For many years now, we’ve been hearing that drying cabinets are a really great way, maybe even the ONLY way to successfully dry nervous dogs.
The other day, I came across yet another advertisement with the same message that was selling the same pitch only to the dog carer community as well!
The company was using words like "relaxation" and "smile" to portray the amazing benefits of using their specific brand of drying cabinets all the while a nervous looking dog seemed to contradict the brands message (see below a snippet).
Are drying cabinets safe for our dogs, and are they really as good as what companies that sell them say they are?
Uhh… no, I honestly don't think they are!
Don't get me wrong, I think most of this advice is coming from a place of good intentions. But it’s easy advice.
For a start, every dog is different and therefore will require a very bespoke grooming approach but there's no denying there are far better options available that aren't as risky to the lives of our beloved dogs.
The chances are you are looking at drying cabinets as the best solution to a dog who really doesn't seem to enjoy being dried the "normal" way - it's understandable but trust me, they aren't.
I've personally watched these devices being used in a traditional grooming salon set up and witnessed in almost every case, dogs getting incredibly stressed out to the point of total emotional shut down. There's real risk to the emotional state of a dog when using these devices that many groomers fail to identify, or misidentify as being "cooperative" or successfully "desensitised" to.
The harrowing fact is this: dogs have died through the use of drying cabinets. Fact.
While some might argue that this has only happened in the hands of "unqualified" groomers, I know that this isn't actually true at all!
What is true though is that drying cabinets and similar devices were designed to help assist groomers and carers in drying coats - there was a good intention there somewhere. But what these manufacturers didn't acknowledge during their design process was the emotional sentiency of animals and how this might influence the experience an animal has while being trapped in one...
For example, dogs are incredibly emotional beings with the capabilities to feel, like and dislike events, experiences and different aspects in their lives. The feeling of being trapped therefore, would no doubt have a massive detrimental impact on their overall well-being, especially when already in a high-stressed state.
Claiming that a dog has the ability to choose what they like and dislike may sound like a bold statement for some, but this is proven science, and it's time for us all to catch on!
For example, according to the Heart Math Institute, dog's have the greatest heart:body mass ratio than any other living animal.
Wait, what does this have to do with anything Stephanie?
Well, according to research, the heart has been shown to transmit bioelectromagnetic pulses that induce heart-brain coupling (HBC) and this function is associated with various perceptual, cognitive, and emotional functions. It was observed through one study that outwards cardiac activation of both parasympathetic and sympathetic activity play a key role in the arousal of emotional conditions (Ikhlaq et al., 2023).
What’s Not So Great About Drying Cabinets?
In basic terms, the heart plays a major role in influencing how the brain receives and perceives the environment, and subsequently the emotions and feelings that incur as a result.
Can you imagine just how significant an event such as being trapped in a drying cabinet when already fearful, might have to how a dog feels and how this emotional state might influence the physiological state of a dog?
Science already shows that significant stress can lead to chronic health conditions in dogs.
Let's not sugar coat it, drying cabinets:
trap a dog and offer no opportunity for them to escape/remove themselves from the situation until the person decides.
often prevent a dog from standing up and/or moving around comfortably.
are not able to supply dogs with constant access to fresh water due to potential hazards which in the context of a device that blow - often - hot air directly onto a dog is incredibly risky.
can cause a dog to overheat quickly leading to dehydration, heat stroke, heart attack and even, death.
And there are several known dog fatalities that have been linked to the use of them over the years including:
Without going too much off topic, my sources have also told me that certain big grooming franchises have covered up "hundreds of suspicious dog deaths" particularly in relation to heat stroke and asphyxiation across various of their locations, settling disputes through substantial pay-outs to dog carers to keep things under wraps!
I can't help but wonder how many dogs have died as a result of drying cabinets over the years that we don't know about...
So, what's the alternative?
How do you dry a dog that is afraid of being dried?
And furthermore, how can groomers still make their businesses run efficiently without the use of drying cabinets?
Fortunately, there are better ways.
A Better Way to Dry A Dog Without Stress
Let's keep it simple and strip it right back to the very basics. This is how I have helped hundreds of dogs with drying-related fears in the groom room:
Step #1: I stopped trying to dry dogs who are scared of being dried!
I got clear about how to achieve the ultimate goal: in order to dry a dog with little-to-no stress you have to prove to the dog there is nothing to stress about.
Most groomers make the mistake of jumping in the deep end, missing out opportunities to help the dog build resilience and trust to each part of the drying process.
By removing the urgency (the "just get it done" mentality) we give ourselves time to truly look at the bigger picture and devise a care plan that takes a dog's individual needs into consideration.
The goal is to dry the dog cooperatively, not through force and fear and that will take time initially.
Step #2: Make introductions slow, deliberate and positive.
I spent so much time researching the behaviour modification concepts that I now teach students through my holistic grooming protocol, but I also got to understand the processes of a more conventional grooming practice as well.
In doing that, I was looking for gaps in popular thinking - what seemed to work as well as what didn’t seem to work and what I found was quite surprising.
Much of the conventional approach to grooming neglected emotional well-being and went straight to a more aesthetic-focused goal.
For example:
I watched many groomers struggle handling dogs that they would later describe as "aggressive" or "difficult". They would resort to various restraining tools designed to restrict a dog from moving and/or biting just so that they could "get the job done" and move on to the next dog.
They would attempt to be firm while forcing a dog to comply to certain tasks based on the outdated belief that dogs need to be shown who is alpha.
From observing the groomer:dog dynamic within the context of a professional grooming environment, I noticed that 99.9% of these dogs were reacting out of fear, anxiety, stress or pain but the groomers didn't seem to see this for themselves.
This often was the case for practically every part of the grooming process until by the end of the grooming session, both the dog and the groomer were utterly exhausted.
To me it was simple - the grooming process had to be dissected with each little piece of the puzzle being carefully put together in a way that communicated to the dog that there was nothing to fear.
If it was the drying process, this would look like a slow and positive introduction to:
towel drying
the sight of a dryer at a distance
the sight of a dryer up close
the sound of a dryer at a distance
the dog to the sound of a dryer up close
the dog to the sensation of the dryer on the coat (away from face)
Sure enough, when I began vocalising these observations many groomers would fight back with statements like "we don't have time to break up the process" or "we aren't trainers, we are groomers" or "it's the dog carers job to train their dog, not ours".
But I looked at things through a totally different lens - to me, the grooming process is a community-reliant effort. It takes consistency and synchronised care from not just the carer but all pet care providers in charge with safeguarding the well-being of a dog.
And while my suggested process does take a little bit more patience and time, my own clients prove that a more cooperative process is possible through confidence-building and trust-building methods.
Step #3: Learn to communicate and listen to dogs effectively.
There is no doubt that desensitisation helps support dogs within a professional grooming environment more than forcing them into tasks.
After spending a great deal of time actively putting these concepts into practice, I know that there need not be a place in our industry for drying cabinets or any other restrictive device that removes any/all choice from a dog.
While even now there may be groomers or dog carers (perhaps you) who still insist after reading up until this point that drying cabinets can:
accommodate to a fast-paced, multi-grooming salon by allowing groomers to work on styling one dog while another dries.
help manage nervous dogs who fear alternative drying devices but desperately need dried.
I strongly believe that the risks of using drying cabinets (and any equivalent makeshift ones) outweigh any potential benefit and it is simply not worth it.
Step #4: Know which tools to use and which tools to avoid.
I know that this post is all about drying cabinets but I should also mention that there are alternative but similar devices and methods that are equally as hazardous to the health and safety of a dog which we must also refrain from using.
Knowing what to avoid puts us in a good position going forward, so please also avoid:
dog drying wraps
attaching drying devices to crates
Next Steps
I have briefly tapped into the hot topic of drying cabinets and expressed a rather controversial opinion but I want to summarise this blog post with a reminder that irrespective of how effective drying cabinets can be at helping a groomer manage time and/or thoroughly dry a dog's coat, they pose a real threat to the wellbeing of a dog that cannot be ignored.
What's more, unlike big corporates, smaller businesses could simply not survive the aftermath of a fatality of a dog in their care, especially when it is as a result of neglect since it is the duty of the pet care provider to ensure that an animal doesn't suffer. The emotional and psychological state is just as important as physical safety of an animal (see The Five Domains for more information).
I hope that you have been able to take from this article, real insight into the implications of drying cabinets from a dog's perspective and that you will make a less conventional decision towards drying dogs in the future.
Why not check out some of my other cooperative grooming posts and keep challenging yourself to think outside the box when it comes to how you approach grooming tasks going forward - you'll find you will learn more from harnessing your ability to adapt than you ever will following a set methodology.
Current wisdom can be little more than fads that don’t stand the test of time. Many won’t even get you where you want to go.
The good news is, you can absolutely train and guide a dog to cooperate to drying tasks through basic desensitisation and/or behaviour modification exercises. You just need the right roadmap, confidence in the process - and a little independent thinking.
To learn more about alternative, safer ways to dry a nervous dog check out my other eye-opening blog post here.
If you want more help here, check out The Holistic Grooming & Behaviour Diploma that has been devised just for you, to help you achieve better results without compromising the welfare of the animals in your care.
For more information on what the accredited Holistic Grooming & Behaviour Diploma entails click here.
PS. we are trialling a payment plan set up and you can grab a space for a limited so if you do wish to join us and you tick the prerequisites, don't sit on the fence too long!
Questions? Comments? Drop them below. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
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