The FURminator

irotas

Sucker for a droopy lab
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#1
There was a post a while back about excessive shedding by a lab. Someone suggested that FURminator is good for reducing shedding, but that they don't work that well on labs.

We asked a guy at the pet store about the FURminator, and he said that there's a 999-day hassle-free return policy if we didn't like it. So, even though it's amazingly expensive, we bought it to give it a try.

I have to admit, I was quite skeptical. I've read in several places that nothing really helps with shedding, so I was expecting to return it within a couple weeks.

My wife and I have been AMAZED at how much the FURminator has reduces Manni's shedding. I'm not exactly sure what makes it so different from a standard shed blade, but it certainly works much better.

Even better, Manni absolutely LOVES to be FURminated. When we're at the park, he'll sit there quietly and contently while I brush him, even if he sees a squirrel in the distance. It's very gentle, so he even likes to be brushed on his belly.

So, if you've got a excessively-shedding dog, and if you can afford it, I'd suggest giving it a try. We won't be returning ours!

P.S. No, I don't work for FURminator or any pet store. :)
 

bubbatd

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#2
Mine arrived day before yesterday and I am impressed !!! I've already have a grocery bag full !! Ollie loves it !! His tail and panties have always been a problem , so I'm going slowly there ! I'm on my way up to ElinHunters , and bringing it alone to try on her lab . Will let you know ! I got the 4" one and love the grip for my arthritic hands ! The pet store wanted about $50 , but I got it on line for $38. Expensive but worth it !!! It was Ollie's " 1st Found Day " present from me .
 

simplymisty

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#4
Now I've heard that you can only go 4 times with that in the same spot or else you'll rip the dogs skin. I've also heard that it's painful for the dogs to use that.

I have a GSD and Golden. I would use it only on my GSD since she's the only one who sheds. None of my dogs really care to be brushed but they'll sit there if I tell them to. I think my GSD is just sick of always being brushed since she's the one who sheds.

Our petco grooming salon used to use it but now they're not even allowed to use a tool that they sell. I've heard rumors that it's because it left brush burns on several of the dogs.

Let me know what you think, I'd love to get something to help with Shelby's hair.
 

PWCorgi

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#5
Now I've heard that you can only go 4 times with that in the same spot or else you'll rip the dogs skin.
I've never heard that before, but I highly doubt it.

I've also heard that it's painful for the dogs to use that.
Well then my dogs must love pain, lol, as soon as it comes out they're butts start wagging and they bolt for the grooming table! I imagine if you push down hard on it that it can do some damage, but you're not supposed to push down hard. Plus my guys have really thick coats, I'm not sure if that makes a difference or not?
 

SummerRiot

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#6
I used to be a groomer and that product is AWESOME for the short/heavy shedding coats!

It drags out all of the loose undercoat with ease!

Not sure who told you it wouldn't work that well??
 

irotas

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#7
I don't see how you could damage a dog's skin unless you really pressed down hard. If you run your finger along the 'blade', it's really not sharp at all.

Manni absolutely loves to be FURminated; he looks SO relaxed when we brush him with it. We also brushed a friend's husky-mix with it, and she loved it as well.

I think what you heard is probably an urban legend. If you're really concerned about it, email FURminator and see what they say: [email protected]

However, I was looking through the FURminator FAQ and they had a lists of dog breeds that you should or shouldn't use the FURminator on.

Here's the list of breeds recommended NOT to use the FURminator on:
American Water Spaniel
Bedlington Terrier
Bichon Frise
Chinese Crested
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Havanese
Irish Water Spaniel
Japanese Chin
Komondor
Lhasa Apso (depends on the coat texture)
Lowchen
Maltese
Pekingese (depends on the coat texture)
Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Puli
Saluki
Shih Tzu (depends on the coat texture)
Silky Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Tibetan Spaniel (depends on the coat texture)
Yorkshire Terrier (depends on the coat texture)
 

irotas

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#8
Not sure who told you it wouldn't work that well??
Here's the link to the thread where I first read about the FURminator, and where I read that it wasn't good on labs:
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55912

Our Doberman and our Rottweiler shed quite a bit also. I use a curry comb on both of them, and also use a regular metal comb on Morgan (the Rottie). Both get tons of hair out, but they still shed a lot. Furminators are alright, but they don't seem to work overly well for dogs with Lab-like coats.

Diet definitely plays a role as well, as others have said.
 

irotas

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#11
Here's the list of breeds recommended for the FURminator:

Affenpinscher
Afghan Hound
Airedale Terrier
Akita
Alaskan Klee Kai
Alaskan Malamute
American Bulldog
American Eskimo Dog
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
Anatolian Shepherd
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Kelpie
Australian Shepherd Dog
Australian Terrier
Balkan Hound
Basenji
Basset Hound
Beagle
Bearded Collie
Belgian Griffon
Belgian Malinois
Belgian Shepherd
Belgian Tervueren
Bernese Mountain Dog
Black and Tan Coonhound
Black Russian Terrier
Bloodhound
Blue Heeler
Border Collie
Border Terrier
Borzoi
Boston Terrier
Bouvier des Flandres
Boxer
Briard
Brittany
Brussels Griffon
Bull Terrier
Bullmastiff
Cairn Terrier
Canaan Dog
Cane Corso
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chihuahua
Chinook
Chow Chow
Clumber Spaniel
Collie
Dachshund
Dalmatian
Deerhound
Doberman Pinscher
Elkhound
English Bulldog
English Foxhound
English Mastiff
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
English Toy Spaniel
Eskimo Dog
Field Spaniel
Finnish Spitz
Flat Coated Retriever
Fox Terrier
French Bulldog
French Mastiff
German Pointer
German Shepherd Dog
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Giant Schnauzer
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Great Dane
Great Pyrenees
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Greyhound
Harrier Beagle
Ibizan Hound
Irish Setter
Irish Terrier
Irish Wolfhound
Jack Russell Terrier
Kai Dog
Keeshond
Kelpi
Kuvasz
Labrador Retriever
Lakeland Terrier
Leonberger
Lhasa Apso (depends on the coat texture)
Manchester Terrier
Miniature Bull Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
Miniature Schnauzer
Neapolitan Mastiff
Newfoundland
Norfolk Terrier
Norwegian Elkhound
Norwich Terrier
Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever
Otterhound
Papillion
Parson Jack Russell Terrier
Pekingese (depends on the coat texture)
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pharaoh Hound
Pinscher
Pit Bull Terrier
Pointer
Pomeranian
Pug
Rat Terrier
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rottweiler
Rough Collie
Saint Bernard
Samoyed
Schipperke
Schnauzer
Scottish Deerhound
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Shar-Pei
Shetland Sheepdog
Shiba Inu
Shih Tzu (depends on the coat texture)
Siberian Husky
Smooth Collie
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Spaniel (depends on the coat texture)
Toy Fox Terrier
Tibetan Terrier
Vizsla
Weimaraner
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Welsh Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Whippet
Wire Fox Terrier
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Yorkshire Terrier (depends on the coat texture)
 

yoko

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#13
omg i've been eyeing it for a while. but wasn't sure if it worked as well as they said it did. i am def going to have to look into it now
 

DoggyDaze

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#14
It's an amazing tool. I think I have the only Aussie in town with a sleek coat. Still longish, but it lays flat to her skin and her waves bounce when she walks. Looks really cool in the sunlight.

It's even better on our cat (siamese mix). His coat has always shed little itty bitty skinny hairs that actually float around the house. The furminator collected enough to build another cat.

I've seen absolutely no effect on either animals outer coat or skin.
 

PWCorgi

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#15
It's even better on our cat (siamese mix). His coat has always shed little itty bitty skinny hairs that actually float around the house. The furminator collected enough to build another cat.
Forgot about that, I use it on Inky too and it has done wonders for him too! No more clouds of black hair floating around or all over the clothes!!
 

Zoom

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#17
I've used it on Sawyer with limited success. He likes the 10-bladed Oster undercoat rakes better and they work just as well. Better, since he's not squirming around so much.

But I'm glad that Manni and you love it; that's all that matters. :)
 

simplymisty

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#18
It was actually a group of groomers that told me about only being able to go in the same spot 4 times, etc. Maybe they use more pressure?

There was some shedding thing, "seen on tv" type thing that I was given for Christmas and it pulled out the dogs hair. Both of my dog breeds are listed under the approved dog list.

Where did you find it on sale? If I can get one cheaper I'd like to. My GSD sheds like crazy and nothing has helped, even shaved her once (plus her hair kind of grew in funny on her back legs so I was hoping that would help it grow back right) but shaving her didn't help with anything, not the shedding (just smaller hairs all over) or the hair growing back right.
 

bubbatd

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#19
Back from EliN's .... she tried it on Hunter ( Lab ) and couldn't believe it ! Then NashNSeger came over and Jan tried it on Seger ( Golden ).... She had just brushed him , but boy did the undercoat fly !!! Both girls are ordering tonight ! I found mine on Amazon .... I could have gotten it used for $3. less ( $35. ) but decided to go new . So .. Lab coat , Golden coat and a very curly Golden/??? mix , I highly recommend it . Agree though ...it doesn't need much pressure .
 

TheWholePack

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#20
To tell you the truth I was impressed by what I've seen here about this grooming tool. I'm going to find one and give it a try on my long haired dogs.

Has anyone used this on a short hair breed? I have an Italian Greyhound and I saw that greyhounds are on the recommended list of breeds. Does anyone have experience using this on short hair breeds?
 

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