Cage dryers or cabinet dryers are very popular with commercial groomers. They are costly to buy and not particularly cheap to run, but in a busy establishment they can save time. They can also waste time: if you require a straight coat for styling and the dog is not removed before the coat dries curly, the coat will have to be damped down again and re-dried.

Drying in a cage (cabinet) is a good option for:

• smooth coated dogs that do not require a special coat finish;
• dogs that are only being bathed and not styled;
• dogs that are noise-sensitive or
 nervous of the hair-dryer;
• starting the drying process before
 using another drying method.

Once bathing is complete, dry the dog until he is drip free and place him in the dryer. You need to watch the dog throughout the drying process and remove him immediately if he becomes stressed, starts panting, or shows any signs of becoming unwell.

In addition, you should regularly remove him to check that there is no steam within the coat, as this can burn the skin, and to brush the coat through so you can keep a check on progress. If you want the coat to dry straight, remove the dog before his coat is fully dry.

The main advantage to cage drying is that it allows the groomer to do something else whilst the dog is drying. Be very wary of this apparent benefit, though, as it can lead to inattention and even fatalities.

The disadvantages of drying cabinets are that they are expensive pieces of equipment to buy and costly to run, they are not suitable for all dogs, they must be monitored by someone all the time, and, unless care is taken, the coat finish may be substandard if the coat has been left to over-dry.

Caution! Fatalities Do Occur In Drying Cages

Brachycephalic dogs like the Pug, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the Shih Tzu, the Lhasa Apso, the Pekingese and the Bulldog should NEVER  be put in a drying cabinet. These dogs have restricted breathing and the environment within a drying cage is extremely dangerous to their health and welfare.

Dogs with known or suspected heart conditions or epilepsy should also not be dried in a drying cabinet because the environment is unsuitable.

The groomer may not always be aware of these conditions, but careful questioning of the owner on admission, combined with breed knowledge, should alert you to those individuals and breeds vulnerable to heart disease. As a precautionary measure, these dogs should not be placed in a drying cage.

NEVER put a dog wearing a muzzle in a drying cabinet. Muzzles restrict breathing and can increase the risk of suffocation. If the dog cannot pant sufficiently, he can easily overheat or suffer heatstroke.

If he starts to suffer the effects of either of these problems, you will be faced with the dangerous situation of a distressed, panicking and potentially aggressive dog fighting for survival.

His distress can render him difficult to remove from an enclosed area, and you cannot rely on the dog being able to get himself out of the cabinet. Additionally, you may not be able to safely remove the muzzle.

If you are drying your dog in a cage dryer, you will not be brushing but you must make sure that the coat is still moving whilst it is drying to prevent the build up of steam and the risk of skin scald.

Every few minutes remove the dog from the cabinet and ruffle the coat with your fingers. This helps to separate the coat and your fingertips should be able to feel any excess heat building up. This is particularly important with dense double coats like that of the Samoyed and dense smooth coats like that of the Labrador Retriever.