Our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a long, white coat that requires frequent bathing. We take him to the professional groomer once or twice a year but do at-home grooming to save on costs and time. After bathtime, we typically let Georgie run wild around the house to dry off, with him shaking and rubbing himself along the bed or rugs.
But even after he dries hours later, it’s not as good as when we take him to the groomer or use a blower at the pet store. Plus, leaving a dog wet can cause skin irritations (especially in long-haired pups like ours) and the fur to become oily much faster. Also, thoroughly drying a dog’s coat leaves it softer with fewer tangles. This best dryer for dogs review helps you find the right fit for your grooming needs.
Winner | Runner-Up | Third Place | Best Handheld |
---|---|---|---|
Free Paws | Shelandy | Flying Pig | ThinkPet |
View on Amazon | |||
Read Review |
Best Dog Hair Dryers Winners
We chose our best hair dryer for dogs based on features, warranty length, price, customer reviews, and performance. All of our best dog blow dryer picks work well on double-coated breeds, have rubber feet so they won’t slide around, and have handy carrying handles on top to transport (each weighs around 10 pounds).
Check The Correct Voltage Before Using
Many of these have a high voltage output and require a specific type of power. Be sure to read the instructions carefully before plugging in and turning it on, or you could risk damaging your outlet or killing the dryer.
Winner: Free Paws 4.0 HP Dog Grooming Force Dryer Review
View on Amazon | View on Walmart
The Free Paws dryer is our pick for the best dog dryer. It has three adjustable heat settings (off, 96°F, and 167°F) and two airflow speeds (56mph and 112mph). The hose shrinks down to two and a half feet and can stretch up to almost eight feet. It has a two-and-a-half-foot power cord, two filters, and a steel comb.
What makes this dryer stand out? It comes with a bonus shower massage glove and patent rubber comb with 21 holes for drying and brushing simultaneously. It also has an insulation sleeve to prevent your hand from getting hot when holding the hose. This dryer is an excellent starter dryer at an affordable price point.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
5 attachments (including patent comb nozzle) | None found |
3 temperature settings | |
Bonus shower massage glove | |
Comes in 2 colors (black or yellow) | |
Shrinkable hose (2-8 feet) | |
Lifetime warranty |
Price
Runner Up: Shelandy Pet Hair Force Dryer Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy | View on Walmart
We chose the Shelandy Pet Dryer as our number two pick based on overwhelmingly positive customer reviews. This dryer has a four-layer noise reduction device at the air inlets. It claims to be quieter than similar pet dryers, stating that it’s louder than a hand dryer but softer than a vacuum.
The flexible hose is over six feet long and has four different nozzle attachments to achieve the desired look for your pet. It has two adjustable airflow speeds (65mph and 135mph) and two heat settings. You can adjust the settings to the size of your pet to help regulate the speed and airflow.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
4 attachments | Only 2 heat settings (on or off) |
Comes in 2 colors (pink or blue) | |
Long, flexible hose up to 6 feet | |
12-month warranty |
Price
Third Place: Flying Pig Dryer Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy | View on Walmart
This pet hair dryer has three temperature settings (off, 81°F, and 160°F) and adjustable airspeed. It has a flexible 10-foot hose to make it easier to maneuver around your pet and a steel frame to protect it from damage. Unfortunately, the Flying Pig dryer only has two attachments, which is why you don’t see it higher in our rankings. Similar to our number two pick, it’s also on the more expensive end.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Comes in 3 colors (purple, green, or pink) | Only 2 attachments |
3 temperature settings | Expensive |
10-foot flexible hose | |
1-year warranty |
Price
Best Handheld Dryer: ThinkPet Dog Hair Dryer Review
If you want all the advantages of a pet dryer on the go, then this handheld dryer is the perfect solution. It’s powerful yet compact and lightweight, making it easy to store or take with you when traveling. It has 110,000 rpms and low noise (75db) and comes with 4 attachments. It has an extra long cord and a velcro strap to wrap it up when not in use.
It also has NCT intelligent temperature control with one-touch automatic hot/cold air circulation and 4 temperature levels. ThinkPet’s improved air duct design reduces wind energy loss, giving you faster drying times. Think of this as a smarter, compact version of a traditional dog dryer. The only downside is that it’s on the pricey side, but it’s worth it for convenience, in my opinion.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Comes in 2 colors (white or green) | Pricey |
4 temperature settings and 3 speeds | |
Long cord | |
1-year warranty | |
4 attachments |
Price
Our Personal Experience With ThinkPet Dryer
We got the chance to try out ThinkPet dryer in exchange for an honest review. We bathe our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel regularly, and every so often, we take him to the self-wash station at Petco to take advantage of their blower. Since we don’t have a lot of storage space, having a big bulky dryer around the house isn’t really an option for us.
We’ve tried using my human hair dryer on a cool setting, but it doesn’t quite do as good of a job as a professional groomer or pet dryer and isn’t as effective. When we discovered you could get all the power from a blower without the size, we were thrilled. This ThinkPet dryer was surprisingly strong, given how light it is. You can easily adjust the speed or temp while holding the wand.
The attachments pop on and off, and the cord is extra long, so I can plug it into the wall and sit on the ground while holding Georgie. In just a few minutes, he started to dry and become fluffy. It’s not loud at all, and I love that we can stash it away in a small basket when we need it. The ThinkPet will now be a much-needed addition to our grooming routine.
Dog Blow Dryer Comparison Chart
Free Paws | Shelandy | Flying Pig | ThinkPet | Pet Club | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
# of Attachments | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Length of Hose | 8 Feet | 6 Feet | 10 Feet | n/a | Unknown |
Power/Air Speed | 3000W | 2400W | 1400W | 21 m/s | 2400W |
Voltage | 110V | 110V | 110V | unknown | 110V |
Heat Settings | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Temperature Range (F) | 59-158 degrees | Unknown | 81-160 degrees | 113-176 degrees | 86-167 degrees |
# of Speeds | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable | 3 | 2 |
Weight | 11.5 pounds | 10.5 pounds | 11 pounds | 1 pound | 10 pounds |
Colors | Black, Yellow | Pink, Blue | Purple, Pink, Green | White, Light Green | Black, Teal |
Price | Check Amazon for availability | $75.99 | $187.00 | $63.99 ($63.99 / Count) | Check Amazon for availability |
View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
What About Pet Club?
Go Pet Club DT-401 Pet Grooming Dryer Review
View on Amazon | View on Chewy
This dryer is meant for home use and has two different speed options (56mph and 112mph) and two temperature controls (86°F and 167°F). It features a low noise technology so that it won’t be as alarming to the pet. The hose is puncture-resistant and flexible to help with spot drying.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
3 attachments | Only comes in 1 color (black) |
Flexible hose | Limited 30-day warranty |
Compact design |
Price
How To Dry A Dog With A Dryer
Watch the video below to learn how to dry your dog correctly with your new dryer.
Keep Your Dog Smelling Fresh
If you need to know how much you should clean your dog, check out this article, how often to bathe dogs. It also includes tips on how to successfully wash your dog without stressing you both out too much. And if you bathed your dogs recently, but they smell less than fresh, you may want to check out these odor neutralizers to help freshen them up in between baths.
Why Trust Us?
Sadie Cornelius has been a dog lover her entire life and, most recently, a pet parent to Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs. Their long, thick coats require frequent bathing, especially with the Blehnhim color, which can get dirty easily. She baths her current dog, Georgie, almost weekly and has used various bathing products and tools over the years. Her grooming routine not only involves getting a bath but also blow-drying and trimming excess hair and long nails. She takes extra special attention to ensuring that the process is enjoyable and a bonding experience for her and her pup.