Any pooch struggling to keep out the cold could benefit from snuggling up to one of the best hot water bottles for dogs. Many people use one of their own hot water bottles, but understandably this is not an item that most of us are willing to share. Furthermore, you need to be absolutely sure that your dog is not going to chew the hot water bottle.
For dogs that are partial to chewing, a thermal pack hottie would be a better option, as these are typically heated up in the microwave rather than containing hot water. However, for most dogs, an ordinary rubber hot water bottle with a thick insulating cover is fine. Whatever style of hot water bottle you choose, always make sure it is at a safe temperature before putting it in your dog’s bed. Place it under a cover or a blanket, so that your dog is not in direct contact with it.
Best hot water bottles for dogs
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SnuggleSafe Microwave Heatpad
Style: Heatpad
Colour: Paw print
A microwaveable heatpad, measuring 22 x 22cm, which stays warm for up to 10 hours. Remove the cover, heat up the disc inside according the timings listed, and then replace the cover before placing inside your dog’s bed. It is sturdy (which is ideal for dogs) but that makes it a little on the hard side, however you can add another blanket for softness.
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Ancol Sleepy Paws Self-Heating Pet Pad
Style: Pad
Colour: Cream
This consists of an ingenious thermal structure inside the pad which reflects your dog’s heat back to them, so no danger of it ever being too hot for your dog. The lamb-fleece style cover is soft and warming (and machine-washable, crucially). Best for keeping dogs warm rather than actively warming them up, but it does a great job at providing a cosy place.
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Habigail Scottie Dog Water Bottle
Style: Hot water bottle
Colour: Cream, black or grey
This adorable Scottie dog is irresistible for dog-lovers! The one-litre rubber bottle is manufactured to according to British Safety Standards, while the cute cover made of soft faux fur will make a delightful companion in your dog’s bed.
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Hotties Microhottie
Style: Thermal pack
Colour: Light brown or Ochre
For those who want to avoid boiling water, tricky (chewable) stoppers and gels, this pack heats up in minutes in the microwave and stays warm for hours. Gentle sustained heat delivers comfort as well as warmth. The soft, fleecy insulated cover retains heat and releases it slowly. This thermal pack is registered as a class 1 medical device.
The cover is machine washable.
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Vagabond Fleece Cover and Hot Water Bottle
Style: Hot water bottle
Colour: Tartan Westie or Paw print
A quality hot water bottle made with a high rubber content and manufactured to exceed the British Safety Standard. We love the fun Westie cover, and the paw print one for the smaller bottle is also cute. The bottle comes in either one or two-litre capacity, and the cover is machine-washable.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Dawdix Hot Water Bottle with Soft Fleece Cover
Style: Hot water bottle
Colour: Grey
This is a great value option, providing a no-frills hot water bottle with a reassuringly thick plush cover, to prevent scalding as well as insulating the hot water to keep it warm for longer.
The bottle itself is made from pure natural rubber with explosion-proof seams, and has a two-litre capacity.
How we chose the best hot water bottles for dogs
We’ve picked a mix of standard hot water bottles as well as heat pads specifically designed for dogs – for those who have any inkling that their pup might be tempted to chew the cosy new thing in his bed. The heated pads avoid any of the risks involved hot water, or being too hot, however they are usually the more expensive option and not all of them provide the temperature wanted. Some of these options require a microwave, which not all of us have.
With a regular hot water bottle, we’ve selected ones with required safety standards and plush covers to ensure no scalding – as well as something comfy to snuggle up to.
Do dogs need hot water bottles?
New puppy owners are sometimes advised to place a hot water bottle into their new puppy bed or crate, to mimic the sensation of sleeping in a litter next to a warm body. There are also dogs that easily feel the cold, such as whippets or Italian Greyhounds, and weak or elderly dogs.
Is it safe to put a hot water bottle in a dog’s bed?
Hot water bottles can provide both comfort and warmth. However, there are a few important things to note:
Fill the bottle with warm or hot rather than boiling water, to prevent any burning risks.
Insulate the bottle with a thick covering, to prevent scalding from direct contact with the plastic.
And if your dog is a chewer, do not use a hot water bottle; instead use heat pads which don’t use water at all.
How can I make my dog’s bed warmer?
The floor – even in the kitchen or utility room – can get very cold during winter. And we tend to turn off our heating at night, which can leave the dog’s bed area cold and sometimes draughty. Small, lean and senior dogs in particular may benefit from a hot water bottle, but you can also make other changes to keep them cosy. Move your dogs bed to a warmer spot, away from draughts, doors and windows. Add a blanket for them to snuggle into, and an extra mattress underneath to prevent the cold coming up from the floor. The best donut beds typically provide a snuggly, warm environment.
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Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
