How to Dry a Wet Dog

Always dry your dog after a bath. It's one of the basics of dog grooming. Wet hair contributes to matting and skin diseases. Follow a few simple steps to dry your dog easily and efficiently.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Towels
• Blow dryer

1. Keep your dog in the tub. You may need to issue the stay command. Have several towels at hand. Stick to old ones you'd be willing to use for dog grooming.

2. Pet your dog with long strokes on the back and belly. This will free some of the water held in your dog's coat. For small dogs, issue the shake command to free additional water.

3. Talk to your dog with a calm tone. Your voice will be reassuring during the dog grooming basics that follow.

4. Dry your dog's head. Place a towel around your dog's face and use short stroke and blot motions to absorb the water. Dry inside the ear flap.

5. Reposition the towel to a dry section or change towels. Continue towel drying your dog. Move methodically from the back to the sides, underside, neck, chest, legs and tail.

6. Plug in a dryer. This can be a pet grooming dryer or your own blowdryer. Set the heat on medium or low. Start at the top of your dog's head moving down the back and underside. Be sure the hair nearest the skin is dry before stopping.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember safety basics. Be sure all the water is drained from the tub before blow drying.
• Dog grooming dryers on stands are a good alternative to hand-held dryers for large dogs with thick coats.
• For a nervous dog, towel dry at the back end first and move toward the head.
• Do not direct the air from the dryer into your dog's ear canal, eyes or mouth.