In order to dry your dog smartly and quickly, you not only need towels, but also one or more dryers. In desperate need of one or more dryers but stressed out about the choice? We can understand that. Choosing the right dryer may seem difficult at first. You can compare it to looking for the perfect wedding dress. There will be many suitable options. Choosing the one that suits you best can be a daunting task. There are many top dryers on the market. There is no such thing as the best dryer for everyone. To make the right choice, it's important to look at your profile and needs. We are here to guide you in your search for the perfect dryer. In this blog post, we introduce you to all the candidates, so you know exactly what to choose from.
Air force
Looking for a good workout? You've certainly found it when you work with a blaster. After all, a blaster has to be operated by hand. Because these high-velocity dryers require a lot of force to blow the water out of the coat, a firm grip is important. You will surely build those arm muscles! A blaster or high-velocity dryer is a very powerful dryer that will blow most of the water out of the coat. After you have towel dried the coat this is normally the first type of dryer you need to use. The more powerful the blaster, the quicker the job will be done. A powerful, professional high-velocity dryer can dry 70 to 80 per cent of the dog’s hair in a short time. It has a powerful motor that blows air into a hose. At the end of the hose is a nozzle that gives the concentrated air power. That force, in turn, makes it possible to blow the water out of the coat. Usually, a blaster has no heating element, so you are working mainly with power and less with heat. The air of a blaster is warmed by the heat of the motor and not by a heating element.
The range of blasters on offer is huge. At first glance, it may seem difficult to choose the right one. To choose a water blaster, it is important to look at the air volume. The more CFM (cubic feet per minute) a blaster has, the greater the air volume and the greater the power of the machine. If you have a grooming salon with many large dogs, for example, you will need a more powerful dryer than if you only have smaller dogs as customers. After you have blown most of the water out of the coat with a blaster, the next step is usually a stand dryer.
Standing by your side
A stand dryer is a dryer that stands on a base or stand. In order to blow open the coat, this type of dryer relies mainly on air volume and heat and less on velocity. It has a heating element so it will warm up faster than a blaster. A stand dryer allows you to target a specific area of the coat that you are brushing. It will help you to blow out the hair, making it warm and therefore dry. By using a dryer with stand, you can completely brush out every square centimetre of the coat and get it ready for the finishing touches (scissoring and/or styling).
Some of our four-legged friends are afraid of a blaster because it produces more air and makes quite a lot of noise. This can cause panic, especially if you use the blaster on the head or on sensitive body areas. In that case, you can simply skip the blaster and use a stand hairdryer on those specific areas. Can you dry certain body parts easily without the dog starting to panic? Then we recommend drying them with a blaster. Another plus is that with a stand dryer you have both hands free to hold the animal or brush its coat.
In addition to a floor-standing dryer, there are also cage dryers. These are dryers that have been designed in such a way that they can be attached to a cage or a bench using hooks. A cage dryer is mainly used for professional purposes. While the pet rests or sleeps in a quiet and protective place you can dry him. To dry a dog in this way you must first have dried its coat with a blaster so that the hairs are already 70 to 80 per cent free of moisture. The difference with a cabin dryer (which will be covered later in this blog post) is that with a cage dryer, the air only comes from one direction. Are you using a regular dryer and aiming it at a cage? Then be sure to keep an eye on the temperature of the air in the cage. It can get dangerously high, which could lead to unpleasant surprises. The message is to keep the drying process under control!
The best of both worlds
What if you can't decide between a stand dryer and a blaster? Then a combination dryer is your dream solution! This type of dryer distributes the air differently and combines the best features of both a blaster and a dryer with stand. A combi dryer, like a stand dryer, also has a heating element so the air that comes out is quickly warm. This makes it ideal for drying smaller dogs, for private use and as a multifunctional dryer in a grooming salon. The big advantage of this kind of dryer is that you can also use it as a blaster on a stand.
The ideal assistant
Are you short-handed in your grooming salon? Then the next option is a cabin dryer. This is perfect when you notice that you can no longer keep up with the demand and that your agenda is getting overloaded. With an efficient drying cabin, you create breathing space for yourself and your team. It allows you to work in a more relaxed way, giving you the time and space to better distribute your work and increase profitability without compromising on quality. While one dog is in the drying cabinet you can simultaneously wash another, blow its coat out with a blaster or finish its hair. By using a cabin dryer, the right way (more on that in the next blog post) you can schedule 2 more dogs every day depending on the breed, coat type and size of the dog!
In a dryer cabin, the air circulates everywhere and does not come specifically from one spot. Moreover, the temperature never exceeds the animal's body temperature. This way you can dry every dog in a relaxed way and stressful situations are avoided. No more juggling with your tools and struggling with the animal. You have your hands free to work on other dogs and the dog in the cabin can relax and rest. Frightened dogs, puppies and older dogs usually also enjoy being dried in a cabin dryer. All this makes it the ideal solution for anyone who works with dogs professionally.
The right choice
Because a good dryer requires an investment, it's important to make the right choice. But which one to choose? We recommend you make a checklist of requirements. Ask yourself what kind of job and what purpose you want to use the dryer for, what exactly you want from the dryer and how much you want to invest. Everything depends on the type of breed, the size of the dog, the type of coat and the frequency of use. These will help determine the choice of dryer. Can you only choose one dryer? Then we recommend a combi dryer. The price-quality ratio is excellent for this dryer, making it perfect for both individuals and professionals.
In the end, it all comes down to time and money. The more air volume a dryer has, the stronger the motor needs to be. The more powerful the motor, the faster it will dry the hair. A dryer with a powerful motor usually has a higher price tag. Are you a professional or do you not want to lose any time? Then the choice is easy! In that case, choose the dryer with the largest air volume. The extra price you will pay will be earned back after just a few weeks of use. If you are a private person and/or saving time is less important, you can opt for a slightly cheaper version with less air volume. This one will also do the necessary drying work, but will be a bit slower.
Need help choosing? We are happy to help!
Would you like more tips and advice on drying? Then make sure to keep an eye on our website, because next week we'll tell you in detail how to best dry using the dryers mentioned above.
