Blowdryer and dog question

[Connie12]

I'm going to give my dog, Chip, a bath sometime today, for the first time by myself. My roommate and I usually do it together- one of us washes Chip and the other controls the water. After the bath DRM takes Chip for a walk to help him dry while I clean the bathroom. It's a bit chilly here today, though, and I was wondering if it would be bad for Chip's skin or hair to use the low setting on the blowdryer. I'm not sure Chip would sit still to be blow dried, lol, but I'm curious.

Thanks,
Connie

 

[SRP]

I think it would be okay. Is that Chip in your avatar? He's cute. If he's an inside dog, or if you can leave him inside for several hours, you probably don't need to blow dry him. When I give my dog a bath, I towel dry her as much as possible, let her go outside to shake, towel dry her again, and bring her inside. The house is plenty warm for her as she "air dries" the rest of the way.

 

[Connie12]

Thanks, Shannon. Yep, that's my Chipper over there. He's mostly an inside dog. I think I'll skip the blowdrying and just let him air dry in the nice warm house. I may notch the heat up just a tad.

What's your dog's name? How often do you bathe her in the winter time, or do you not really have winter where you live?

Connie

 

[pink_fortitude]

I second towel and then air drying. I don't like what the dryer does to my scalp, so I don't want to torture my babies! (gosh, they are sooooo spoiled!!!) :+

Missy

 

[sunnyside]

I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback and I wash and blowdry her about every 2 weeks. She looooves the warm air of the blowdryer. She doesn't get dry skin. Try it and see if your dog likes it. Most don't at first.

 

[Poochy]

Hey Connie ..

When it is cold .. my babies get a bath .. then a very long towel dry .. then I use the medium setting on the blowdryer w/the towel .. but keep the blowdryer out from the skin a bit ..

The male loves the blowdryer .. the female only likes it on her back .. LOL ..

.. yes .. oh how we spoil our "babies" ..

 

[MissL]

I bathe my two big labs about once or twice a month. (Or if Miss Dolly decides to roll in some foul smelling substance at the park, then she has to suffer through extra ones.) And sometimes I take them to the groomer if I just don't have time. I have never used a hairdryer on them b/c for some reason they are afraid of anything that makes a lot of noise--vaccuum cleaner, lawn mower, blender, etc. I'm afraid I might traumatize them, although I suspect they use some sort of blower/dryer at the groomers. I use big beach towels (several) to try to soak up some of the water, but with those thick coats it is difficult and they still seem to be pretty wet. I usually just leave them in the house when it's really cold, and they eventually dry. It's a bit messy but what the heck, it's just water and it will eventually dry. They're my dogs and I can spoil them rotten if I want.

BTW, if that is Chip in your avatar, he is a really handsome guy.

MissL

 

[janiejoey]

I use the blowdryer on my Molly all the time. She just stands there. No dry skin, I have it on low setting, with my hand guiding all the way to make sure it doesn't get too warm.

Janie

The idea is to die young as late as possible.

www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey

 

[luvmylabs]

DH always washes our 2 labs. But when he is finished, he dries them off with lots of towels, and they HAVE to finish drying off in the house, because when they are wet, they like to roll around in the grass, and then there is yucky grass etc. all over their clean fur, this starts a cycle.. bath, roll in grass, bath, etc!! so they can roll around on the carpet in the house!!

 

[Connie12]

Thank you, everyone, for sharing your advice and personal experiences! It's fun to hear about all of your dogs, too. Yes, that is Chip in my avatar. He thanks you all for the compliments.

After his bath, I dried him thoroughly with 2 towels, cleaned the bathroom while he hung out near the heating vent, and then we went for a walk in the bright sunshine. He's all dry and quite happy. Maybe next time I'll try the hairdryer. I just got one, after many years of only air drying my own hair, and I'm concerned that he may be a bit afraid of it. He's terrified of the vacuum, despite my Dog Whisperer techniques to break him of it. Poor guy, runs and hides in his bed whenever I vacuum.

Thanks again,
Connie

 

[NY25]

As an aside - the fear of the vacuum, hairdryers, etc. may not actually be "fear" per se - dogs and cats have very sensitive hearing and the noise may actually be "too much" for them. Whatever you hear, imagine it amplified at least twice, and that's what they hear. Plus, they hear pitches we don't, so the whine of a hair dryer or vacuum can be quite much for them. That's why they run to get away. Or, they may just be afraid, too.