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Dogs get wet—it’s a fact of life. Between rainy walks, swims, and bath time, some pups seem like they spend more time slightly damp than they do dry. For their loving pet parents, that means a soggy house, damp spots on the furniture, and dealing with the distinctive aroma of wet fur. If you, like us, have dreamed of a way to speed up the drying process, we’re here to tell you there’s an answer: dog blow dryers.
Dog blow dryers are a neat solution for a lot of reasons. In our own tests, we’ve found they dramatically cut the time you need to spend drying your dog (as well as the huge volume of towels involved). They reduce the wet dog smell, leave your pet looking as fluffy as possible, and keep your pup’s skin healthy.
We especially like them as an alternative to air drying, which, in addition to making a mess of your house, isn’t always good for your dog’s skin. Although some short-haired breeds can get away with it, air drying may cause skin hot spots or even fungus growth between a dog’s paw pads. It can also lead to long hair becoming matted or dirty again (since it may take hours to dry naturally).
Blow drying is the best way to get your dog’s fur completely dry in the shortest span of time.
While it may be tempting to use a hairdryer you already own on your pet, human hair dryers are often 1) set at too high a heat for a pet’s skin and 2) underpowered when it comes to drying a pooch, especially a large or thick-furred breed. You could use the coolest setting, but without the power of a pet-specific dryer, you’re not going to see very impressive results.
Blow dryers designed for dogs typically have multiple speed options and temperature settings that allow you to customize the experience for your pup. For example, if your dog is scared of the sound of the dryer, keeping the dryer on low will help with the noise. Likewise, many dryers come with multiple nozzles, some that diffuse the air widely and others that concentrate the air more tightly. Some nozzles can even double as a hairbrush or comb.
Regardless of what type of blow dryer you use, you’ll want to make sure you slowly introduce the dryer to your dog, especially if they’re not used to being blow-dried regularly.
Start at their bottom end and make sure you avoid blowing air directly at sensitive areas like their face, ears, or genitals. Using a free hand to brush through a dog’s hair while it dries will also help speed up the process.
While most dog dryers require you to point the nozzle towards a pet’s fur, there is another style of dryer that doesn’t blow air directly on dogs: cage dryers. These attach to a dog’s crate and work by blowing warm air into the crate surrounding the pet. But cage dryers can be risky and increase the potential for a dog to overheat. If you decide to go that route, it’s important to always supervise a dog while using a cage dryer and never leave them alone.
We like dog blow dryers better—which is why we’ve put together this list of the best ones currently on the market.
The Best Dog Blow Dryers
Best for Beginners: Shelandy Pet Hair Dryer (Verified Review)
Whether you have a Great Dane or a Miniature Dachshund, this Shelandy pet hair dryer promises to get your dog dry fast. Multiple speed settings (adjustable via a knob on the body of the machine) give you maximum control over airflow, which, together with its remarkably quiet sound, make the Shelandy a good choice for pet parents worried about their pup’s ability to tolerate a dryer. Rover test pup Enzo gave this two paws up when he tried it after a rainy run.
With a mid-range price, it’s a good option for beginners and anyone looking to test the waters and see what a dryer can do for their grooming routine.
What we like about it:
- Four different nozzles suited to different fur types and parts of your pup’s body, with a knob to control airspeed
- Heating feature allows you to choose between warm and room-temperature air
- Super quiet sound
- Relatively lightweight at 10.3 pounds
- Comes with a one-year warranty
Best for Value: Shernbao Dog Dryer High Velocity Professional Hair Dryer
For its cost and size, this Shernbao dog blow dryer offers a lot of value. While the Shelandy dryer prioritizes control over airflow, this model is all about offering a range of temperature options. Nice pluses are its light weight and portability. And while it won’t matter to your dog, we like that it comes in three cool color options.
What we like about it:
- Two airspeeds and variable temperature settings
- Three different nozzle options
- Weighs less than 7 pounds
Best for Durability: Flying One Dog Dryer With Heater
The powerful motor and extra-long 10-foot hose are some of the great features of this Flying One dog dryer. Its strength is, well, its strength: it’s a powerhouse built to last with a steel shell around its motor. It’s a nice choice for pet parents looking for durability and a model that will last through many, many dryings. It’s pricey—but for good reason.
What we like about it:
- Easy to move around thanks to its flexible hose
- Two different nozzles, two heat settings, and an adjustable airflow knob
- Available in pink, green, or purple color options
Best for Small Dogs: iPettie Pet Hair Dryer
This gentle, quiet grooming dryer is an affordable option that performs best for small and medium dogs. It’s a favorite among pups who like a nice brushing session—and pet parents appreciate its portability. Unlike the grooming powerhouses above, this is a piece you can tuck in a drawer or suitcase for easy access, travel, and use any old time.
What we like about it:
- Lower heat and much quieter than a human blow dryer
- Two heat settings
- Lightweight and portable
Runners Up: MetroVac Air Force Commander 2-Speed Pet Dryer
This MetroVac dog blow dryer combines the efficiency of a large dryer with the portability of a compact design. Its strong motor reportedly cuts down drying time by 75%.
What we like about it:
- Durable, all-steel design
- Two speed options
- One-year warranty
Bonnlo Dog Hair Dryer
For dogs that are especially sensitive to loud noises, this Bonnlo dog blow dryer is designed with a noise-reduction sponge to ensure that it only produces 50 to 70 decibels of sound (similar to the sound of voices during a conversation).
What we like about it:
- Four nozzle options
- Adjustable speed dial and two temperature settings
- Available in black, blue, or yellow colors
B-Air Fido Max 1 Dog Hair Dryer
This B-Air dryer is heatless, using high-velocity air alone to dry your dog. With no heat, you won’t run the risk of your dog getting too warm while you dry, making it a nice option for pups who are especially sensitive to temperature. It’s also a good choice if you’re looking for a cage-compatible dryer, since its unheated air reduces the potential risk of your dog overheating. Still, if you choose to cage dry your pet, we recommend staying in the room and keeping an eye on them to ensure safety.
What we like about it:
- Heatless drying with 7.4 amps of power
- Four nozzle options
- ETL certified
Free Paws Pet Dryer
With five different nozzles and a grooming glove included, this Free Paws dog blow dryer will help you achieve peak dog fluffiness in no time at all.
What we like about it:
- Adjustable speed dial and heat settings
- Low sound and stable rubber feet
- Available in yellow or black colors