Bath Time Part 2 Blow Dryer

Blow drying can be an important part of grooming for some dogs.  Dogs with very thick coats especially benefit from being blow dried.  Getting a thick coat or heavy undercoat dry is an important part of preventing hot spots from occurring.  It can also be helpful in the winter, so you do not need to keep your dog confined indoors until dry. 

First impressions are important with any new tool or piece of equipment.  It is a good idea to have a variety of treats a available for your dog when introducing new things.  Start with building a positive association with the noise that your dryer makes.  If your dog is showing signs of fear and stress, you may first need to work with a recording of the dryer you are going to be using.  Some dogs learn to accept new things quickly, other dogs need more time to become accustomed to new things.

Long haired dog in the wind

In this video I introduce a human blow dryer to Martok.  It is important to have a dryer that has a cool setting if using a human blow dryer.  When I place treats on the floor his consent point is to lay and continue to look at the treats.  If I wanted him to be standing, I would place the treats on a chair or other platform that is about nose height.  Then he would rest his head there to look at the treats.  We started with the lay position because he is better at staying still while laying down. I wanted him to be successful right away with as little effort as possible.  

Chihuahua wrapped in towel

Small steps are important.  I find it helpful to define my end goal for training before I start.  My goal in the initial stages of blow dryer training is to have fun and build a positive association with the dryer.  It is easy to push too far too fast if the goal is to dry your dog in one sitting.  Taking breaks can be helpful, but the goal should always be to end while your dog is enjoying the experience.

If you would like assistance helping your dog become comfortable with grooming and handling, I would be happy to help.