How Do I Choose the Best Dog Hair Dryer?

A pet owner and a groomer both can use a good dog hair dryer. Choosing the best one depends on several factors, including price, the temperament of your dog or dogs and the ease of use. Using a dog hair dryer is easy after the dog gets used to the noise and the airflow. Professional groomers can offer advice on where to find a good dryer and how to dry your dog with it at home.

There are several types of dog hair dryers, but all produce lower heat than a dryer made for human hair. This keeps the dog’s skin from drying out and the hair from frizzing. Using a blow dryer made for human hair takes longer, and the dog might not stand still for that length of time. Dogs are sometimes frightened of the noise that a dryer makes and need to be acclimated to it. Dryers made specifically for pets are much quieter than those made for humans, so it will not take dogs very long to get used to them.

A canister dog hair dryer with a hose and several attachments for directing the air flow will dry a dog in a short amount of time. These are lightweight and portable. The hose allows drying from multiple angles, moving around a dog that might need to be tethered. Accessories such as a groomer’s rake helps work out tangles in the dog’s coat.

Adjustable stand dog hair dryers have different positions to get the best angle for all sizes of animal. They can be set up on a table or in front of a crate for hands-free use. Both hands can then be used to soothe the dog and groom it while it is being dried. Crate dryers can also be attached to the front of the dog’s crate to dry it remotely. Most of these dryers have a cooling-down setting for safety, so the crated dog doesn’t get too hot.

Using a dog hair dryer is fairly easy. After washing, a dog should be dried with absorbent towels, blotting instead of rubbing to avoid tangles in longer hair. The dryer will work better if the dog has been dried with a towel than on a dripping coat, with less damage to the hair from prolonged exposure. Take care to never aim the airstream at the dog’s face or into its ears. Many dogs, after they become acclimated to the dryer, enjoy the attention.

A good way to find a dog hair dryer and even get some instruction in using it is to find a professional groomer who is willing to offer advice. Make an appointment for your dog and ask whether you can observe what the groomer is doing. A helpful groomer probably will have recommendations about which type of dryer is best for your dog and where to obtain one for use at home.