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Reprinted by permission from PET AGE 10/06.
Choosing a Dryer
When you use the right type of dryer for the job, you
can achieve great results, save time—and make more money. By Daryl Conner
Selecting the correct pet drying equipment for your
grooming business is important. The choices you make will affect the quality
of your finish work as well as the number of dogs you are able to complete
during the course of your busy grooming day.
So, how do you get a dog from drippy to dry
safely and efficiently? Most grooming shops use different types of dryers
for different jobs. Just as you use a slicker brush for some jobs and a pin
brush for others, the dryer you choose depends on the job at hand. The three
basic dryer types are:
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Cage dryers (with or without heating elements).
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High-velocity or “force” dryers.
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Stand dryers.
Let’s take a closer look at the various types of
equipment and techniques you can use to achieve your goal—a dry dog.
Cage or Kennel Dryers
Busy groomers often use cage dryers to begin the drying
process while they bathe and prepare other animals. Carefully monitored,
cage dryers can be a good choice for smooth-coated breeds, dogs that need to
dry a bit before being finish-dried or pets that will not tolerate being
dried by other methods.
The use of cage dryers is not without some controversy,
however. Sadly, every year some headline tells of a beloved pet dying
because it was overheated in a cage dryer.
“In some instances, temperatures of 130 to 140 degrees
Fahrenheit have been recorded around dogs being cage-dried,” said Lynne
Allen, sales and marketing director for La-Mir Enterprises Inc (Uniondale,
N.Y.), a sales representative for Dri-Eaz Products Inc. (Burlington, Wash.).
These temperatures can be dangerous or fatal. High
temperatures are particularly dangerous for puppies, elderly dogs and
brachiocephalic (short-faced) dogs such as pugs, Shih Tzus and bulldogs. It
is important to remember that dogs cannot cool themselves by perspiring the
way humans do. Instead, they cool off by panting and inhaling cool air. If
they are in a hot cage, there is no way for them to regulate their body
temperature.
Therefore, when using traditional cage dryers with
heating elements, it is imperative to keep the air cool or warm, not
hot. In addition, always use timing devices on cage dryers. Finally, make
sure the dryer is in full view of the staff member monitoring the pet.
Another option is to choose a non-heated cage dryer.
“Dri-Eaz pioneered the way for non-heated pet dryers,” Allen said. “Our
powerful drying system works by delivering large volumes of air that is room
temperature.”
High-Velocity Dryers
Force dryers use air pressure to blow water off the
pet’s coat. High-velocity drying is a favorite method for groomers who want
a fast, effective way to get dogs dry. Available in a variety of shapes and
sizes to fit almost any space, these dryers are designed to literally force
moisture out of a dog’s coat.
Most of these dryers contain no heating element. They do
produce warm air as the motor heats up, but the primary function of these
machines is to use the movement of air to dry the pet.
However, these dryers can be loud because of the strong
motors used to produce the high volume of airflow. Some models are better
insulated than others, but even a well-insulated dryer produces some noise.
The sound is an unwanted byproduct of power, but most groomers feel it’s a
worthwhile trade-off. Use earplugs, pad the pet’s ears with cotton, and
blow, baby, blow!
Many stylists use high-velocity drying while the dog is
still standing in the bathtub. This can be a great way to remove a lot of
water fast, and confine some hair and moisture in the surrounds of the tub.
This method can be used on almost all coat types.
“I would say we use the [high-velocity] dryer on 99.9
percent of the dogs, one exception being old dogs who are often upset by the
dryer,” said Sue Zecco, a National Certified Master Groomer, owner of The
Pampered Pet (Paxton, Mass.) and a multiple award-winning stylist. “We get
the pet 90 to 95 percent dry using the force dryer. It is important to dry
the pet from the skin out. We achieve this by holding the nozzle close to
the skin.”
Due to the high air pressure that dryers generate, use
caution when drying around the rectal/genital area and the head. Dogs’ ears
are very sensitive, and allowing high-velocity air to blow in or near ears
is cruel. Experienced stylists close the ear opening when working around the
pet’s head. Do not use high-velocity dryers on dogs that have red, irritated
skin.
Stand Dryers
Stand and handheld dryers incorporate both air volume
(at a lower rate than high-velocity models) and heat. They tend to be
quieter than high-velocity dryers due to the lower airflow. Some stand
dryers produce more heat than others, so use caution. Do not let any area of
the pet’s skin get too hot.
Sometimes called “fluff” or “finish” dryers, most dryers
of this type are mounted on a post, which is attached to a base that has
wheeled legs. More legs translate into a more stable dryer. These dryers can
take up a lot of floor space, but some companies have devised ingenious ways
to suspend them from a wall or ceiling mount.
In fluff or finish drying, the stylist brushes sections
of the animal’s coat as warm air blows on the area being brushed. The
combined action of the brush stretching the hair and the warm air blowing
straightens the coat as it dries. Removing the natural curl or wave of the
coat leaves a pretty finish that is desirable in many breeds. Many stylists
feel this method achieves optimum results on dogs with poodle-type coats as
well as on drop-coated dogs in full coat.
Zecco uses a stand dryer on dogs with poodle-type coats
to finish fluffing the coat, especially on cuffs and topknots.
Jodi Murphy, a Master Pet Stylist and owner of The Puppy
Spa (Great Meadows, N.J.), is another award-winning stylist who uses a stand
dryer after high-velocity drying, on both pet dogs and show dogs.
“A lot of dogs, especially little ones, don’t like the
[high-velocity dryer] being used on their heads,” she said. “I use the stand
dryer on those dogs, to keep the pets happy and get a pretty, finished
look.”
It is important that the coat be dried completely, from
the skin to the tip of the hair shaft. If the coat is left even slightly
damp, the curl that has been so carefully straightened will crimp back up
again.
Cost Factors
When purchasing a dryer, paying more money at the front
end often is a more economical choice in the long run.
For example, regular high-velocity dryers use or “pull”
7.5 amps to 8 amps, while high- performance high-velocity dryers pull 10
amps to 12 amps, according to Angie Romani, owner of MDC Romani
Inc./ClipperVac (Indiana, Pa.). Although higher amp use means more power and
higher electrical bills, more powerful machines dry animals more quickly so
they are actually in use for shorter periods of time. They also allow
stylists to groom more pets per day—which translates into higher income.
In addition, high-end dryers tend to be well-made,
longer-lasting and quieter.
Attending grooming seminars provides a great opportunity
to try different dryers “hands on.” Talk to the sales representatives,
compare notes, and choose the dryer(s) that will give you the best results
for the type of pets you groom.
Although purchasing good dryers can put a dent in your
budget, using them properly will not only help you achieve more beautiful
finish work but will help you save time, as well.
pa
Daryl Conner is certified by the International Society of
Canine Cosmetologists as a Dermatech Petcare Specialist and as a Master Pet
Stylist Meritus. Happily employed at Yankee Clipper Pet Grooming in
Rockport, Maine, she has loved styling cats and dogs for more than 20 years.
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