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If you’ve taken on the task of grooming your Newfoundland or double-coated breed by yourself you’ve probably read that a dog dryer is an important part of the grooming process.

Drying a Newfoundland’s coat is an important step in keeping their coat healthy and free of hot spots but you need some power to get through that dense coat.

A regular old hairdryer isn’t going to the trick.

It gets too warm and it doesn’t have force to blow the water out.

A high-velocity dog dryer, however, does.

There are 3 types of dryers in the dog dryer world.

Handheld dryers, cage or stand dryers and high-velocity dog dryers.

We’ll be talking about high-velocity dog dryers, or forced air dryers as some call it, in this post because that is what is recommended for the Newfoundland.

First, high-velocity dog dryers don’t actually dry.

They don’t have a heating element, instead, they use high-pressure air to blast the water from the coat. The motor will get warm the longer the dryer is in use but the air coming from the dryer should not be hot.

High-velocity dog dryers are also called blasters or forced air dryers and they come in many different shapes and sizes.

Choosing one for the first time can be confusing so here are some tips that can help you narrow down your choices.

How To Choose a High-Velocity Dryer For Your Dog

Forget about horsepower, look for CFM and FBM.

Cubic feet per minute is a fixed measurement that indicates the actual volume of air that the dryer produces=air volume. Feet per Minute is the speed of the airflow coming from the dryer=air speed. This is what gets the water off of the dog’s fur so the bigger the number, the faster the dryer time.

Variable speed.

Look for a dryer with at least 2 different speeds. The slower speed is great to use around the face and sensitive areas and the slower speed works better when first exposing a dog to a high-velocity dog dryer.

Clean filters.

Just like anything that has a filter, you’ll have to clean them every now and again so check to make sure the dryer you are checking out has easy to clean filters.

Noise matters.

All dog dryers are going to make some sort of noise but the quieter the better for the dog and you. Some manufacturers will take extra steps to put sound insulators in the dryer body to make it quieter.

So now that we know what to look for, here’s a list of the top 4 dog dryers that Newfoundland owners have said that they use:

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Top 4 Best Dog Dryers

K-9 III. The K-9 III is the top-rated dog dryer by Newfoundland owners but it’s also one of the most expensive dryers.

The dryer has two speeds, 118 CFM, 34,321 – 62,000 FPM making drying time super fast. It also has two motors.

There is no heater and it contains two different vacuum attachments for versatility.

I’ve never been lucky enough to use one but Newfoundland owners that I spoke to said that it is the best dryer that they’ve ever used and it is well worth the investment.

It’s on my Want List.

K-9 II. The K-9 II is a step down from the K-9 III but still an amazing dryer.

It also has two speeds, 123 CFM and 32,335- 59,329 FPM, making it a little less powerful. The is no heater and it includes a 10-foot hose, blower tip and filter. It works great. There have been a few customer complaints that the hose nozzle can be difficult to change.

As of 4/20 there is is a REALLY nice sale happening on the K-9 dryers! Check it out!

B-Air Dryers Bear Power 2 High Velocity Dryer. The B-Air Dryer has 2 motors and the speed control is adjustable. 40,000FPM, 210 CFM.

This dryer is insulated, making the equipment quieter, and there are three interchangeable nozzles and come with a 10-foot flexible hose. There is no heating element and it has washable filters.

Metrovac’s Air Force Commander. The Air Force comes in 2 speeds or variable speeds models-9,000-28,000 FPM.

It’s not as powerful as the K-9’s but it’s still a very good dryer. It does not have heat and it includes a 6-foot hose and easy change filter. This is the dryer that I’ve had and it’s lasted me over 20 years. It’s a great starter dryer but does not offer the blowing power that the above three models have which makes drying time longer.

A few other things to keep in mind when searching for the best dog dryer:

Budgets matter.

When choosing a dog dryer your budget comes into play too, if you can’t afford one of the more expensive dryers it’s fine to get one in your budget. I’ve had my less expensive dryer for over 20 years and it was well worth the investment.

Blow down.

Work your way from the base of the neck to the butt and use a brush or comb to help move the moisture. Using a brush while blasting will also help cut down on dryer mats. Save the face, ears and butt for last and use a lower setting.

Don’t go crazy.

Do NOT blow dry in circles. If you move that dryer around in circles you are going to create a mess of twisted hair resulting in mats. Believe me, I’ve done it before and it wasn’t fun.

Use a towel.

If you’re blasting on a grooming table, place a towel down on the table. This will help absorb some of the water.

The coat doesn’t have to be wet to use a dryer.

Don’t forget that a high-velocity dog dryer works great on dry coats to blow out loose hair and dander too! It can save you a lot of brushing!

The younger the better.

A dog dryer can be scary for a dog so the younger you can expose a dog to it, the better. Remember to introduce the dryer gradually.

Where to buy Dog Dryers

You can purchase dog dryers at dog shows, on Amazon and through pet wholesale suppliers such as PetEdge, K-9 and Cherrybrook.

Here’s a great video that shows the correct way to dry a Newfoundland. Fast forward to 26:44 to see the drying part.

Best Dog Dryer For Dogs With Thick Hair

Best dog dryers for dogs with a thick coat. When looking for a dog dryer for your dog make sure to consider price, air volume, variable speed, filters and noise.

K-9 III Dog Grooming Dryer - All Colors

Most drying power and most recommended

The K-9 III is the top-rated dog dryer by Newfoundland owners but it’s also one of the most expensive dryers. The dryer has two speeds, 118 CFM, 34,321 – 62,000 FPM making drying time super fast. It also has two motors. There is no heater and it contains two different vacuum attachments for versatility.