Snuggie for Dogs: Last Year's Hot Holiday Gift Goes Canine

It's not another Chia Pet, or even a Pet Rock. But the Snuggie® for Dogs may raise pet pampering to a plushy new spot. It may even make family cats jealous ... or not. (OK, probably not.) And it may make the biggest, burliest dogs blush.

The Snuggie®, the sleeved fleecy blanket wraps that made the rounds with Christmas gift givers and even celebrities last year, is no longer just for couch potato kids and adults. Now even the family dog can be draped in a fuzzy fleece Snuggie®.

Unveiled in 2010, the Snuggie® for Dogs retails online for $14.95 (plus $7.95 for shipping and handling). Shoppers may find the canine comfort gifts at many retail locations, however, including Bed Bath & Beyond, CVS, Kmart, Kohl's, Petco, Pet Smart, Target, WalMart and more. Prices range from $5.00 to $15.00 for the Snuggie for Dogs.

However, the manufacturer's direct offer includes a bonus pack (with two recordable dog tags and a second Snuggie® for Dogs blanket in the same size for free).

Available in pink and blue (and occasionally camouflage and leopard prints), the machine-washable Snuggie® for Dogs is a hooded and sleeved fleece blanket, designed just for dogs. Adjustable hook-and-loop (Velcor) tapes fasten the Snuggie® for Dogs to keep it from slipping off during pet walks and outdoor do-your-business trips. (The dog-tailored blanket does not, of course, cover the business end of the dog.)

The cozy pet cloak is available in many sizes, from extra-small to large, to accommodate most canine breeds.

The pet-personifying packaging for the Snuggie® for Dogs reads, "Keeps you warm and your paws free," as if canines were coughing up the dough to purchase the product.

Snuggie® for Dogs comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, although it is unclear whether that includes pet stains, chewing, shedding, shredding, burying and other forms of doggy destruction.

"Our fans continue to respond enthusiastically to the Snuggie® blanket and we're excited to provide them with an array of new patterns and styles this holiday season," said Anne Flynn, Vice President of Marketing for Allstar Products Group, based in Hawthorne, New York. "We've gotten creative with this year's line and encourage holiday shoppers to have fun with gifts this year."

Remember the Barking Dogs' "Jingle Bells"? (CTRL-click on the title to open the YouTube video in a new internet window.) Pet lovers may only wonder whether their own dogs will burst into barking songs, if Santa tucks a Snuggie® for Dogs under the Christmas tree this year.

How many dog owners will snatch up Snuggie® for Dogs blankets before curling up on the couch to watch Animal Planet during winter break or packing for next season's dog show circuit?

Opting out of Snuggie® for Dogs.

Personally, as a devoted pet lover, I want my animals to be cozy and comfortable. What's more, I freely confess to tying an occasional bandanna on my dog and cat, particularly for special occasions. I willingly blanket my horses in cold weather.

But I will not be wrapping our family pooch in a Snuggie® for Dogs. Heck, I can hardly coax him off the couch as it is.