Spring means the flowers are blooming, the trees regrow their leaves and the rain falls. It also marks the beginning of shedding season for pet groomers! We now see dogs that haven’t been groomed since last spring, and the ones who don’t get groomed during the winter. The double coated dogs who have a matted pelt that the owners mistakenly thought was a good thing to keep them warm. We, as professional groomers, know that the pelt made their pet uncomfortable, stayed damp at the skin and could be the cause of skin irritation and infection.
It worries me that I hear groomers still advocating for blowing out a double coated dog before the bath. Why, you ask? Let’s discuss it.
- We’ve all found “passengers” stuck in the matted coat – Christmas tree needles, bits of wrapping paper and ribbons, lots of dirt and dander, and BUGS! Don’t forget, bacteria, fungus, dust, and hair too. Those are all reasons to NOT use a high-velocity dryer on these coats before the bath. A groomer’s health should be of the utmost importance and breathing all that gunk that blows off a double coated dog is something that should be avoided. The High Velocity (HV) dryer is called that because of the strength of the air flow coming out of them. They will, in turn, aerosolize all that debris which you will then be breathing into your lungs. Groomer’s lung is a real problem, and you can get it without blowing out dirty dogs. Imagine how the odds of you developing a problem increase by breathing in all that debris!
- You are conceivably making your job harder for yourself. Dirt, dander, debris, static all are working together to keep the coat in that condition. You are fighting against them whether you are using the HV dryer or a brush. A clean coat with conditioner applied and detangler will blow and brush out much easier. We have so many great products to choose from now, use the technology to make your job easier, it’s hard enough already.
- We talked about the debris cloud that will form using an HV dryer on a dirty dog. It won’t just affect you; it will affect everyone in the shop, people and pets alike. Any living creature who enters the shop will breathe it in. All the surfaces will be coated with it making cleanup harder.
I personally love to use an HV dryer on double coated dogs, just not dirty ones. In fact, I rarely touch dirty dogs on my table unless they are a shave down or a hand-strip. I have blown dogs off in the tub after applying conditioner and then rinsing to see if another application is needed. Also, don’t forget that you always should be wearing ear protection and a mask while drying anyway!
Protect the most valuable tool you have – your body. Protect your lungs, and your joints. Use the tools at your disposal to make your job easier. Don’t fight the dirt and static, get rid of it to get through the shedding season mostly intact.
Using Conditioner to Help Get the Shed Out
The Best Shot 3 step process was developed to help clean and then close the cuticles in order to create maximum "slippage" while removing all that extra dead coat. Try the Ultramax process - Shampoo, Conditioner and Finishing Spray.
Coat Release Technology™ - Best Shot 3-Step System
Step 1: Shampoo Phase effectively removes dirt, dander and debris from lifted cuticles scales while repairing damage and starting the closing process.
Step 2: Conditioning Phase continues to bolster tensile strength, repair while further closing lifted cuticle scales.
Step 3: Finishing Spray Phase finishes sealing each strand’s cuticle scales to optimize coat manageability allowing for faster dry, and help release tangles, trapped shed coat and minor mats.
About Lisa
Lisa Herbold, ICMG, MPAe, MGBS, CAH, PGC, FFC, PTI, and author of Pet Health & Safety Guide. Lisa's goal is to improve how groomers are trained to handle health concerns and emergencies, thus making grooming safer for the pet.
Lisa Herbold has worked in the animal industry for over 30 years, starting in 1985 as a receptionist/vet assistant in a small veterinary practice. She soon expanded her duties and learned to pet groom. Early in her career, while pet sitting for a client, she developed a business plan for a pet sitting service. The service, the first of its kind in the area, expanded to include 4 counties and employed over a dozen people.
Lisa has maintained her grooming and veterinary skills by continually working in the field and expanded her knowledge by managed grooming salons, teaching at 2 different grooming schools, and developing a grooming program for Harper College and becoming a PetTech CPR Instructor; all while working as a veterinary technician in traditional veterinary practices, specialty practices, and emergency medicine.
Lisa has earned the title of International Certified Master Groomer, Companion Animal Hygienist, Master Groomer Behavior Specialist, become an award-winning competitor specializing in hand-stripped terriers and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. She has served as secretary for one of the grooming certification club holding and is on the board for Master Groomer Council of Best Practices. Find out More Information with Lisa at:
The Knowledgeable Pet Owner Pod Cast
Resources
Groomer's Lung National Library of Medicine. V;, Pu CY;Rasheed MR;Sekosan M;Sharma. “Pet Groomer’s Lung: A Novel Occupation Related Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Related to Pyrethrin Exposure in a Pet Groomer.” American Journal of Industrial Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27747913/. Accessed 13 May 2026.
Pet Dander | American Lung Association Association, American Lung. “Pet Dander.” American Lung Association, www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/pet-dander. Accessed 13 May 2026.
Which Comes Fist the Brush or the Bath? Conner, Daryl. “Double Coated Dogs: Which Comes First the Brush or the Bath?” Groomer to Groomer, 13 Oct. 2020, www.groomertogroomer.com/double-coated-dogs-which-comes-first-the-brush-or-the-bath/.