Course 05 · Drying · Lesson 2 of 12

How do you towel dry without creating tangles?

Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026 · About 5 minutes · General information only. This lesson does not diagnose or treat any condition.

Towel drying without creating tangles means patting and squeezing gently in the direction the hair lies, using several large, absorbent towels, and never rubbing in circles, wringing sections, or scrubbing the coat. Towels are the first and gentlest drying stage, and they can either prepare the coat for airflow drying or create the very tangles that later brushing must undo. The difference lies in direction and pressure. Patting and squeezing remove water while keeping hairs aligned, while rubbing pushes hairs in all directions and locks them together. For long, curly and double coats, the technique matters even more, since those coats tangle readily when wet. A few minutes of careful towel work saves far more time in brushing and drying afterwards.

What towel technique removes water without tangling?

Lay a large towel over the coat and press gently, patting and squeezing in sections, working from the body outward and in the direction the hair lies. For the body, press the towel against the coat and squeeze gently, lifting and moving to the next section, rather than dragging the towel along the coat. For legs, wrap the towel around each leg and squeeze gently, supporting the leg as you do. For the head, pat gently with a smaller towel, keeping the towel away from eyes and ears. Change towels when they become saturated, since a wet towel cannot absorb more water and will simply move dampness around. The handler should keep movements slow and predictable, and should pause if the dog shows stress, since a calm towel dry is part of building tolerance for later drying stages.

How do towels differ, and how many are needed?

Towels differ in size, absorbency and texture, and a large, absorbent bath towel or a microfibre towel made for pets will absorb more water than a small, thin hand towel. A smooth towel is kinder to the coat than a rough, looped towel that can catch fine hair, and a towel that sheds fibres can leave debris in the coat. For a small dog, two towels are usually enough, one for the initial wrap and one for patting. For a large or dense-coated dog, three or four large towels may be needed, and a spare towel on the floor helps with drips. Towels should be clean, dry and warm if possible, since a cold, damp towel chills a wet dog. Keeping a set of towels reserved for the dog, washed separately and free of strong fragrance, makes towel drying more effective and more pleasant.

How do you towel dry different coats?

A short coat needs a brief pat and squeeze, since it holds little water and dries quickly. A double coat needs section-by-section squeezing, pressing the towel into the coat to reach the undercoat, and checking by parting the coat to see if the undercoat is still wet. A curly coat needs patting rather than rubbing, since rubbing disrupts curl pattern and creates frizz and tangles, and the coat should be squeezed gently in sections. A long coat needs squeezing from skin to ends, in the direction the hair lies, with the coat held above the section to prevent pulling. In each case, the towel should be used to remove water, not to brush or style the coat, and any brushing should wait until the coat is damp-dry or dry, with a comb check afterwards.

What mistakes create tangles during towel drying?

Mistakes include rubbing the coat in circles, wringing sections, dragging a towel along the coat, using a rough towel, and towel drying a coat that has not been brushed out before bathing, since tangles tighten when wet and are then rubbed tighter. Another mistake is towel drying only the surface and assuming the coat is dry, leaving the undercoat damp to tangle as it dries. A further mistake is rushing towel drying to get to airflow drying, when a few extra minutes of gentle towel work would have removed more water and made airflow drying shorter and calmer. Towel drying should be unhurried, section by section, with the coat checked by touch for dampness before the next stage begins.

What does a workable checklist look like?

1. Several large, absorbent, smooth towels ready, warm room. 2. Pat and squeeze in sections, direction of growth, no rubbing. 3. Change saturated towels, support legs and head gently. 4. Check undercoat by parting coat for dampness. 5. Do not brush soaking coat, move to airflow or air drying promptly.

When should you stop and get help?

Stop and get groomer help if towel drying reveals mats, if the coat cannot be dried fully, or if the dog panics during drying. Get vet help for pain, skin problems, ear problems, shivering that does not settle, or distress. Do not rub a matted or sore coat, do not use heat to speed drying, and do not leave a coat damp. Towel drying is a gentle first stage, and a coat that remains damp or tangled after careful towel work needs professional drying help, not more vigorous rubbing.

Gentle patting, section by section, with fresh towels and no rubbing, will remove most of the water and leave the coat ready for the next drying stage without the tangles that hurried towel work so often creates.

← Back to Drying