Why our Hendricks & Maple Sweaters Is a Wool Blend Dog Sweater — And Why That's Actually Better for Your Dog

Wool blends are more practical and easier to maintain and less irritation on their skin.

You've probably noticed that the sweaters in our range are crafted from a wool-acrylic blend dog sweater rather than 100% pure wool. If you've ever wondered why — or whether that means you're getting something lesser — this one's for you. Spoiler: it's entirely deliberate, and your dog is better off for it.

Isn't 100% Wool Superior?

It's a reasonable assumption. Pure wool has centuries of credibility behind it. It's warm, breathable, and natural. But here's the thing — what makes wool wonderful for a human coat hanging in a wardrobe is not necessarily what makes it the right choice for a dog sweater that gets worn on walks, rolled on, pulled on and off, and thrown in the wash twice a week.

Pet knitwear lives a very different life to your weekend jumper. And that changes everything.

Acrylic fibres add structure and insulation that withstands repeated wear and washing.

Is Wool Blend as Warm as 100% Wool?

Yes — and in the context of dog clothing, arguably more practical. A well-constructed wool-acrylic blend retains the genuine warmth of wool fibres while the acrylic component adds structure and insulation that holds up through repeated wearing and washing. Your dog stays cosy. The sweater keeps its shape. Everyone wins.

Can You Machine Wash a Wool Blend Dog Sweater?

This is the big one. The answer is yes — and it's the single most important reason we chose a blend over pure wool for our range.

100% wool cannot be machine washed without risk. Put it through a standard cycle and you're looking at one of two outcomes: shrinkage or felting — that irreversible matting where the fibres lock together and the garment comes out a fraction of its original size and stiff as a board. For a human sweater that lives in a wardrobe, careful hand washing is a reasonable ask. For a dog sweater that encounters mud, drool, grass, and all manner of outdoor life on a regular basis? Hand washing only is simply not realistic.

Our wool-acrylic blend goes straight into the machine. That's not a compromise — that's a design decision made entirely in your favour.

Does Wool Irritate Dogs' Skin?

This is something more dog owners experience than they realise, and it's worth understanding. Wool fibres have a natural scale structure that can cause mechanical irritation — tiny fibres bending and snapping against skin with every movement. On dogs with fine coats, sparse fur, or sensitive skin (think Greyhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Whippets, Dachshunds, and similar breeds), this friction can cause redness and discomfort even where there's no true allergy involved.

The acrylic fibres in a blend smooth out those rough edges, resulting in a noticeably softer hand feel that's gentler against your dog's skin — particularly in high-friction areas like the armpits, chest, and under a harness. Of course our wool blends aren't just any old mix they are the same as used in high end human fashion, incredibly soft and beautiful.

Wool blends have less pilling, keep their shape, and are machine washable and can cause less irritation than pure wool sweaters even without actual allergies being involved.

Does Wool Blend Pill Less Than Pure Wool?

Yes — and less than 100% acrylic too. This is one of the most compelling reasons for a blend from a quality and longevity standpoint. Pure wool pills with wear and washing. Pure acrylic pills quickly too. The combination of fibres in a wool-acrylic blend stabilises the yarn, meaning the sweater holds its surface integrity through season after season of regular use.

A dog sweater worn under a harness, on leads, and through winter walks is going to experience significant friction. You want fabric that can handle that without looking tired after a month.

Does Wool Blend Keep Its Shape Better?

Considerably better. Pure wool fibres are elastic — which sounds like a positive, but that elasticity means they stretch under pressure and don't always spring back. A 100% wool dog sweater worn daily under a harness will gradually distort at the shoulders and chest. The acrylic in a blend provides dimensional stability: the garment holds its structure wash after wash, wear after wear, and comes out of the machine looking as considered as the day it arrived.

A pet sweater goes through a lot more than your sweater does and it needs to be able to handle it.

Why Else Does Blend Beat Pure Wool for Pet Knitwear?

A few more reasons worth knowing:

🍁 Colourfastness. Acrylic fibres hold dye far more tenaciously than wool. Our designs stay vibrant through repeated washing — no fading, no bleeding into light-coloured fur.

🍁 Lighter weight. The blend achieves warmth with less bulk, so your dog can move freely and comfortably rather than feeling weighed down.

🍁 Reduced fibre shedding. Pure wool sheds fibres with wear — ending up on your furniture, soft furnishings, and your dog's own coat. Blended fibres are more tightly bound together, meaning significantly less shedding.

🍁 Wrinkle resistance. Because acrylic fibres repel moisture rather than absorbing it, blended garments come out of the wash neater and require no special drying or blocking to regain their shape.

🍁 Greater colour range. Acrylic takes dye in a wider spectrum of tones and effects than pure wool, which means we can offer the considered palette and seasonal colourways that define the Hendricks & Maple aesthetic — without compromise.

We have knitted wool blend sweaters in sizes XS to 2XL to fit many pets.

So What Are You Actually Getting?

The warmth, breathability, and natural credibility of wool — paired with the durability, washability, softness, and colour vibrancy that only a thoughtfully chosen blend can deliver.

Our sweaters aren't wool-blend because it's cheaper or easier. They're wool-blend because we spent time thinking about how dogs actually live in their clothes — and designed accordingly.

Hendricks and Maple would expect nothing less.

Browse the full Hendricks & Maple sweater range at hendricksandmaple.com

Our wool blend sweaters are soft, stretchy, machine washable and high quality.