Do you sometimes wish your dog was bald? (The Company of Animals Furminator)

Member Name: goosey

Product:	The Company of Animals Furminator
Date:	30/06/09 (92 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Efficient and gentle grooming tool. Reduces shedding

Disadvantages: Expensive

I have just recently discovered the Furminator - so have my two 'pooches,
one of which has a self-cleaning coat - A bit like sharks teeth, shed on a daily basis.
I thought it was just one of those things I had to adapt my routine around. At least he didn't need bathing, unless he rolled in something smelly.

I first heard of it here on dooyoo, then saw, first hand, this grooming tool called a FURMINATOR - a clever play on the words Fur eliminator. - in my local pet shop. It appeard to be a strong sturdy implement, so even though I had heard a little about already, I asked how it could possibly be better than a comb or any of the usual dog grooming tools on the market. None of which I might add, my Collie, Moses, was keen to have used on his coat. I have acculmulated, over the passage of time, a variety of brushes, grooming mitts, combs etc. in an effort to find something Moses would allow me to groom him with, without him wriggling around.
In the early days I had the vet check him over, incase his skin was too sensitive for metal tools. No - he was normal, yet wouldn't let the vet groom him either. He thought it a great game.

THE FURMINATOR:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Any one seeing the Furminator for the first time, and not knowing its purpose, might think it a small gardening tool - a fine rake, perhaps, for garden planters - silly idea.
The business end is a sturdy stainless steel comb, held at a slight angle, by a yellow plastic holder, which is fixed to a 4 to 5 inch black, rubbery handle, with raised grips. It sits very comfortably in the hand; obviously a great deal of thought has gone into the design. The comb consists of very short, closely packed teeth, looking rather like a blade from an electric hair clipper.

I was immediately impressed by the whole structure. The teeth were strong, but surprisingly gentle when drawn across the skin, they were neither sharp or brittle, and the hand grip felt perfect, there was nothing flimsey at all in its make up.

WHAT DOES IT (supposedly) DO BETTER THAN OTHER GROOMING TOOLS?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At the pet shop a video was running to demonstrate the Furminator. It looked pretty impressive.
With each stroke down the dogs coat, came great wads of undercoat - that fluffy down-like fur.
The animal seemed perfectly relaxed and comfortable, but I had serious doubts that Moses would be so cooperative.
Claims that the Furminator 'Quickly and easily removes undercoat and loose hair,' was no exaggeration, if the video was anything to go by.
It was also claimed, that by regular use, it would reduce shedding up to 90%
Now that certainly appealed to me, and would also promote healthy skin and a glossy topcoat.
I was beginning to warm to the idea of purchasing one, until, that is, I heard the price - £34 for the medium size , £24 for the small size.....Eeeeek, a lot to pay out on something Moses may not allow me to use on him.

I went home a tad disappointed and looked on T'internet for I had heard I might get a cheaper one there, and was surprised to find the self same Furminator for £14.99 (post free) - Yes I bought one.

RESULT:
~~~~~~
Moses seemed to realise that the Furminator was NOT a toy and sat amazingly still while I VERY GENTLY and tentatively 'raked' his coat from neck to tail. The amount of undercoat that came away in one stroke had to be seen to be believed. He stayed still for the duration of the grooming session and was suitably rewarded with praise and tit-bit.
It is still early days yet, but I am confident that I will soon not have to vacuum so many of his hairs from my carpet.

I also tried it on Mollie (my yorkie) she loves being groomed. I had already brushed and combed her coat previously, but when I stroked her with the Furminator, out came more undercoat. I might buy a small one for her, for the medium size one is not meant for titchy dogs, although it worked well.

WHAT ANIMALS CAN BE GROOMED WITH A FURMINATOR?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Furminator comes in 5 sizes. The smallest is for cats, then comes small, medium and large sizes for dogs, then there is one larger one designed for horses.

I was told at the pet shop that when first using the Furminator on your pet. The animal must be groomed (with it) for 25 minutes each day for one month, to get rid of all of the loose undercoat, afterwhich grooming sessions can be much reduced and at which point shedding will be reduced by 90%.
~~I can't wait!!~~

I have since been advised by one of our trusty dooyooers (see comments) that the pet shop advice with regards to the grooming schedule for the first month, (ie 25mins per day for a month) to be a bit excessive and may damage the dog's skin.
The Furminator leaflet made no mention of grooming times either.

Summary: Now I am glad my dogs aren't bald