It's raining outside, the walk can't be skipped, and when you get back your dog is soaked: they shake themselves off in the hallway, run to the sofa, and half an hour later the whole house smells of wet dog. Knowing how to dry a dog after rain the right way prevents exactly that, and it's better for them too, especially now that, with the autumn rains, the days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping. Here's how to set up your entrance, the steps to follow, when to use a hair dryer and the mistakes that make the smell worse.
Why a wet dog smells the way it does
Every dog's skin and coat are home to bacteria and yeasts that are part of its natural balance and produce small amounts of odorous compounds. When the coat is dry you barely notice them; when it gets wet, the evaporating water carries them into the air, and that's where the familiar wet dog smell comes from. The longer the coat stays damp, the longer the smell lasts. That's why what makes the difference is how quickly you dry it, not how much perfume you spray on it.
Get the entrance ready before you go out
Two minutes before the walk are all it takes to avoid trailing a dripping dog through the house:
- Two towels to hand: one for the paws and another for the body. Microfibre towels are very absorbent and dry quickly.
- A mat or an old towel in front of the door, where your dog can shake off.
- A basin with a finger's depth of lukewarm water, if you know they'll come back with muddy paws.
How to dry a dog after rain, step by step
- Stop them at the door. Keep them on the mat and let them shake: it's their way of getting rid of a good deal of the water. Better there than on the sofa.
- Start with the paws. Cleaning your dog's paws first avoids footprints all over the house. Dry the pads and the gaps between the toes, where water and mud collect. If they're dirty, dip them one at a time in the basin and then dry them thoroughly. You'll find more tips in how to clean your dog's paws.
- Press, don't rub. Place the towel on the coat and squeeze, following the direction of the hair. Rubbing hard, especially on long hair, causes tangles and doesn't dry any better.
- Focus on where the damp lingers. Belly, chest, armpits, inner thighs and the base of the tail: these are the areas that get wettest and are the last to dry.
- Dry the ears gently. Wipe a soft cloth over the outer part and the entrance of the ear, without putting anything into the ear canal and without cotton buds. Dogs with floppy ears deserve extra care.
- Take off their collar and harness. If these stay wet, they keep the fur underneath damp and soak up the smell. Leave them to dry separately.
Using a hair dryer on your dog: when you need one and how to use it
For a short-haired dog, a towel and a few minutes in a warm corner of the house, away from draughts, are often enough. With a long coat or a dense undercoat, on the other hand, the towel removes the water from the surface, but the base of the coat stays damp for hours: that's where the hair dryer makes the difference.
- Use lukewarm air and the lowest speed, never hot air.
- Hold it 20-30 cm from the body and keep it moving, without stopping on one spot.
- Never point it at the face, the eyes or inside the ears.
- Brush as you dry, so the air reaches the skin.
- If the noise frightens them, get them used to it calmly: switch the dryer on at a distance, give them a treat, and then move on to short sessions a little closer.
Small, older or very short-haired dogs get cold sooner: with them it's worth drying thoroughly and straight away. If your dog keeps shivering for a good while after the walk, also read how to tell if your dog is cold.
Afterwards: sofa, bed and towels
- A washable blanket on the sofa and on their favourite spots, at least on rainy days.
- Your dog's towels should be washed separately and hung up straight away: if they're left damp in a corner, they end up smelling bad too.
- Air the room for a few minutes after your dog has dried off in it.
- Hair: once dry, your dog leaves plenty of it on the sofa and blankets. Our self-cleaning, reusable pet hair remover picks it up from fabrics using static electricity, with no sticky sheets to replace; it's for use on fabrics, not on your dog. More tips in our guide to removing dog hair from the sofa.
Mistakes that make the smell worse
- Perfumes and deodorants for people: they mask the smell for a while and can irritate your dog's skin and sense of smell.
- Bathing them after every downpour: washing them too often can dry out their skin. Lukewarm water on the paws and a good dry are usually enough.
- Leaving them damp in their bed: the filling absorbs the moisture and the smell stays. If the smell has already settled into your home, see how to get rid of wet dog smell at home.
- A hot hair dryer held too close: it can burn their skin and make them hate being dried.
When to see the vet
A bit of smell when your dog is wet is normal. See your vet if the smell is still strong when they're dry, if their ears are red or smell bad, if they scratch often or if you notice patches of reddened skin under the coat.
In short: towels ready by the door, paws first, press rather than rub, a lukewarm dryer for long coats and the collar left to dry separately. Drying your dog after rain in this order takes just a few minutes and saves you hours of wet dog smell at home. For more ideas for your home and your pets, take a look at the Velia Select collection.