After 40 hours spent researching the best dog dryers, we think Shernbao High-Velocity Professional Dog Dryer is the best for most people.
This choice is based on several criteria: brand, design, max airflow, speed, color, shell material, motor, horsepower, power source, hose, nozzles, filters, durable, weight, and warranty, among other things.
| Product | Price | Overall Rating | Quality | Efficiency | Durability | Maintenance | Value for Money | brand | design | max airflow | speed | color | shell material | motor | horsepower | power source | hose | nozzles | filters | durable | weight | warranty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shernbao High-Velocity Professional Dog Dryer | Check Price | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | Shernbao | Dual motor | 320 CFM | 4921 to 68000 FPM | Red | Plastic | 15 amp | 6 HP | 110 V | Up to 10ft | 3 flat | 2 filters | Yes | 18.4 lbs | 1 year |
| Flying Pig Grooming High-Velocity Dog Dryer | Check Price | 4.4 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | Flying Pig Grooming | Single motor | 240 CFM | 28000 FPM | Green / Pink / Purple | Steel | 12.72 amp | 4 HP | 110V | Up to 10ft | 1 flat, 1 round | 1 filter | Yes | 11.1 lbs | 1 year |
| Shernbao Super Cyclone Grooming Dog Dryer | Check Price | 4.6 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | Shernbao | Single motor | 210 CFM | 515 to 64000 FPM | Black / Cyan / Pink / Purple | Plastic | 13 amp | 5 HP | 110V | Up to 10ft | 2 flat, 1 round | 2 filters | Yes | 12 lbs | 1 year |
 | K-9 III Grooming Professional Dog Dryer | Check Price | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | K-9 Dryers | Dual motor | 118 CFM | 34321 to 62000 FPM | 9 colors | Steel | 18.5 amp | 6 HP | 110 V | Up to 10ft | 1 flat, 1 round | 2 filters | Yes | 32 lbs | 2 years |
 | Free Paws Grooming Professional Dog Dryer | Check Price | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 | Free Paws | Single motor | 113 CFM | 4921 to 9842 FPM | Orange | Steel | Not specified | 4 HP | 110V | Up to 7.9ft | 2 flat, 1 round, 2 brush | 1 filter | Yes | 11.4 lbs | 1 year |
The last thing a dog wants to do after a bath is sit politely while you towel her dry, but the best dog dryer can make the job easier and faster for you both.
Drying your pup will no longer be a dreaded chore.
Who wouldn’t trade places with a dog? Think about it; you could feel the wind in your face as your chauffeur pedals you around in a dog bike trailer. Or maybe you’d prefer to ride in your dog carrier or sit in a dog car seat and enjoy the view. You get a spiffy dog harness to show off and your owner cleans up after you with a scooper and dog poop bags.
Though products like a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste mean you can’t avoid brushing your teeth, your human will do all the work anyway.
Dog life has a few drawbacks like a dog whistle, dog anti-chew spray or the regular dog flea treatment, but on the bright side there are products like a dog wheelchair and dog laxative that help them out when times get tough.
The best part is being groomed. Grooming done right with a dog grooming table makes a dog nail clipper or dog nail grinder no big deal. Some soothing dog shampoo followed by dog conditioner and a good dog dematting tool to remove knots and tangles leaves a canine’s coat and skin clean and in good condition.
All you need is a good dog dryer to go along with a dog brush to get that coat shining and skin clean and healthy. The only thing left to do is pose for the dog camera.
Selection Of The Best Dog Dryers
Here are the best dog dryers for most people according to Outlinist:
Buying Guide
High Velocity
Also called forced-air dryers, these are the most efficient and powerful dryers available on the market. They work by blowing excess water from a dog’s coat using high-pressure air.
Unlike other types of dryers, the best high-velocity dog grooming dryer will not have an added heater, and it shouldn’t because the high pressure is more than enough to penetrate even the thickest, most knotted hair. However, they can be noisy to operate – both you and your pet may need ear protection.
Free Standing
A dog dryer on a stand is considered to be a professional dryer by groomers because it is designed to be used completely hands free, giving you the freedom to move around, turn the pup and style their coat while drying is taking place.
If you have a dog breed that requires their coat to be brushed as it dries in order to avoid tangles, this is the right option for you. Just be careful though, this dryer is big and can eat up a lot of floor space.
Low Pressure
These dryers blow high amounts of air out but with much lower amounts of pressure than their high velocity counterparts. Due to the lower pressure, it will take a longer time to dry fur.
Most low-pressure air dog dryers come with an auxiliary heater that warms the air, helping fur to dry faster. Be warned, however, that this can put dogs at risk of heat stroke, irritation and burns, so heaters should not be used on dogs with sensitive skin or thin fur.
Handheld
Though the look of this dog dryer for grooming is very similar to that of a human hair dryer, it has lower heat and a higher velocity, reducing the risk for burning a dog’s skin or coat.
The nozzle should be held several inches away from a dog’s body and the dryer should always be in motion in order to prevent any one area from overheating. It isn’t great for dogs with thick coats, but is the best dog dryer in terms of affordability.
Cage
The cage itself is not a dryer, rather the dryer is designed to attach to a cage, kennel or crate. This is the best pet hair dryer for homes with multiple pets as it allows you to start drying a second dog while the first one is being dried.
Similar to a low pressure dryer, it is a good option for dogs with thin fur and sensitive skin. Cage dryers use heat; dogs should never be left alone while they are in use and are best suited for experienced groomers.
High Air Flow
Due to the highly sensitive skin of a dog, their specially-designed hair dryers don’t expel air as hot as the air of a human hair dryer. Instead, they force air out to dry a canine’s coat.
This is the main reason you want a unit that blows air strongly and consistently. The best dog blow dryer will blow out air with enough force to blast water from fur and will include a built-in filter for airflow control. This results in a drying session that goes by much more quickly.
Hose
A low-quality dog dryer hose can break apart in your hands from the air pressure if it is not sturdy enough to hold the air being blown out. Dryers also get hot and a flimsy nozzle can melt away, causing injuries to you and your furry friend.
Look for models featuring a heavy-duty spiral-wound hose. They can withstand intensive sessions of use. Though they cost a bit more, they extend the life of the dryer, making them worth the investment.
Variable Speeds
One type of dog breed will most likely only require a single speed dryer. For pet parents or groomers dealing with various breeds, sizes and coats, the best dog dryer will offer you different speed options so you can choose the right air flow depending on the coat type.
They are also the best choice because you can use higher airflow on the thicker body fur and the lowest output of air on the delicate face, ears and neck areas.
How Much Sound It Makes
Don’t fool yourself, there is no such thing as a fully silent dryer. But any dryer worth having is going to use some type of modern silencing technology or proprietary technology to dull the sound they make.
Metal tends to amplify the sound, but polymer housing is going to make the best low noise dog dryer because it absorbs noise instead. Stand dryers should have vibration padding to counter noise from moving. Dryers should be balanced to avoid the noise made by the force of the air pressure.
Power
You’re going to see a lot of hair dryers that promise you powerful horsepower. Great horsepower requires at least 30 amps and these dryers handle no more than 12 amps. So ignore horsepower, it is not the best indicator of power.
Pay attention to the cubic feet per minute (CFM). This basically tells you how fast a dryer can fill a cubic foot with air and is the measure worth truly caring about. The larger the CFM, the faster a dog dries and the better the dryer is.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Dog dryer parts, in particular the air filters, are going to need cleaning and changing. If you delay air filter maintenance, they can become clogged and dirty, putting the unit at risk and possibly harming dogs by emitting dust particles onto their skin or drying them improperly.
The best dog dryer to keep clean will have filters that are easy to clean and change without the use of any tools. They are more convenient to maintain, increasing the chances you’ll clean and replace them regularly.
Non-Heated Air
It’s a little confusing, but dryers made for dogs aren’t actually using heat to remove wetness from a dog’s coat. Heat that’s too high will burn their skin. The motor on a dryer warms the unit enough, but some do come with auxiliary heating elements.
Nine times out of ten, these supplementary heating elements are completely unnecessary. The best type of dryer will use pressurized cold air but any models that rely on the motor to heat the air are going to be a safe, effective option.
Durability
Take your time and read the materials used to construct a dryer, opting for materials that can withstand years of heavy use. Plastic units may be less expensive, but they rarely hold up for long. Avoid metallic dryers as they may rust and amplify the sound of the motor.
The best pet grooming dryer is going to be made from rust-controlled steel; though it’s louder, it lasts longer. Also consider getting an impact-resistant dryer. If you have an energetic dog, you’ll most likely drop it a few times.
Storage
Dog dryers come in many different forms and shapes, so you need to make sure the one you buy will be comfortably out of your way when it’s not in use. Handhelds are the smallest and easiest to store. They may increase grooming time but are perfect for people with little space.
Though they take up floor space, stand dryers are easier to store than most types and don’t carry much bulk. If you have a spare corner, they can easily be stashed away.
Versatility
Get more bang for your buck and look for a dryer that includes a good assortment of dog dryer attachments. Often these switchable pieces let you tailor airflow and direction during a grooming session.
Interchangeable attachments also give you the chance to use the air with tools like a grooming rake or concentrator for a more polished look – like you would with your own hair. The best dog dryer offers multiple nozzle attachments that take grooming to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use a human hair dryer on your dog?
Using your hair dryer on a dog is never recommended. Remember that heat is usually unnecessary to use on canines because their skin and coats are sensitive – the air from a human dryer is far too hot. In addition to the air being too hot, human hair dryers don’t have the force needed to blast water from a dog’s coat efficiently.
The force of a dryer made specifically for them also removes loose hair which keeps their undercoat from becoming matted and makes grooming easier.
How do you get a dog comfortable with a hair dryer?
Just like training them to sit or fetch, it’s best to approach it little by little. They need to get used to the feel and sound of blowing air on them.
Show them the dryer in off mode, offering treats to help them positively associate the dryer with something they like. Then turn the dryer on. If they run, don’t force them back, but lure them with a treat once they see there’s no threat. Keep the dryer low, don’t make sudden movements and be patient (which is key).
How do you keep a dog safe when using a dryer?
It is very important that you avoid any unnecessary or additional heat when drying your pooch. They may not complain, run or bark, but you can still cause damage to their skin. Worse, many have unfortunately died from overheating in cage dryers.
Having chilled water available at all times is crucial, and making sure the room temperature is warm will help their coats dry pretty fast without the need of additional heat. Unless you are experienced, avoid heating settings altogether.
How do you clean a pet dryer?
The smell of your pup can definitely get stuck inside the dryer, but there’s no reason to buy expensive cleaning products to take care of this. A simple solution is to use distilled white vinegar. It will disinfect and deodorize your dryer safely and effectively.
Get a clean cloth and dip it in the vinegar, then start wiping the unit down. (Don’t forget to remove the air filter; it can be cleaned with a dry cloth.) Leave it dismantled until completely dry.
Is a dryer better than air or towel drying?
Though wrapping a towel around your dog to dry them is a less expensive option, it doesn’t actually do a great job at drying their skin or their fur. Often people only get the topcoat and if done improperly can encourage mats or make them worse by tangling hair.
Both alternatives keep dogs wet, but air drying leaves them wet much longer. The longer they are wet, the greater the risk of becoming cold or hypothermic. This is dangerous if they are kept outside.
Sources
- Noise impacts from professional dog grooming forced-air dryers, National Institutes of Health, Sep 14, 2012
- USPTO Kids: Kid inventors, United States Patent and Trademark Office
- University of South Florida Young Innovator Competition Winner featured on the Tonight Show, University of South Florida, Feb 21, 2014
- Dog grooming, Wikipedia
- How to bathe your dog correctly, Michigan State University Extension, Mar 23, 2012
- Dog Dryers: Grooming Blow Dryers For Dogs, Chewy
- Dog Dryers & Grooming: Dog Hair & Blow Dryers, Petco
- Dog Grooming Dryer, eBay
- Dog gets head stuck in dryer vent, owner gets creative to save her, Mashable, May 30, 2018
- Tips for Getting Your Dog Comfortable with a Dog Dryer, petMD
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