarn eases back, or push the loop through to the underside with a blunt needle.
How to get dog hair off a wool throw
Hair on wool looks worse than it is. Work on a dry throw, laid flat or over the back of a chair:
- Take it outside and give it a firm shake.
- Put on a clean rubber washing-up glove, dampen it slightly and sweep your hand across the throw in one direction. The hair rolls into clumps you can pick off.
- Go over what is left with a lint roller, or with a soft clothes brush in the direction of the fibres.
- For a very hairy throw, use the upholstery nozzle of the vacuum cleaner on a low setting. Avoid a rotating brush head, which can pull at the yarn.
Mud is easier dry than wet: let it dry completely, then brush it off, because rubbing wet mud only works it deeper into the fibres. Finish by airing the throw outdoors for a few hours, out of direct sun and rain, which is exactly the care our wool throws are made for. If it needs more than that, have it dry cleaned.
Our guide on how to wash a wool blanket explains careful washing at home on a wool programme. Our wool throws are labelled do not wash, so if you try it with one of them, it is at your own risk.
Why cotton-blend is the practical choice for pets
Our cotton-blend throws are woven from 50% cotton, 30% polyester and 20% acrylic. They are soft (4/5 on our own scale) and warm enough for the sofa (3/5), though less warm than wool. What makes them work with a dog is the practical side:
- They can be washed. The label says hand wash at 30 °C, so it is a job for the bath rather than the machine: soak the throw, move it about gently, rinse, let the water drain away without wringing, then hang it to dry out of direct sun.
- They are priced for the job. At £21.90–32.90, a pulled thread or a chewed corner is annoying rather than upsetting.
- They are a useful size. At 140 × 200 cm including the 10 cm fringes, one throw covers the seat and back of the dog's end of the sofa, with some left over to tuck in.
- The designs include chevron, squares, striped squares, diamonds and butterflies, plus cats and dogs if you would like the throw to admit who it is really for.
If the dog is on the sofa every day, a second throw means there is always one in place while the other dries.
Keep the merino for your evenings
None of this means giving up wool; it means not handing it to the dog. Our merino throws are warmer than the cotton-blend (4/5 against 3/5 on our scale) and soft enough to wrap round your shoulders. They are 80% merino wool and 20% nylon; the nylon makes the fabric stronger and helps it keep its shape. They come in three sizes, from £49.90.
The simplest routine: the cotton-blend throw stays on the dog's end of the sofa all day, and the merino comes out when you sit down in the evening and goes back over a chair or into a basket when you get up. If the dog ends up under it with you, a shake and a sweep with the rubber glove the next morning is usually all it needs.
FAQ
Are wool blankets good for dogs to lie on?
Wool is warm and slow to take on smells, but claws can pull loops in open weaves, and our wool throws cannot be washed, only aired and dry cleaned. For a dog's everyday spot, a washable throw is the more practical choice.
How do you get dog hair off a wool throw?
Shake it outdoors, sweep a slightly damp rubber glove across it in one direction to roll the hair into clumps, then finish with a lint roller or a soft clothes brush.
Can a wool throw go in the washing machine after the dog has been on it?
Our merino, cashmere-merino (10% cashmere) and pure new wool throws are labelled do not wash. Air them outdoors for a few hours or have them dry cleaned. If you want a throw that can go in water, choose the cotton-blend, which can be hand washed at 30 °C.
