I freaked Happy out today with the blow dryer

[Heather]

A couple of weeks ago, Happy got a staph infection in the groin area, the vet said from swimming and the heat - one recommendation was to make sure he is rinsed and dried thoroughly. So I got a high velocity blow dryer (the thing is like a leaf blower). I tried it out today - not really thinking it would scare him so bad, but after one shot of air he bolted free and wouldn't come near the dryer even when it was off. It sounds a lot like the vacuum cleaner, which he totally ignores, I can vacuum all around him and he doesn't move. He doesn't love my hair dryer, but he tolerates it.

I guess I should've taken it more slowly, let him get used to the machine and not turned the hose on his body right away, but now I'm wondering how exactly to proceed. Is it possible to get him acclimated to it after this bad start?