Pamper Your Senior Dog with a DIY Hooded Towel

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brown and tan dog wrapped in hooded yellow towel and peaking out at camera

We adopted our one-of-a-kind wacky dog about 11 years ago. She has enriched our lives in ways I never anticipated. She’s very smart and exuberant, which can be a fun and challenging combination. Lila doesn’t realize she’s getting older, she’s still as excited about a walk as she ever was, but I’ve noticed that she doesn’t bounce back after her walks in the cold winter weather the way she used to (but then neither do I). To pamper my senior dog, I’ve made her a DIY hooded towel. I warm the towel up and wrap it around my “baby dog” when she comes in from her cold weather walks.  Now that Lila is getting older, I enjoy finding special ways to pamper her.

close up of brown and tan dog looking up at camera with inset of image of the same dog with curtain on its head

My dog, Lila, has always been  a crazy, in-your-face, fun-loving dog. She’s the dog with the lampshade (or curtain) on her head at the party. I recently learned to appreciate her more than ever as I’ve discovered that I’m growing old(er) together with Lila. Her exuberant outlook has taught me life lessons with my fun-loving dog that I treasure. Can you tell that she’s an important part of our family?

brown and tan dog on black leash walking on paved path

Lila has always lived for her daily walks. When she was younger, I couldn’t walk her far enough to tire her out. Now that she’s getting old(er) (neither Lila nor I like to say we’re old), I can tell that while Lila still loves her walks, she feels the ache of the cold weather more. I want her to continue to enjoy her walks, but I now make sure that I take extra care of her, keep her well and pamper her by having a warm hooded towel waiting for her when we return home.

folded yellow washcloths on top of folded yellow towel on white table

This is an easy DIY hooded towel project that you can make in less than 10 minutes. Really. For a medium to large size dog, you’ll need a bath towel and hand towel. 

While I was on one of my daily weekly visits to Target (did I see you when I was there?), I knew it was the perfect opportunity to grab just what I needed to spoil Lila. I picked up a happy yellow towel and hand towel and then headed over the dog treat section. I chose Purina Beyond White Meat Chicken Cutlets Natural Dog Snacks as a treat for Lila. They’re crafted in small batches with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. And they’re Made in the USA (in Arkansas, to be exact)! Lucky for you and me (and Lila), there’s a Target Cartwheel URL offer for 10% off Purina Beyond Dog Snacks at Target, available from 10/4-10/31 2015.

hand holding blue handled scissors cutting tags off of yellow towels

Start by removing the tags from the towels as close to the seam as possible (you don’t want those scratchy tag edges to irritate your dog when your intention is to pamper her). 

folded yellow towel with white and black arrow overlay pointing to edge of towel

Fold the hand towel in half, short sides together. Sew a seam on one of the long edges. I use the towel binding as a guide for my seam.

towel hood pinned to edge of yellow towel

Line the long edge of the hand towel hood up with a long side of the bath towel. Fold each in half to find the center line and then match those center lines up together. Pin the edges together and sew the hand towel hood to the bath towel. I used the towel binding as a seam guide again.

brown and tan dog wrapped in hooded yellow towel peaking up looking at camera

In less than 10 minutes and with less than 36 inches of sewing, you’ve created DIY hooded towel to pamper your “baby dog.”

brown and tan dog wrapped in hooded yellow towel and looking at the camera

I keep a hand towel near the back door so that I can wipe Lila’s feet off when she comes in from a walk during cold, wet winter months. Now that Lila is older and seems to feel the cold more, I throw her hooded towel in the dryer on our way out for a walk and warm it up for about 3-5 minutes (please make sure someone is home when you operate your dryer).  When we get back from Lila’s walk, I take care of my “baby dog” by wrapping her in her warm hooded towel. She really seems to appreciate the warmth after a cold, exhilarating walk.

brown and tan dog wrapped in yellow towel next to tan bag of dog treats on tan rug

In addition to her warm hooded towel after cold weather walks, I often pamper Lila with a dog treat (or two ).  I’m impressed that chicken is the #1 ingredient in Purina Beyond White Meat Chicken Cutlets Natural Dog Snacks and the treats actually look like pieces of chicken meat. Feeding Lila treats that are grain free, with no corn, wheat, soy or poultry by-product meal, is another way to pamper her and keep her well with the best year round snack choice for her.

gif of brown and tan dog laying next to bag of dog treats and eating treat

What does Lila think of being pampered with an all natural snack? Yep, she’s just as enthusiastic about her snack as she is about her walks.

brown and tan dog wrapped in hooded yellow towel

How do you pamper your dog? Join me and pamper your senior dog with a DIY hooded towel.

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19 Comments

  1. I think it is so cute that you are giving your dog the royal treatment! I want to make a hooded towel for my little pooch too now! #client

    1. I don’t have babies any more (they’re all teens now), Amy, so my “baby dog” gets spoiled (more than she probably should 🙂 )

  2. Hi Susan. I love the second last picture of Lila. Her expression is so adorable. She looks so comfy cozy in her hooded towel with her treats in front of her.

    1. Thanks, Darlene. 🙂 Lila is nothing if not an expressive dog (did you see the picture of her in my last dog post where she was disgruntled because I made her wait to eat her food while I took a photo?). Her expressive personality makes it fun to take pictures of her.

  3. Lila looks so precious all bundled up in that cozy blanket. She is undoubtedly well-loved and cared for, especially with those delicious after-bath treats.

  4. Bella would love one of these! We make baskets for our furry grandchildren and this would be a perfect addition.

    1. How fun that you make gift baskets for your grandpets, Monica. The hooded towels are really easy to make (in case you have many fur grand-babies).

  5. I love this idea, Susan. My puppy has an illness that makes her loose her hair, so a “blanket” like this would be perfect for her. Such a great tutorial!

  6. I love this!! They are so worth be spoiled!! We had our last dog, KC, until she was 18.5 years old!! Loved that sweet girl. Our dog Buddy is now about 7 and might really enjoy this…especially during the thunder storms! 🙂

    1. Thanks, Jamie. What a great idea to use the hooded towel to comfort your “baby dog” in a thunderstorm or on New Year’s Eve and 4th of July. Thanks for sharing it.

  7. What a beautiful little dog you have and what a wonderful “Mum” you are. Both of you are so fortunate to have each other. I would like to try making the hooded towel for my little pooch! Thanks for the tutorial.

    1. Thanks, so much, Karen! I think my Lila is wonderful 🙂 The hooded towel is really easy to make and will be enjoyed by your sweet dog, especially in cold weather.

  8. Hi Susan
    I just love the idea of the hooded towel for you baby. I also have a senior baby, Augie. He is a miniature schnauzer and will be 16 on July 4th. Will have to make him one. Loves to be snuggled in a blanket

    1. Awww, my first dog as a child was a Schnauzer, Valerie. Throw the hooded towel in the dryer for a few minutes to warm it up and I guarantee that Augie will love snuggling in it. 🙂

  9. Looks like Lila & my dog Nuggett are the same breed just he’s black and white on his body. He’s 14 years old now and came from a rescue site and he’s wacky too. Loves his walks but we notice him getting older. I am going to make him this towel for after his walks as it’s getting colder here now. We love him to bits and he is very spoiled.

    We live in Adelaide, South Australia

    Can’t put a photo on here to show you. Thanks for the idea.

    1. Awww, Nuggett sounds like Lila’s long-lost brother, Sandi! Be sure to put the towel in the dryer to warm it up a bit for him and he’ll be super spoiled. 😉

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