Snuggle Puppy is pretty simple to set up. Turn on the heartbeat, add the heat pack if you’re using one, tuck everything into the appropriate pockets, and you’re ready to go.
But setting it up and figuring out how your particular dog likes to use it are two different things.
What if your puppy thinks you’ve put a tiny ticking monster in their bed? Should you introduce the heartbeat right away or give them time to get used to it? Can you make Snuggle Puppy smell more familiar before that first night? And what happens when your puppy loves it for months, then suddenly starts fussing at bedtime again?
Snuggle Puppy has plenty of helpful tips and resources for getting started, but owners have also come up with some pretty clever tricks after living with these little heartbeat toys day after day (and, in some cases, year after year).
We dug through owner experiences, troubleshooting tips, long-term use stories, and Snuggle Puppy’s own guidance to pull the most useful information together in one place.
Think of this as the real-world guide to getting the most out of your Snuggle Puppy, from that very first night through all the unexpected ways your dog may use it later.
Calm your anxious pooch with the Original Snuggle Puppy! Designed in the USA, it’s paw-fect for your furry friend to cuddle, while providing soothing comfort as it relieves anxiety. This su-paw cute snuggle puppy helps reduce negative behaviors so there are no more sleepless nights for you or your best pal.
Why Does Snuggle Puppy Work?
The basic idea behind Snuggle Puppy is pretty simple. It’s designed to mimic some of the physical sensations puppies experience when they’re curled up with their mother and littermates.
It does that with three things:
- A soft plush body to snuggle against
- A pulsing heartbeat
- An optional heat pack for warmth
That’s a little different from some of the old-school puppy-soothing tricks you may have heard about, like putting a ticking clock or warm water bottle near a puppy’s bed. Those recreate one sensation. Snuggle Puppy combines several.
And it’s certainly not some new product that appeared on Amazon six months ago. Snuggle Puppy has been around since 1997 and has accumulated tens of thousands of reviews over the years.
One theme that comes up repeatedly in those reviews is sleep.
Yes, owners talk about their puppies settling down faster. They also talk about themselves finally getting some sleep, which becomes a fairly compelling selling point around night three of listening to a new puppy announce his displeasure with your sleeping arrangements.
Some reviewers even say they had better results with Snuggle Puppy than calming supplements or other products they’d tried. That’s their experience, of course, and I wouldn’t consider a stuffed toy a substitute for medication prescribed by your veterinarian. But it does show how effective such a simple source of comfort can be for some dogs.
Snuggle Puppy Isn’t Just for Puppies
The obvious use case is right there in the name. You bring home an eight-week-old puppy who’s suddenly been separated from everything familiar, and Snuggle Puppy gives him something warm and soft to sleep beside.
But puppies aren’t the only dogs who use them. People also use Snuggle Puppy with:
- Senior dogs who become restless or anxious at night
- Dogs grieving the loss of another pet
- Anxious dogs who have trouble settling down
- Dogs recovering after surgery or other stressful experiences
- Deaf or blind dogs who may respond to the vibration of the heartbeat as well as the physical comfort of the toy
We’ve talked about some of these situations separately because they deserve more than a paragraph here. The important thing to know for this guide is that most of the setup and troubleshooting tips apply regardless of your dog’s age.
Also, apparently cats sometimes steal them.
This should surprise absolutely no one who has ever lived with a cat. Your dog may have been the intended recipient, but cats aren’t especially concerned with the details of the purchase agreement.
Part 1: Start Before Your Puppy Comes Home
Here’s one of the smartest Snuggle Puppy tricks I found, and it’s something you need to plan before your puppy arrives.
Give Snuggle Puppy a familiar scent.
If you’re getting your puppy from a breeder and they’re willing to help, send the Snuggle Puppy ahead of time. Ask them to leave it near the litter for several days or rub it against the mother and littermates before you pick up your puppy.
Now you’re bringing home more than a heartbeat toy. You’re bringing something that smells like the world your puppy just left.
That’s potentially a much more meaningful source of comfort on that first night.
If sending it to the breeder isn’t possible, you can still introduce your own scent before giving it to your puppy. Try rubbing the toy against a worn, unwashed T-shirt or other piece of clothing you’ve had against your skin.
You can even put the toy into a sealed plastic bag afterward to help preserve the scent until you’re ready to use it.
One thing to keep in mind: washing changes the scent.
If your dog seems slightly suspicious of Snuggle Puppy after its trip through the washing machine, give him a little time. To us, it’s the same stuffed dog, only considerably less gross. To him, something familiar suddenly smells completely different.
Part 2: Setting Up Your Snuggle Puppy
Before introducing it to your dog, take a few minutes to figure out exactly what you have.
Check which heartbeat you received.
There are different Snuggle Puppy heartbeat units in circulation, and they don’t operate exactly the same way.
Original Real-Feel Heartbeat: Press once for the standard eight-hour mode. Press and hold for about five seconds for 24-hour continuous use. Hold the button again to turn it off.
SmartBeat Heart: The newer SmartBeat version uses motion activation and can be identified by the “Patented Motion Activation” wording on the front. Depending on the mode, movement can restart the heartbeat or keep it running until the toy has been still for a set period.
This is worth checking because otherwise you may think your heartbeat is malfunctioning when it’s actually behaving exactly as designed.
Side note- Buying direct from Snuggle Puppy is the best way to make sure you’re getting the newer version. All of the Original Snuggle Puppy products have the motion-activated heartbeats.
How the heat packs work
The disposable heat packs activate when they’re exposed to air and can remain warm for roughly 24 hours.
If you don’t need the entire heating period at once, some owners extend their usable life by sealing them tightly in an airtight plastic bag with as much air removed as possible.
The heartbeat and heat pack can both fit inside the Snuggle Puppy at the same time.
But before you load everything up and present your puppy with the deluxe heated-and-beating version, there’s something else you should know.
Part 3: Don’t Just Turn Everything On and Hand It to Your Dog
This may be one of the biggest mistakes people make with Snuggle Puppy.
Some dogs are startled by the heartbeat.
It’s louder and more noticeable than some owners expect. Imagine being a tiny puppy in a completely unfamiliar house and having someone suddenly introduce you to a stuffed animal that’s inexplicably thumping.
I’d have questions, too.
Instead, let your puppy meet Snuggle Puppy before expecting him to sleep with it.
You can start with the plush toy alone or use the warmth without the heartbeat. Let your puppy sniff it, investigate it, lie near it, or completely ignore it for a while.
Once he’s comfortable with the toy itself, try adding the heartbeat.
Turn it on before bedtime.
Another useful trick is to start the heartbeat an hour or so before you’re ready to put your puppy down for the night.
That gives him a chance to become accustomed to it before he’s expected to settle.
Don’t worry if he doesn’t immediately curl up on top of Snuggle Puppy like the puppy on the box, either.
Some dogs investigate it first. Then they lie near it. Eventually they move closer. The whole process may take a little time.
Let your dog make that decision rather than repeatedly repositioning him next to the toy.
The Crate-Only Snuggle Puppy Rule
If you’re using a crate, there’s a good argument for making Snuggle Puppy a bedtime-only item.
It can accomplish two things.
First, it creates an association between Snuggle Puppy and settling down. Some dogs eventually recognize the toy as part of their bedtime routine.
Second, it reduces opportunities for your puppy to decide Snuggle Puppy is actually a chew toy.
That’s an important consideration because this isn’t something you want your dog dissecting for recreational purposes. There are batteries and, when you’re using them, disposable heat packs inside.
Save the regular stuffed animals for daytime play and make Snuggle Puppy part of the sleeping routine. Please supervise your puppy at first, though, to make sure they’re not going to shred Snuggle Puppy to pieces in the crate.
Part 4: What If Your Dog Hates Snuggle Puppy?
It happens. No dog product works for every dog, and Snuggle Puppy is no exception.
Fortunately, rejection doesn’t always mean the experiment is over.
Try it without the heartbeat.
If your puppy seems afraid of the toy, remove or turn off the heartbeat and introduce the plush by itself.
Give him a day or two to become comfortable with it, then try the heartbeat again.
Try the heartbeat without Snuggle Puppy.
Here’s the more surprising trick.
Some owners found that their dogs didn’t particularly care about the stuffed animal but did find the heartbeat soothing.
They removed the heartbeat unit and placed it separately in the dog’s sleeping area.
You can also try muffling the sound slightly rather than eliminating it completely. Some owners wrap the heartbeat unit in a sock or use the interior pouch material to soften the sound.
Just make sure anything you add to your dog’s sleeping area is something he can’t easily tear apart or swallow.
And if your dog becomes noticeably more upset when Snuggle Puppy appears?
Take it away.
There are owners who discovered that the toy itself was contributing to their puppy’s crying. Once they removed it, the puppy settled.
Dogs are allowed to have product reviews, too. Sometimes the review is one star.
What If Your Puppy Wants to Eat It?
Some puppies cuddle stuffed animals.Some apparently believe every stuffed animal contains classified information that can only be obtained by removing its internal organs.
If you have the second type, supervise carefully.
Owners sometimes find that ears, tongues, and other protruding pieces attract the most chewing. If your puppy repeatedly targets one area, don’t scold him for it. Redirect him to an appropriate chew instead.
You may also want to limit Snuggle Puppy strictly to times when your dog is actually settling down rather than leaving it available all day.
And yes, some adolescent dogs eventually decide Snuggle Puppy has another potential recreational purpose.That’s normal dog behavior. We’ll leave it at that.
An Important Warning About Snuggle Puppy Heat Packs
This is the part I don’t want anyone skimming past.
Do not let your dog chew open a disposable heat pack.
Air-activated heat packs commonly generate warmth through the oxidation of iron powder. While an intact pack can be used as directed, swallowing iron-containing material can be dangerous for dogs.
If your puppy can open Snuggle Puppy’s Velcro compartment, I would stop leaving a heat pack inside when he’s unsupervised.
I would be even more cautious with a dog who has already demonstrated that “do not eat” sounds more like a serving suggestion.
If your dog damages or consumes the contents of any heat pack, contact your veterinarian or a pet poison resource promptly rather than waiting for symptoms.
Can You Save Money on Snuggle Puppy Heat Packs?
Replacement heat packs can get expensive, particularly if you’re using them every night. You do have a few options.
As mentioned earlier, you may be able to slow down an activated disposable pack by sealing it tightly away from air between uses.
Some owners also use appropriately sized disposable hand warmers rather than the branded packs. If you consider doing this, check the product specifications carefully. Larger body warmers can get too hot, and any iron-containing disposable warmer presents the same ingestion risk if your dog tears it open.
I’ve also seen people suggest rechargeable hand warmers. Personally, I wouldn’t put a battery-powered heating device inside a stuffed animal unless the manufacturer specifically says it’s safe for that use. Saving money isn’t especially helpful if the workaround introduces a different problem.
There’s also the simplest option of all:
Skip the heat.
Some dogs respond beautifully to the heartbeat alone. Once your dog is settled into your home, you may find the heat packs aren’t necessary anymore.
And during hot weather, your dog may not want additional warmth in the first place.
Part 5: How to Wash a Snuggle Puppy
Eventually Snuggle Puppy is going to need a bath.Probably sooner than you’d hoped, because puppies.
Remove both the heartbeat unit and heat pack before washing it.
Use a gentle machine cycle with mild detergent, then let the toy air dry. Skip the fabric softener, which can affect the closure on the internal pocket.
One useful warning: the interior pocket can take longer to dry than the outside of the toy.
In other words, don’t wash Snuggle Puppy at 8 p.m. and expect it to be ready for bedtime at 9.
If you use Snuggle Puppy with foster dogs or multiple puppies, wash it between dogs even if it looks clean.
Remember the scent issue we talked about earlier, too. After washing, your dog may need a little time to accept his newly freshened Snuggle Puppy again.
Don’t Toss It When Puppyhood Ends
Your dog may eventually stop needing Snuggle Puppy every night. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re finished with it.
Some owners put theirs away after the puppy stage only to bring it back months or even years later during stressful situations.
A familiar comfort object may come in handy during recovery from surgery, travel, changes in the household, periods of anxiety, or even later in life when an older dog starts having trouble settling at night.
There are also owners whose dogs simply never give theirs up. They’ll repair a seam, replace the heartbeat, wash the increasingly well-loved plush, and put it right back in the bed.
That may actually be the best sign that Snuggle Puppy accomplished what it was supposed to do.
It stopped being a product. It became their thing.
10 Snuggle Puppy Tips to Remember
That’s a lot of information, so here’s the short version. If you remember nothing else from this guide, keep these tips in mind:
- Add a familiar scent before the first night whenever possible.
- Introduce the toy before expecting your dog to sleep with it.
- Don’t assume the heartbeat needs to be turned on immediately.
- Let your dog decide whether he wants to sleep beside it, on it, or three inches away from it.
- Consider keeping Snuggle Puppy in the crate or sleeping area instead of treating it like a regular toy.
- If the plush doesn’t work, try the heartbeat separately.
- If your previously settled puppy starts fussing, check the battery.
- Never let your dog chew or swallow the contents of a heat pack.
- Remove the heartbeat and heat pack before washing.
- Don’t throw it away just because your puppy seems to have outgrown it.
The biggest takeaway is that there isn’t one perfect way to use a Snuggle Puppy. The basic setup may be simple, but dogs have their own opinions about the details. Some love the heartbeat immediately, some need time to warm up to it, and others may prefer the plush or heartbeat on its own.
Give your dog a little room to show you what works for them. Once you figure that out, Snuggle Puppy can become less of a product you have to “use correctly” and more of a familiar part of their comfort routine.
Calm your anxious pooch with the Original Snuggle Puppy! Designed in the USA, it’s paw-fect for your furry friend to cuddle, while providing soothing comfort as it relieves anxiety. This su-paw cute snuggle puppy helps reduce negative behaviors so there are no more sleepless nights for you or your best pal.
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