How to dry a husky?

Question

My husky loves to swim but even with a hair dryer I'm finding it impossible to dry his undercoat completely. The dampness seems to be irritating his skin. I run into the same issue when I bathe him. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Do NOT shave your dog as suggested above.

Do invest in a professional dog dryer. Check Ebay, you can sometimes find them reasonably priced.

Or see if there is a self-groom shop in your area that you can stop by after your dog goes swimming. Just put him on the table and use their dryer.

As suggested above, use a furminator frequently to help thin out his coat and get rid of as much undercoat as possible.

When using a hairdryer, be sure to "back comb" his fur. Brush the fur against the way it lays so you can get down to the skin. Concentrate on small areas and work slowly.

Always use as narrow a nozzle as possible. That will concentrate more airflow in one spot.

Some vacuums/shop vacs have a reverse setting. Basically set it to blow instead of suck and use that to dry him. Again, try to use a narrow nozzle for more pressure.

Drive him home with all the car windows rolled up and the heater set on high and blowing right on him. It will be incredibly uncomfortable for you but it will help dry him. It's kind of like being in a clothes dryer only without all the tumbling around. :-)

Answer 2

I show Collies - I always make sure they are dry to the skin cuz the dampness in the undercoat irritates their skin as wel.

After bathing, I towel dry them really good. I always use two or more towels per dog. Then I lay towels on the floor of the laundry room & let them hang out there & drip dry while I bathe the other dogs. They also tend to roll around on the towels - drying themselves more.
Then if I have time, I take them for a walk & let them air dry some more.
I also let them out in the yard to run around & roll in the clean grass. This helps to shorten the drying time.
The most important thing that you are probably missing is the right kind of dryer.
You have to use a dryer made specifically for animals. It's actually more of a "blower" since the air isn't hot like it is in a hair dryer made for people. It's generally just room temperature and the force is REALLY strong. It actually blows the water right off the dog. Your dog will be dry in one third of the time!
This is an excellent dryer & is very inexpensive. It will last you a lifetime. Most of my friends who also show dogs have this kind of dryer. It will not dry out the dog's skin either.
http://www.jbpet.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2403
Good luck!

Answer 3

I had an Alaskan Malamute with the same problem. I was told by the vet that dogs with the undercoat only need extensive grooming around three times a year. I started taking her to a groomer instead of doing it myself. But I did brush her weekly, seemed to help. Was also told that just letting them air dry is better than heat from a dryer.

Answer 4

Huskys are extremely hard to get completely dry due to the thick coat. i run into that same problem with my 2 lhasas and 2 shitzus. i just take them in the bathroom and expect to spend about an hour in there with them( i do also take them to a groomer once a month for grooming sessions) and they have a big dryer that they use and it still takes about 45 min to an hour to dry them. i use my blow dryer with the wide end adapter which i got at walmart and put it on high heat and then after the top coat is done i use it one medium heat and then brush as i do the under coat. i also use a fine tooth brush which is for ferrets or rabbits to do the undercoat, which is very helpful.

Answer 5

I'm with Bassetnut. He'll eat when he gets hungry enough. I don't think it's such a good idea to constantly change the food a lot because you could be really setting him up to be a finicky eater, and with him still a puppy, that can really make for a lifetime of aggravation. I have a chi that is very finicky. I've mentioned it to the vets lots of times, but as long as his ribs aren't showing, he is getting enough food, even if it is just a few kibbles sometimes. Find a good, quality food and keep him on that diet. You can try adding a couple spoonfuls of canned food if you like, but if he doesn't finish it in less than 10 minutes, pick it up, and do not feed him again until next mealtime. He'll learn to eat when it's offered, or he'll go hungry. Good luck. :)

Answer 6

We have found that ours like to lie under a fan after a good towel dry. Be sure that after a swim you are bathing w/good shampoo (oatmeal is a good, mild choice). Huskies are actually better off with as little "soap" as possible since it destroys the natural oil which is their protection and this drying effect may be causing some of the itching.

Answer 7

A dog dryer really is your best bet, but even if you don't have one, if helps a lot if you brush with one hand while you're holding the blow dryer with the other. Have your dog lying on his side, and be sure you're line brushing right down to the skin - with the dryer pointed at the area you're brushing - it goes much quicker. Don't try and dry one small area completely because your dog will get too cold.

Answer 8

Instead of trying to dry him, add more fat and oils to his diet. Excessive bathing will remove these oils from his coat and skin and cause irritation.

A spoonful of bacon grease or salad oil to his dry dog food once a week.

You have to consider that it is normal for a husky to get fat in his diet. If he's not a working dog, cut it down, but don't eliminate it. It's not normal for him to be bathed a lot. The dogs in Alaska only get bathed when they have to swim or fall through the ice.

If he starts to stink, try rubbing corn starch into his hair and brushing it out. This is a dry shampoo and doesn't irritate the skin.

Answer 9

i own a brilliant white and fluffy husky...and drying him is a nightmare...

the only thing that helps is about 10 towels rubbed all over him after he gets out of the tub...and a blow dryer on him way past the time that he would want it....

he gets really annoyed when i blow the air on him for like 30 straight minutes but its the only way to get him dry enough to roam around the house and not get everything wet...

as you know...their coats are an annomily of nature...no wonder they can sustain temperatures as low as -74 degrees farenhiet...

right now ours is shedding....the house is a mess no matter how many times i brush him....

Answer 10

Place him in a kennel or box. Place dryer on the bottom so that the air goes across the bottom and out the top. Make sure not to much heat and water bowl. Leave him in there for a while.