drying a big doodle

[Stacy]

Ava and I went to the do it yourself dog wash today. I love that place. It's worth 14 dollars to not have to clean up! And the tubs are raised so I don't kill my knees on the tile floor. (I also never did figure out a way to add a sprayer that was aesthetically pleasing.) I'm happy with the dog washing part. It's the drying that I have a question about. 

I worked on drying her for what felt like forever - until both she and I were tired of it. And she was probably only 2/3 dry. 5 hours later she's still damp. The groomer (at the same place, but possibly with a different dryer) is able to get Katie bathed, cut, and completely dry and in somewhere around 2 hours. Katie is obviously smaller... but I feel like drying Ava is impossible! 

So, what's the secret? Is there a technique? Or is it the actual dryer? I wouldn't be opposed to buying a dryer and washing her at the dog wash and finishing the drying at home if we could speed the process. I  like the fluffy washed and *fully dried* look better than the washed and partially air dried look. And I think she's softer when she's dried all the way. 

Thanks!!! Stacy

[Lindsey Holt]

We have one of these...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005QDOG3I/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&a...

Works a ton better than a towel... Or three.

We bathe Jake once a week and this does him the best of anything I've tried.

[Stacy]

I'm sure that would help a lot! Do you dry him beyond that? Maybe if I doggy shammy her first the dryer will be more effective. 

Ava is feeling a litle neglected hearing that Jake gets bathed weekly! She gets a bath when she rolls in the mud or when she starts smelling like a dog. I have a friend who has golden retrievers and she told me that they only get bathed when they roll in something dead. My girls need baths more than that. But they definitely get bathed more often in the summer than the winter, just due to the fact that we go out and play and get dirty more when the weather is better. 

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I have this blow dryer.; https://smile.amazon.com/BPD-1-Power-Velocity-Groomer-Pink/dp/B00GG...

Its not as good as the one the groomer uses but Im sure those cost a lot more! It works by sheer force, blowing the water off of them. To be honest, sometimes when Im in a hurry, I have used it on my own hair because it works so much faster.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

:-}

[Stacy]

I was looking at several dryers last night. It's a hard decision which one! But the recommendation helps! And I might use it for myself too. Do you find that you're soft and fluffy afterwards too? ;)

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Haha, no unfortunately it isn't the same as using my good ionic blow dryer. No silky smoothness, just roughly windblown (but dry) hair. :)

[EJ & Dante]

I just got a high velocity dryer - low end ( can't afford the pricey ones).  Used it last night, as the dog was wet from a walk in the icy rain.  Completely dry and super fluffy in about 10 minutes.  Go Pet Club Dryer, about $63 on Amazon.  I figure even if it doesn't last as long, I can get another for under the price of a $300 one.

[Stacy]

Thanks for the recommendation! My concern is that the self service dog wash has high velocity dryers that don't seem to be able to get Ava dry in what I would consider a reasonable amount of time. I don't know if their dryers are sub-par or if Ava is too big or has too much hair or if I'm just too ADHD to finish what I started. My fear is that I would buy 3 of the $60-100 range dryers and then find that what I needed was the "big boy" dryer in the first place. I haven't done anything yet. I suspect that spring and mud will happen and I will arbitrarily pick a dryer. Hopefully I pick the right one!