DOGS are amazing; they’re loving, loyal, make us laugh and they adore playing in the water – which is when the best dog towels you can get hold of come in handy. It doesn’t matter if it’s a lake, a pond, a puddle or a rainy walk, you need a towel that dries the littlest to the biggest pooch perfectly.
Look for towels that combine absorbency with speed of drying, especially if you’re likely to use them when out on walks. Microfibre tends to dry quicker than cotton and can also hold a lot more water.
You could use your own towels, but they’ll soon be ruined. Happily, dog towels are widely available, so saving your car seats and your sofas, as well as your sanity and our round-up of the best dog towels is bow wow-nd to have something for you.
Best dog towels at a glance:
- Best wet towel for dogs: Sph2onge Dog Towel
- Best absorbent towel: Lucky Paws Dog Towel
- Best microfibre towel: World of Pets Microfibre Pet Towels
- Best for adventurous dogs: Dirtbag Dog Drying Towel
- Best drying coat: Ruff and Tumble Drying Coat
Lucky Paws Dog Towel
- Lucky Paws Dog Towel, £13.95 from Amazon – buy here
This towel is ideal for large dogs as it measures a generous 140 x 70cm, and because it’s made of 400gsm microfibre it’s super absorbent.
Not only that, it dries four times quicker than a cotton towel so it’s ideal when you’re out and about and it holds seven times its own weight in liquid – enough to dry the wettest hound.
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Available in a variety of colours, it has a handy hanger and a cute paw print motif.
One happy shopper said: “I loved this towel. I have a nervous rescue dog who doesn’t like being dried off when wet. I just put this on her and gently rub it’s super efficient.”
Another Amazon customer commented: “This is a beautiful, high-quality towel which is super-absorbent. It’s lovely and soft and washes well. Love that it has a hook too. Great purchase!”
Machine washable, but do not use fabric softener. Tumble dry on low
Size: 140 – 70cm, material: microfibre, colours: grey, turquoise, navy, pink, blue and grey silver
World of Pets Microfibre Pet Towels
- World of Pets Microfibre Pet Towels, 2-pack £6.69 from Amazon – buy here
Currently on offer these are a bargain at less than £7 for two and perfect for those of us with more than one dog.
Each microfibre towel measures 60 x 100cm, so they're a good size and the microfibre material is absorbent and quick drying.
They also feature a cute paw print so there's no mistaking who the towels belong to!
Perfect for trips to the seaside or swimming in lakes. As one Amazon reviewer wrote: “If you have dogs that like water these are for you.”
Another happy shopper said: "Bought these to dry off my dog after our forest walks, dries him much better than a normal towel."
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Machine washable
Size: XXS, XXS, XS, S, M, M/L, material: 80% polyester, 20% nylon, colours: brown and grey
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Zorela Microfibre Dog Drying Robe
- Zorela Microfibre Dog Drying Robe, from £12.98 at Amazon – buy here
Perfect for wrapping your pooch after a bath and sure to dry her quickly without resorting to the dreaded dog-eating hair dryer.
The robe goes on easily and securely thanks to its Velcro fastenings. The fastenings are also adjustable, so you can tweak the fit to suit your dog.
There’s a collar and a wide tummy band to aid drying, while the 400gsm microfibre material is very absorbent.
One delighted customer said: “Great to put on a dog after a shower, saves cleaning the bathroom walls after they shake!”
Another happy shopper commented: “Perfect to wrap our water and mud-loving labrador in after a walk in the woods.”
Machine washable.
Size: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL Material: 80% polyester, 20% polyamide, colours: daisy and star patterns, plain grey, purple, blue and orange
Duncan Stewart Personalised Dog Towel
- Duncan Stewart Personalised Dog Towel, £29.95 from Not On The High Street – buy here
This lovely, personalised dog towel is made from 100% combed cotton and comes in a variety of colours to suit you and your pooch.
Add your furbaby’s name (up to 12 letters) and choose from three fonts, as well as a wide variety of thread colours for the embroidered lettering.
One shopper commented: “A good quality item, beautifully personalised, just what I wanted.”
Another enthused: “Quality towel, embroidered beautifully. Package and presentation was brilliant.”
Machine washable at 40°C.
Size: 130 x 70cm material: 100% combed cotton, colours: royal blue, white, silver, red, purple, orange, aubergine, turquoise, slate grey, pink and navy
Scruffs Noodle Drying Dog Towel
- Scruffs Noodle Drying Dog Towel, £15 from Pets At Home – buy here
A handy towel to take on walks if your dog is prone to diving into the nearest pond, or even puddle.
The soft ‘noodles’ are made from microfibre so absorb water quickly, while the strangely effective oven-glove design makes grappling with a wet pooch a walk in the park.
It’s quick-drying too.
One delighted shopper stated: “This is great really absorbent and so much better than fighting with a towel. As you have your hands in the oven mitt-style towel it's easy to reach those harder places. Really worth the money.”
Machine wash at 30°C.
Size: 80 x 30 x 3cm material: microfibre chenille, colours: grey
Sph2onge Dog Towel
- Sph2onge Dog Towel £8.99 from Amazon – buy here
Useful for cleaning muddy paws after walks, but also equally capable of drying your dog, though not as luxurious as the other towels in this roundup.
Sph2onge is made from polymer rubber and cotton gauze, and can absorb up to eight times its weight in water – that’s up to a pint of water. It is ideal for keeping in the car or by the door to the garden to catch those muddy paws before they leave a trail on your cream carpets.
Store the towel in its tube as it has to stay moist. If it does dry out simply wet it under the tap.
On delighted Amazon customer said: “When I bought this I was not expecting it to dry our dog thoroughly. How wrong I was! This is absolutely fantastic. Took my dog swimming and when he got out of the water I used the Sph2onge towel on him I couldn’t believe how it absorbs all the water on him and he was dry. And I mean dry. Brilliant and I’m ordering a couple more. A definite 5 star from me and Rex my dog.”
Machine wash at 30°C.
Size: 66 x 43cm material: cotton gauze and polymer rubber, colours: black
Ruff and Tumble Classic Dog Drying Coat
- Classic Dog Drying Coat £36.95 from Ruff and Tumble – buy here
This drying coat is made from two layers of cotton towelling – the inner layer absorbs moisture from your dog’s fur and the heat of his body then pushes this into the outer layer. This means your dog dries quickly and is not sitting in a wet coat.
The wide belly strap is great for keeping the coat in place and it also dries your dog’s tummy, while the deep, fold-down collar, when straightened, is perfect for drying your dog’s head and ears.
Velcro fastenings and elasticated leg straps keep the coat secure and make it easy to put on and take off. You can also personalise your drying coat too, for an extra £8 (up to 12 characters).
Sizes range from XXXS to Giant Mountain Dog and there are extra sizes for short-legged breeds (featuring a cutout shoulder to stop possible tripping).
Size: XXS, XXS, XS, S, M, M/L, material: sustainably sourced towelling, colours: forest, blackberry, brick red and Sandringham blue
Dirtbag Dog Drying Towel
- Dirtbag Dog Drying Towel, £109.96 from Ruffwear – buy here
If you and your dog take part in Canicross, hiking, trail running or any kind of outdoor activity that takes place in wet weather and muddy conditions, then this drying towel could be just what you’re looking for.
Side fastening buckles keep the coat securely in place, the inner microfibre layer dries your dog, while the waterproof outer shell keeps further rain off. It also protects your car from mud on the drive home!
Ideal for active dogs.
The quick-dry microfibre lining contains 34% recycled material, while the shell is 210 denier nylon taffeta with a waterproof finish.
Comes with a mesh storage bag.
Wash in cold water on a gentle cycle.
Size: XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, material: waterproof nylon shell, microfibre lining and belly panel, nylon and spandex neck gaiter, colours: aurora teal
Where do I buy dog towels?
You can buy dog towels at a range of retailers, both bricks and mortar and online. We found the dog towels featured in our roundup at:
- Amazon
- Not On The High Street
- Pets At Home
- Ruff And Tumble
- Ruffwear
Also check out pet retailers, including PetPlanet and Zooplus, as well as stores such as B&M and Home Bargains, not forgetting Aldi for its Pet Special Buys.
How much do dog towels cost?
Dog towels cost from a few pounds upwards. Regular-shaped towels tend to be cheaper than those that fit around your dog and fasten over the belly – almost like drying robes.
The size of your dog and the type of material affect the price. Microfibre is generally less expensive than combed cotton, and heavier microfibre is more expensive than a lightweight version.
Performance dog towels such as those by Ruffwear, are at the luxury end of the market and cost more than £100.
How to wash dog towels
Most dog towels are machine washable, but check the label or packaging of your particular item to make sure of temperatures. You can also hand wash towels of course if you have the time – and inclination.
Brushing and shaking your dog towels before washing will help remove hair and mud that may otherwise potentially clog your machine.
Do not use fabric softener with microfibre towels as this can affect their absorbency, sticking to the fibres.
For best results, dry on a line or airer, rather than in a tumble dryer.
Will a wet towel cool my dog down?
A wet towel will cool down your dog in summer, but the water should be cool rather than cold, says the Blue Cross. You will need to re-wet or replace regularly as the towel will quickly warm up from the heat of your dog’s body.
