If you live anywhere near York, you know the drill: a lovely walk turns into a muddy, soggy dog trotting back to the car looking thoroughly pleased with itself. How you dry that dog matters far more than most people realise. A quick rub with a towel and then letting them "air dry" by the radiator is exactly how coats end up matted and skin ends up damp, itchy and sore. Drying properly, right down to the skin, is one of the simplest things you can do at home to keep your dog's coat and skin healthy. Here is how I do it in the salon, adapted for your kitchen.
Why proper drying really matters
A wet coat is not just uncomfortable, it causes real problems if it is left. Two big ones:
- Matting. When a longer or curly coat dries in a tangle, those tangles tighten into mats. On double coats, damp undercoat clumps and felts. Mats pull painfully at the skin and often have to be shaved off.
- Damp skin. Fur that stays wet against the skin, especially in the folds, armpits, and dense undercoat, creates a warm, moist environment where irritation and skin infections thrive. A dog's coat is designed to insulate, which is exactly why it can trap moisture right against the skin if you do not dry it out.
Getting a dog properly dry, not just towel-damp, heads off both.
Step one: get the worst off with a towel
Start with the towel, but be smart about it.
- Blot and squeeze rather than scrub. Vigorous rubbing on a longer coat drives tangles into knots. Press the towel in, squeeze the water out, and work section by section.
- Use a microfibre or purpose-made dog towel if you can; they pull far more water than a standard bath towel.
- Do the legs, belly, chest, and paws. These are the muddiest, wettest, most-missed spots. Get right between the pads and toes.
- Work in the direction the coat lies to keep it smooth.
For a smooth-coated dog (a Staffie or Lab, say) a really thorough towel and a warm room may be enough. For anything longer, curlier, or double-coated, keep going.
Step two: blow-dry to the skin
This is the step that separates a properly dry dog from a deceptively damp one. The top coat can feel dry to the touch while the layer against the skin is still soaking.
If your dog tolerates it, a dryer is the answer. A word of caution first: a human hairdryer on a hot setting can scald a dog's skin, which is thinner than ours. Use a low or cool setting, keep it moving, and hold it a good distance away.
- Brush as you dry. Working a slicker brush or comb through each section while you dry it lifts the coat, gets air to the skin, and prevents tangles setting. This is where drying and de-tangling happen together.
- Section by section. Dry one area fully before moving on, rather than half-drying the whole dog.
- Finish with the dense spots: behind the ears, the chest, the trousers at the back of the legs, and the undercoat.
Introduce the dryer gently and pair it with treats. A dog that learns dryers are calm and rewarding is far easier to keep well groomed.
Groomer's tip: The professional high-velocity dryers we use in the salon blast water out of the coat with air pressure rather than baking it dry with heat, so they dry right to the skin fast and lift out loose undercoat at the same time. It is genuinely the most effective way to dry a heavy or double coat, and a big part of why a professional deshedding treatment removes so much loose fur.
Keeping a wet-weather coat healthy
A few habits make soggy season much easier:
- Brush before the walk, not just after. A tangle-free coat sheds water and dries far more easily than a matted one.
- Check paws and ears after wet walks; trapped moisture between the pads and inside the ears causes trouble.
- Do not let a matted, wet coat go unaddressed. If tangles are already forming, keep on top of them, because wet mats only get worse.
If your dog's coat is prone to matting or the wet weather has got ahead of you, a professional groom will reset it and get everything clean, de-tangled, and properly dry. You can see what is included and what it costs on our grooming prices and packages page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I dry my dog after a wet walk?
Blot and squeeze with an absorbent towel first, paying attention to legs, belly and paws, then blow-dry on a low or cool setting while brushing each section through to the skin. Avoid letting a longer coat air dry, which invites matting.
Can I use a human hairdryer on my dog?
You can, but only on a low or cool setting, held well back and kept moving, as a dog's skin scalds more easily than ours. Introduce it gently with treats. Professional dryers use air pressure rather than high heat, which is safer and far more effective.
Why does my dog get matted after getting wet?
When a wet coat dries in a tangle, especially on curly or double coats, those tangles tighten into mats. Brushing while you dry, right down to the skin, prevents it.
Is it bad to let my dog air dry?
For a short-coated dog in a warm room it is usually fine. For longer, curly or double coats it leads to matting and leaves damp fur against the skin, which can cause irritation and infection. Dry those coats properly.
Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. If the wet weather has left your dog's coat matted or you would rather leave the drying to us, we are here to help. Book a groom.