This course is aimed primarily at training your dog to be comfortable in the grooming environment, but here and there we need to stray from this to discuss safety.
Kennel dryers in and of themselves can be safe. Kennel dryers are dryers that either hang off the door of a kennel or sit above the kennel and have pipes that go down to the kennel doors. The dog is placed in the kennel, and air is blown gently into the kennel.
Groomers like them because they save time. You can turn the kennel on and go wash another dog or do another set of nails, while also drying the dog at the same time. It’s also kinder in some respects. A chihuahua that just needs the tips of their ears dried probably doesn’t want to be subjected to blasts of high-powered air in the face to get them dry.
The problem occurs when kennel dryers are heated, turned on, and left on for long periods of time. Dogs can become overheated and die—and they do.
In the case of Sushi, a 2 year old labrador who passed away in 2008 from being left in a cage with a kennel dryer, the dryer had been set to 100 degrees for 30 minutes. Colby and Curly died similarly in 2015. In 2022, Harry the cockapoo died in the same way. The list goes on.
What Makes Dryers Dangerous
When a dog dies from a kennel dryer, it often makes the news. Millions of dogs are dried in kennel dryers every single year, and of those, 2-3 pass away. Most of the time, the death is linked to heat being used on the dryer, and the dryer being used for far longer than is safe.
Velocity and stand dryers are safer because even though the air may be warm, and the dog may be dried for the same amount of time as a dog in a cage dryer, they are being supervised at all time. The final danger to a dog in a kennel dryer is that usually, no one is observing them.
If a dog becomes distressed by a velocity dryer, the dryer is immediately turned off, and usually the dog sent home incomplete. If a dog becomes distressed with a kennel dryer, no one is looking.
Striking a Balance Between Safety and Comfort
Kennel dryers can make things easier on your dog. If they’ve just got a few damp spots on them, finishing off for a few minutes in the cage dryer can give them a welcome break. They can lay down, they can rest, and they can often move to avoid the air if they choose.
The dryer is gentler air, and generally more pleasant on their face and feet—sensitive areas.
If you’re concerned about kennel dryers, ask your groomer about their protocols. If they mention that there is no heat available on the dryers (a common practice for those who do use them, for safety) it’s likely that they will handle kennel dryer use safely.
Striking a balance between safety and comfort is something you should decide for yourself. In general, you can avoid the issues created by the kennel dryer by requesting any heat on the dryer be turned off, and that it be used for no more than 15 minutes.
On the same note, if you are worried about the safety of kennel drying, be kind to the groomer if the dog is not fully dried. Groomers have to make choices between safety, comfort and appearance. If the dog is frightened of the velocity dryer but can’t be kennel dried, the next best choice is usually a somewhat damp dog.
Similar Posts:
- Let’s Talk Dryers
- Desensitization to Dryers
- How to Desensitize the Sound of a Dryer
- Blow Dryer Desensitization: Wind
- Heat Safety for Your Chihuahua
