By Charlotte Kuchinsky
for AsSeenOnTVCritic.com
My daughter and I clean houses for a living. It’s a difficult job under the best of circumstances. It becomes an impossible one when the house we are cleaning has one or more shedding dogs. We clean a house with a black Labrador weekly and are still surprised at the various places where we find dog hair. It gets into every crevice, every corner, and every crack.
There are some dogs that shed less than others and then there are those that shed even more than normal. For their owners, cleaning up endless piles of dog hair becomes a daily chore. But Furminator claims that their new type of dog brush "removes the undercoat without touching the topcoat." According to the product's instructions, all you do is brush the dog in the direction of the coat, and the hair will easily fall away. It goes on to claim that the Furminator will, over time, improve the appearance of your pet’s coat. If it actually accomplishes that, then it should also improve the overall environment in which the dog lives.
How Does the Furminator Work?
The Furminator is specifically designed to take care of the problem at its root; the undercoat of the dog. According to the manufacturer, the tool uses a patented blade design the "removes loose hair while leaving your pet with a shiny and healthy coat." The Furminator works on both short and longhaired dogs; both types of dog are said to enjoy being groomed with the Furminator. According to claims, you should see as much as a 70-percent reduction in hair shedding within two to three treatments.
My dog only sheds when her allergies are acting up. However, we use the Furminator on her regularly to ensure that she has a nice, healthy coat. She doesn’t mind the process and we remove what little shedding hair she might have.
Why Use the Furminator?
The Furminator is recommended for pet owners who have severe allergies. Reducing the amount of loose hair floating around within an environment reduces the airborne dust and dander. That, in turn, reduces the number of allergens in the environment, which is better for everyone involved. I have terrible allergies myself, which is why I chose a dog that doesn’t shed very much. However, even I noticed a difference in my allergy symptoms since I started using the Furminator on Pepper.
Veterinarians also recommend the Furminator to help keep a dog's coat as clean and detangled as possible. They believe that a healthy pet is a happy pet. I agree. Pepper has extremely fine, thick hair. She prefers that we keep it in shape regularly, rather than trying to pull out tangles after they have had time to take hold. I can't say I blame here!
How Much Does the Furminator Cost and Where Can I Purchase It?
There are actually several different types and sizes of this tool. Although, the original blade was made for dogs, they now have tools for cats and horses as well. It comes in different sizes - small, medium, and large - for use on pets of varying sizes. Some tools are made specifically for dog groomers. The Furminator ranges in price from $9.99 to $49.99.
You can purchase the Furminator in some pet stores, department stores with pet sections, at various online Web sites (including the official site), and through QVC. If you are uncertain that you will like the tool or don't believe it will work on your dog, you might want to consider purchasing it at QVC. They offer a 30-day money back guarantee on all of their products.
The Verdict
I like this product. I don’t love it, but I like it. Perhaps that is because my dog doesn't shed so much that I can immediately see the improvement in her coat or in our mutual environment. Still, I hold high hopes for this little tool. I have a gut feeling that it works better than I can imagine. For that reason, I give it six out of 10 stars.
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