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Between rainy walks, swims, and bath time, some pups seem to spend more time 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 hair dryers.
With the help of Kim Kier, a professional dog groomer and the owner of Little Barks Grooming & Boutique, we’ve rounded up the best dog blow dryers on the market at a range of price points. Not sure where to start? Hop down to our explainer on how dog hair dryers work, read up on how to acclimate a dog, or dive into our top picks below.
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 still exploring 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 between $80 and $100, this dryer is a good option for beginners and anyone looking to test the waters and see what a dryer can do for their grooming routine.
What to know:
- 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 and relatively lightweight at 10.3 pounds
- Comes with a one-year warranty
- Comes in two colors: blue and pink
Best Value: Shernbao Dog Dryer High Velocity Professional Hair Dryer
In the $70 to $80 range, this Shernbao dog blow dryer isn’t the cheapest option out there, but for its cost and size, it offers a lot of value. While the Shelandy dryer prioritizes airflow control, this model is all about a range of temperature options. Its light weight, portability, and included nozzles are an extra bonus. Plus, it weighs less than 7 pounds, making it extra portable and easy to maneuver while you’re drying a wiggly dog.
What to know:
- Two airspeeds and variable temperature settings
- Three different nozzle options
- Weighs less than 7 pounds
- A low price and smart features makes this dog dryer a great value
- Available in black and purple
Best for Big Dogs: Flying Pig High Velocity Dog Dryer With Heater
The powerful motor and extra-long 10-foot hose are some of the features of this Flying Pig dog dryer perfect for big pups. It’s pricey, typically retailing around $180—but for good reason. With a steel shell around its motor, it’s a powerhouse built to last. If you have a big pup, more than one dog, or expect to use the dryer frequently, this is a durable model that should get you through many, many dryings.
What to know:
- Easy to move around thanks to its 10-foot, flexible hose
- Two different nozzles, two heat settings, and an adjustable airflow knob
- Available in pink, green, or purple color options
- The expensive price makes this model cost-prohibitive for some pet parents
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. With the combined slicker brush and blower, it’s a favorite among pups who like a nice brushing session—and pet parents appreciate its portability too. Unlike the grooming powerhouses above, this is a small dryer you can tuck in a drawer or suitcase for easy use anytime and anywhere with an outlet.
What to know:
- Lower heat and much quieter than a human blow dryer
- Two heat settings
- Lightweight and portable
- Integrated brush and blower for easy use
- The gentle airflow may not work for large or particularly hairy dogs
Best for Dense Hair: 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. At upwards of $250, it’s the priciest option on our list, likely best for pet parents who are already committed to the hair dryer concept. But its strong motor reportedly cuts down drying time by 75%, meaning that for dogs with dense, thick hair, it’s worth the price. Pet parents looking for power will find it here, but they won’t find a ton of speed and temperature options.
What to know:
- Durable, all-steel design
- Two speed options
- 6-foot flexible hose
- One-year warranty
- Comes in orange, pink, blue, and purple
Best Quiet Dog Dryer: HomeRunPet Ultra Quiet Dog Hair Dryer
For dogs that are especially sensitive to loud noises, this ultra quiet dog blow dryer is designed to produce less than 50 decibels of sound—they say it’s the equivalent of what you’d hear in a library. It comes with three nozzles and an impressive 99 different air speeds to help you get your pup nice and dry.
What we like about it:
- Three nozzle attachments, including an extra-wide, 10cm nozzle
- Adjustable air with 99 speeds and a max wind speed of 264 mph
- Three temperature settings: hot, warm, and room temperature
- 6.5-foot cable
Best Heatless: 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. That makes this dryer a nice option for hotter climates and 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. Plus, while it won’t matter to your pup, we like that it comes in four fun colors.
What we like about it:
- Heatless drying with 7.4 amps of power
- Four nozzle options
- ETL certified
- Comes in green, pink, purple, and blue
Best for Deshedding: Free Paws Pet Dryer 4.0
With five different nozzles and a grooming glove included, this Free Paws dog blow dryer will help you achieve peak dog fluffiness fast. The silicone brush head is a strong choice for pushing out loose hair, helping to keep your pup’s shedding under control.
What we like about it:
- Adjustable speed dial and heat settings
- Comes with a grooming glove and five nozzles for deshedding and grooming
- Low sound and stable rubber feet
- Available in yellow or black colors
How Dog Blog Dryers Speed Up the Process—and Keep Your Pet Healthier
Dog blow dryers dramatically cut the time you need to spend drying your dog (as well as the huge volume of towels involved), as one of our Rover testers discovered while trying the Shelandy. But that’s not the only reason to use a dog blow dryer.
As professional groomer Kim Kier explains, drying your dog’s coat helps to prevent bacteria and fungus from growing on damp skin. Using a dog blow dryer is also helpful in grooming, as it separates the strands of hair. This helps prevent matting, allows you to work out any knots and tangles, and can aid in deshedding. It also leaves your dog looking, as Kier puts it, “fabulous.”
Kier says that proper drying of a dog’s hair is especially important for medium- and long-haired breeds, as well as poodles and poodle mixes. “Failure to dry and groom these breeds adequately often results in severe matting and skin issues,” she explains.
Dogs with undercoats also benefit from better drying techniques: “Inadequate drying from the skin to the tip can trap moisture, leading to potential skin problems and matting.”
Can I use my own hair dryer on my dog?
While it might be tempting to use a hair dryer you already own on your pet, human hair dryers are often both too hot and underpowered. The heat settings of a human hair dryer are typically too hot for a pet’s skin. They also don’t produce enough air when it comes to drying a pooch, especially a large or thick-furred breed.
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, including some that diffuse the air widely and others that concentrate the air more tightly. Some nozzles can even double as a hairbrush or comb.
Sonja Rachbauer via iStock
What to know about cage dryers
While most dog dryers require you to point the nozzle towards a pet’s fur, cage dryers work by blowing warm air into a dog’s crate while they’re inside. Kier says that cage dryers can actually reduce the stress of grooming. However, she also acknowledges the risks: “Without diligent oversight, there is a heightened risk of overheating with cage dryers.”
If you decide to go that route, your attention is key. “Supervision plays a pivotal role in the safe use of cage dryers,” explains Kier. “It entails closely monitoring the dog, the surrounding environment, and the temperature settings.”
How To Help a Dog Adjust to a Hair Dryer
Once you’ve selected the perfect pet hair dryer, Kier suggests easing into the experience. 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. She recommends the motto “Keep Calm, Comfortable, and Safe” to guide you through the process.
First, she says, find a spot with good ventilation and set the dryer at a low temperature. Gradually increase the heat as needed or as your dog tolerates. Begin working at the dog’s rear and slowly make your way forward, carefully avoiding 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 and gently work out any tangles too.
“Make the drying experience enjoyable by offering treats and positive reinforcement. This creates a happy association and makes your dog feel rewarded,” Kier says. She also recommends watching for “comfort cues” or signs that your dog is stressed by the air or the noise, such as panting or restlessness.
If that happens, she suggests taking a break and going more slowly when you start again.
How We Chose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide array of retail platforms, and interviews with grooming experts. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing with our own much-loved (and strongly opinionated) pets.