You are not alone. A lot of pet parents decide to groom their pets themselves.
Why not? It’s fun for both pet and the parent. It saves you some serious dough that you’d otherwise spend at the groomer.
But very soon you realize the fun part is limited to bathing. Drying the pet is a different ball game altogether.
Err…sorry to interrupt. But let’s take a quick glimpse at the best dog hair dryers.
Best Dog Hair Dryers
| Image | Dog Hair Dryers | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Flying Pig Grooming Flying One High Velocity | 99% |
 | 2. Free Paws High-Power Hair Dryer | 96% |
 | 3. B-Air Fido Max 1 Dog Dryer | 93% |
 | 4. SHELANDY 3.2HP Stepless Adjustable Speed Pet hair force dryer | 89% |
 | 5. Flying Pig Grooming Flying Simple Dog Cat Pet Force Dryer | 85% |
1. Flying Pig Grooming Flying One High Velocity 4.0 Hp Motor Dog Pet Grooming Force Dryer
Pet parents who frequently visit groomers might be familiar with the Flying Pig force dryer. This beast of a machine is a common sight in many-a-grooming shop where it makes short work of drying large dogs with long, flowing locks.
At home, this will take your pet from dripping wet to dry as a bone in minutes.
Built like a tank
The Flying Pig force dryer is built like tank. There’s a lot of steel on this unit and rightly so because large wet canines make for a messy affair and chances are that this might get tumbled over more than once.
But it can take a beating. And some more.
A 10-feet long, flexible hose gives you ample room to keep the dryer parked on a stable surface and chase your pet.
It also comes with two different nozzles which allow you to target specific areas on your pet’s body.
Using it is a breeze. There are large buttons on a conveniently located control panel, which are easy to access even when you are handling your pet with the other hand.
Powerful air flow
The 4.0 HP motor is amongst the most powerful ones in the market. It is widely used by groomers who blow dry 10 to 15 dogs a day.
The airflow is extremely powerful and you can adjust it along with the temperature to suit your pet. Many dogs dislike hot air.
So we recommend that you start at the lowest temperature setting until your dog is used to the dryer.
One of the best features is that this is quieter than a regular hair dryer.
Pros
- Powerful force dryer for dogs of all sizes
- 0 HP motor
- Control panel with large buttons
- Adjustable temperature and wind flow
- 10-feet long flexible hose
- Comes with 2 brushes
- Extremely quiet
Cons
- The hose tends to fall off when you are running the motor at high speeds. If this happens, contact customer care immediately for a replacement hose.
2. Free Paws High-Power Hair Dryer
This powerful pet hair dryer from Free Paws comes with four different nozzles that allow you to perform specialized grooming tasks like removing the shedding undercoat, drying the entire dog in fewer passes and increasing air temperature during the winter.
Apart from the extras, it also boasts of some very practical and useful features, like variable air speed and temperature.
Sturdy little dryer
The Free Paws hair dryer is a very sturdy unit. The main casing is made of metal and it weighs just 11.4 pounds. So, if you are introducing your puppy to blow drying and they are running amok in the house, you can easily carry the dryer from one room to the other.
The hose is just 4-feet though. While we are all for longer hoses, some people find them cumbersome as they can cause you to trip if you are chasing your puppy. To each his own.
On a positive note, the hose is puppy-proof. So, if your dog takes a fancy to the writhing tube spitting hot air at them, they won’t be able to chew through it.
Very useful tools
Most pet parents rarely use the nozzle extensions that come with dog blow dryers. But they can be pretty useful, especially if you have large dogs with double coats, like an Australian shepherd.
You can use the wider nozzle to reduce the passes that you make while drying your pet and then use the 7-finger nozzle to target shedding hair in the undercoat.
When done right, this can be so effective that you won’t need to brush them again a day later. Also, use at medium heat setting and the blow outs last much longer. The heat is just perfect for dogs of all sizes.
Pros
- Compact and sturdy dog blow dryer
- Very reasonably priced
- 4 extra nozzles
- Variable heat and air speed
- Perfect for dogs with double coats
- 4-feet long hose
- Long power cord
Cons
- There have been a couple of instances where the dryer has conked off after a few months of use. But they have a helpful and responsive customer service team. Also, this has been limited to just one or two dryers from among hundreds.
3. B-Air Fido Max 1 Dog Dryer
The B-Air Fido Max 1 is part of Ceaser Milan’s (The dog whisperer) collection of dog grooming tools. It is extremely popular among pet parents because it comes with an instructional video that shows detailed steps on how to get your pets used to the dryer.
While that might come across as gimmicky, the dryer itself is of very good quality.
It is compact, comes with 4 nozzle attachments and can even be used for blowing dirt off your pet’s coat without washing them.
Two air speeds
The B-Air Fido Max has two air speeds. Both are very powerful. So, if you have a small dog breed or want to use this to dry your cat, we recommend that hold the nozzle away from your pet in the first few days or just use a finger to partially block the air flow.
This will help control the power to some extent.
For larger dogs, this translates into faster drying and fewer passes.
As we mentioned earlier, you can also use this to quickly clean your pet after a hiking trip without actually washing them. That’s because it dries the pet by repelling the water/dirt off their fur rather than using heat.
Most groomers suggest that this is the right way to groom a pet.
Four useful nozzles
The B-Air Fido Max 1 ships with 4 nozzles. The Cone shaped nozzle for large dogs with thick coats, the slot nozzle for long haired dog breeds as it prevents knotting, air flow nozzle for drying sensitive areas like the ears, face in smaller dogs and the brush nozzle that helps in de-shedding the undercoat.
The instructional video and manual is pretty effective. We spoke to a pet parent who mentioned how their labradoodle was petrified of their old human air dryer.
But they used both the instructions mentioned in the video and allowed their pet to sniff out the dryer. They also kept it switched on allowing the pet to get used to the noise. Worked like a charm.
Pros
- ETL certified for safety
- Compact, budget-priced dog dryer
- Very powerful for the size
- Variable air flow
- 6-feet long hose
- Instructional manual from Ceaser Milan
- 4 nozzles
Cons
- Very loud. But that shouldn’t be a problem as long as you can follow the instructions in the video.
4. SHELANDY 3.2HP Stepless Adjustable Speed Pet hair force dryer
If a quiet dog dryer is what you seek, then here’s the Shelandy 3.2HP force dryer for you. This one features four layers of noise reduction at the air inlets.
The result is that it has a very muffled sound unlike the loud roaring sound of typical air dryers.
If your pet is petrified of normal force dryers at the groomer’s, then this one should suit them better.
Variable air speed
The Shelandy 3.2 HP dog hair dryer has variable speed. Well, so do most other dog dryers. But the Shelandy differs from them slightly. At the lowest speed setting, the air flow is nothing more than a gentle, steady flow of air. It is also a lot quieter as compared to the high speed setting.
Flip the switch to the high speed setting and it goes into a really strong air flow that’s well suited for large dogs with thick coats or long hair.
Do not use this at the high speed setting for small dogs or puppies.
Almost forgot to mention that it also features a temperature setting. So, if you want to use heat along with the force drying, you have that option.
12-Months Warranty
The Shelandy dog hair dryer comes with 4 nozzles for specific grooming tasks. So, you have the four finger nozzle for de-shedding, one narrower nozzle for site specific drying and two wider nozzles that can be swapped depending on the size of the dog hair.
Most pet parents and pet groomers who use this mention that it reduces drying time by almost 50%. So, if you have a large dog and you spent 30-40 minutes grooming them, the Shelandy dog dryer reduces it to 15-20 minutes, which is amazing.
It is also backed up by a 12-month warranty.
Pros
- Silent force dryer
- Extremely powerful
- Used by groomers
- Variable wind flow
- Variable heat setting
- 4 Nozzles
- 12-month warranty
Cons
- The wind flow might be too powerful for small dog breeds. So, ensure that you start at the lowest setting without heat, until your dog gets used to it.
5. Flying Pig Grooming Flying Simple Dog Cat Pet Force Dryer
This is a lower power-rated dog dryer from Flying Pig that’s well suited for home use. It is quiet, reliable, comes with variable speed and heat.
The 3.0 HP motor is powerful enough for use with dogs of all sizes.
It has all the other features of the bigger, more powerful 4.0 HP model that tops this list.
If you are shopping for a reliable dog hair dryer on a budget, then there’s no better choice than this one.
Stretchable hose
At first glance, the 3-feet hose on this dog blow dryer seems grossly inadequate, especially because dogs tend to run around the place when they are being blow dried.
But the moment you power on the motor, the hose extends to almost 10 feet which is perfect. It retracts back to a shrunken state when the dryer is powered off.
Overall, the entire unit is compact and light enough to be carried around the house if need be.
Easy-to-attach nozzles
Flying Pig makes it easy for you to customize the pet hair dryer. It comes with three nozzles, all featuring a quick release and attach clamp.
So, you can just squeeze the clamp to remove a nozzle and attach a different one if need be.
The dryer is surprisingly low on maintenance. The removable air filters are intuitively positioned for quick access. You can remove them and wash them under water easily.
Pros
- Lower power rated dog dryer from Flying Pig
- 0 HP powerful motor
- Perfect for home use with dogs of all sizes
- 4 nozzles with quick clamp attachment
- Stretchable hose
- Compact size
- Variable heat and air speed
Cons
- None
How we selected the best dog hair dryers
To be honest, we started off by using manual hand held dryers for grooming our pets. But like a lot of others, we found that it lacked the power needed for blow drying thick double coats and it took forever to dry our Australian Shepherd and Afghan Hound.
Once we got a taste of a professional force dryer (Flying Pig) at our groomer’s we decided to invest in one for ourselves. That was 12 years ago and we bought our first one for $400. Cut to today, dog dryers have become a lot more affordable.
Nevertheless, if you are confused about what features to look, then here’s some help.
The amount of air it can move
Most manufacturers will talk about the Horsepower rating, which is a reasonably accurate way to describe how powerful a dog hair dryer can be. However, if you wish to dip your toes into more technical details, check the CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute) and FBM (Feet Per Minute) ratings for the dryer. The higher these numbers, more powerful the dryer will be.
Variable speed
Your dog hair dryer must have at least 2 different speeds. The slower speed works best for smaller breeds and pets, like cats. It is also very useful if your pet is just getting used to blow drying. Start with the lower speed setting and then increase as they become more comfortable. All the dog hair dryers in this list have variable speed.
Heat
Some pet parents prefer to have a heat setting to go with the force drying. Some hate using it because they feel that it strips pet hair off natural oils. Either ways, we have both options in this list.
Noise
If you hate the powerful whirring sound that comes with most force dryers, look for dryers that have sound insulation integrated into the air inlets. For example, the Shelandy 3.2 HP. The Flying Pig dryers are also pretty quiet by the way.
Continuing from where we left off…after the bath, your pet will most likely go haywire trying to dry themselves. The assault will be on your furniture, the couch, yourself and anything else that it can use to rub its body. Your home will be one hairy mess with tumbleweeds of dog fur all over.
More importantly, the dog will be damp for almost 24 hours despite all your attempts at towel drying them. It’s a lot easier to blow dry your pet and spare yourself the hours of effort that it will take to clean the home later. However, a dog hair dryer isn’t something you buy every day. Not even vets know much about it. We do though and if you are wondering which ones are gentle, effective and safe for pets, then here you go.
A Buying Guide to the Perfect Dog Hair Dryer
There are lots of things that you need to do take care of your dog. For example, you need to provide them with a dog house so that they have a den to go to feel safe, as well as providing them with an outdoor dog kennel or a dog playpen that will give them a place to run around and get some exercise. But making sure that your dog has a dog crate to travel in and a dog bed to sleep in are not the only things that you need to be concerned about when it comes to taking care of your pup. Grooming them is also really important. One of the most useful tools that you will find when it comes to grooming besides your dog brush is a dog hairdryer and dog grooming table.
A dog hairdryer is one of the most useful tools that you can have around the house when it comes to taking care of your dog. That’s because dogs are intended to be dry. They don’t like to be wet. The first thing that a dog will do once you give him a bath and he loses his or her scent, is going to go roll in the dirt and debris that gave him his odor in the first place. The reason for this is the dogs communicate through odor. That means that getting him dry is a priority. The dryer your dog is when he or she decides to go roll in the dirt, the less his fur will get matted up and stuck together and the less bacteria he will carry into your home.
Giving Your Dog a Bath
One of the things that have to do with dog hair dryers is the doggy bath. The dog shampoo is a great step to take when it comes to cleaning your dog, but not every dog likes the puppy shampoo. In fact, you’re going to find some dogs resist it completely. But cleaning your dog with water and soap and taking a dog brush to them afterwards is one of the primary ways that you can take care of their fur and make sure that they aren’t spreading bacteria and becoming unhealthy due to what’s in their fur.
There are a few other ways that you can take care of your dog such as giving them the right dog food – like organic dog food – and ensuring that you are using nail clippers for dogs, toothpaste for dogs and toothbrushes for dogs or taking care of their health in other ways such as using dog ear cleaners or a flea collar are all ways that you keep your dog healthy. But giving your dog a bath is also an extremely healthy thing to do. Your dog may not like it much, but you are going to love it because it means less hair getting around the house and on your furniture, less bacteria being spread and fewer odors coming from your dog.
Why You Need a Hair Dryer for Your Dog
There are some great reasons for getting a hairdryer from your dog. If you use the vacuum for dog hair treatment, and your dog is still shedding, then you definitely want to consider giving them a bath. Dog hair contains all sorts of contaminants, and if your dog has fleas they are definitely going to bother him or her with itching. But with the combination of a puppy bath and treatments like coconut oil for dogs, probiotics for dogs or essential oils for dog fleas, you will be able to eliminate the flea problem and solve the spreading of bacteria as well. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits that you get when you use a hairdryer on your dog.
There is no doubt the dogs need to be regularly groomed and that includes shampooing them and making sure that their hair is dry. Groomed dogs are clean and almost never get infections. That’s because there grooming keeps the coat free of things like fleas and parasites. Regular brushing is also important, but a combination of shampooing and brushing will make sure that your dog’s coat is free of contaminants as well as shiny and without any bald spots.
Keeping your dog dry after grooming is a great way to keep them looking great and prevent health problems. Dogs often have early signs that appear on their coat before anyone even realizes they are sick. The process of grooming and drying can help with that. If the dog is being regularly groomed, the chance of an illness going unnoticed is quite reduced.
Plus, your dog will really love it if you get their hair dry. Although some dogs enjoy swimming and getting wet, most do not. That means that by drying off your dog as quickly as possible with a hairdryer will allow them to return to their normal state and that will be a huge load off of their minds.
How Dog Hair Dryers Work
Understanding how dog hairdryer’s work is going to be one of the best things you can do to educate yourself about how to groom your dog properly. When it comes to a dog blower dryer, you want to get the best dog dryer you can get because a pet grooming hair dryer only works as well as the features that it provides. But that all starts with understanding how your blow dryers for dogs actually work. Let’s take a look at exactly what happens when you blow dry your dog with your canine hairdryer.
Before you do any research into the type of dog hairdryer you should buy, it is important to understand how these dryers work. You probably already know that bathing and drying your dog is a popular service offered by groomers. But have you ever wondered why that is? The truth is, not only does a dog look their best when they leave the salon with their fur cleaned and dried, they also feel their best – even if they don’t really like it at first.
Dogs want to be clean. It may not seem like it since they roll in so much gunk, but have you ever seen a dog licking their fur? That means that they are trying to clean themselves. Unfortunately, this is not nearly as effective as doing a full shampoo and blow dry. So your dog will thank you for washing their fur and blow drying it.
The Five Different Types of Hair Dryers
There are several different types of hairdryers on the market, and you need to understand how each one works and what makes them different from each other before you can choose the right one to blow dry your dog. Getting the right hairdryer is important, because every breed of dog is a little bit different, and the hair dryer that you choose should be appropriate to that breed and the type of fur they have. Let’s take a look at the five most common types of hairdryers that are on the market.
Forced Air Dryers: The first type of hair dryer that we will be looking at is the forced air hair dryer; the forced air hairdryer is a type of pet grooming hair dryer that pushes out a great deal of air, allowing you to use the air pressure to blow the excess water out of your dog’s coat. These are some of the most powerful hairdryers on the market, but they are not always comfortable for dogs. You will be able to identify these types of hairdryers because they look like a miniature canister vacuum but instead of sucking air in, they will be blowing it out. The main problem with these types of hairdryers is that they make a lot of noise and push a lot of air which can scare dogs. However, the upside is that they do not use heat.
Stand Dryers: Stand dryers are the second type of dryer that we will be discussing. Stand dryers are also known as fluff dryers. They are usually attached to the table where your dog is groomed. They allow great deal of freedom and may even be attached to the brush so that you can brush your dog and flow there for dry at the same time. However, since these are expensive, they are usually only present with high-end professional groomer tables. If you have the money you can get this type of dryer for yourself, but just be aware that they are expensive because they either come with the table or they attached to the table.
Low-Pressure Dryers: You might also want to look into low-pressure dryers because they can be one of the best options when it comes to drying off your dog. Low-pressure dryers blow out a much lower amount of air than the first types of hairdryers on our list, but they use a little heat so they are able to dry the fur faster. That means that your dog does not get scared by the noise of the dryer or by the amount of air being blown on their fur, but they can get dry faster which they will love.
Handheld Dryers: Handheld dryers are the type of hairdryers that you are probably familiar with for your own hair. Handheld hairdryers use a heating element and a certain amount of forced air to get the air to come out through the exhaust port. The difference between these and the low-pressure dryers is the usually have several settings so that you can either do low-pressure or high-pressure with heat. There is very little difference between these types of hairdryers and the ones that you use on your own hair in the bathroom.
Cage Dryers: Cage dryers are another type of dryer that is similar to the low-pressure dryer that was previously mentioned. Basically, you put the dog in a cage that fits perfectly around it and hairdryers are installed within that cage to dry the dog off its quickly as possible. It is sort of like a carwash for your dog. This method does use heat, but since it is not that much pressure, it is pretty comfortable for your pup.
How to Dry Your Dog’s Coat properly
When it comes to drying your dog’s coat properly, there are some techniques that you need to be aware of. You already know about the various types of dryers that exist, but you have to have the right technique no matter which dryer you use. Grooming your dog is usually something that happens through several stages which includes shampooing, bathing, rinsing and drying.
But drying is what we are concentrating on now, and the advice of pet groomers when it comes to this particular step include knowing what you are doing as much as possible. If you’ve never groomed your dog or dried off your dog, then you may want to take your dog to a professional groomer and try to get some tips before you do it yourself. Basically, though, you should just make sure that you are not using too much heat and that you blowdry your dog evenly without getting the dryer too close to your dog’s fur.
Features to Consider
You definitely want to consider some of the most important features of the hairdryer that you choose to make sure that your dog is getting all of the best treatment. There are lots of hairdryers on the market, and we have discussed five of the different types that are out there, but there are still additional features that you need to be aware of. Let’s take it look at each of them one by one.
Air Temperature: The air temperature is important because your dog already has a higher body temperature than normal because that’s just how dogs are design. That means that you do not want to introduce too much heat to your dog if possible. That’s what you want to go with a low heat dryer or a low-pressure dryer to make sure that they are not overheating while you are grooming them.
Speed: The speed in which your dryer works is also an important consideration. You want your hairdryer to have multiple functions when it comes to speed. The faster you can dry your dog off, the happier he or she will be. But if your dog does not like the highest setting, you want to be able to lower it one or two times to make sure they will sit through the drying process and that you are not burning their skin.
Noise Control: Noise control may not be the one of the most important things to consider, but when it comes to dogs, how much noise your tool produces is an important consideration. You may be able to force your dog to sit through the entire grooming process with the hairdryer that makes a lot of noise, but you’re going to cause them anxiety and trauma for many weeks or months to come. It is best to avoid that if possible.
Durability: How long your dryer lasts is also an important consideration. There is no doubt that hairdryers for dogs can be somewhat expensive. So, you want to make sure that you get the best product you can and then use it as directed to give your dog as many dryings as possible. That means choosing something that is going to be durable and will last for a very long time.
Price: The price is also something that you want to consider. Although the price is pretty much standard among the basic models, when you start looking into the more elite models of hairdryers, the price can get pretty expensive. That’s because some are willing able to pay extremely large amounts of money to make sure their dogs are getting the best care. But these expensive hairdryers do not do that great of job over the more basic models that cost 1/10 of as much.
Dog Hair Dryer Review Conclusion
The bottom line is that there are plenty of things that you want to consider when it comes to buying the perfect hairdryer for your dog. The best dog hairdryers are going to be the ones that work best for your dog. That means that you may want to try out a few different models in the store, taking your dog with you, to find out what works best. If you do not have this option, then make sure that the website you buy them from has a return policy.
Your dog will be a lot happier once he or she is dry. But you first have to get through the entire grooming process. That starts with a bath and it ends with the drying of your dog’s fur. They are still going to go roll in the dirt after you are done, you want to get them as clean as possible because the more bacteria and contaminants that you can remove, the less chance there is of them getting an illness.
Recommended Reading:
- Best Dog Grooming Scissors
- Best Dog Grooming Gloves
- Best Soft Bristle Dog Brush
- Best High Velocity Dog Dryer
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