Furminator works well on our smooth coated Border Collies but not so much on our rough coated Border Collies; for them we use an undercoat rake and dematting rake as needed.
Mark
Mark & Renee
Working Border Collies: Gyp (retired), Peg, Bette, BJ, Nell, Tally & Eve
Sam the Maremma Sheepdog (at home guarding our flock)
2001 Chevy Express 2500 Cargo (rolling kennel)
2007 Nash 22M
corgi-traveler wrote: Furminator is designed to remove loose, dead hair. It is NOT designed as an everyday brush. It will be very uncomfortable for the animal and will pull out hair that isn't dead yet!
For routine brushing on a coat like a Sheltie's, you can't go wrong with a cushion pin brush. At shedding time, a metal comb called a Greyhound comb can be very helpful, and then follow up with the Furminator.
Ditto.
Most pet owners love the Furminator. Most groomers or show people? Not so much. They say it tears the coat. Most pet owners don't care about that, they just want to control shedding.
In addition to the above, I ditto the suggestion of a Mars Coat King and an undercoat rake.
Me and the DH
Two boys and two dogs (and two cats who prefer to stay home)
2008 Forest River Georgetown 350DS (bunkhouse model)
2001 Honda CR-V
You can actually cut the dog's skin with a Furminator if it isn't used properly, which is another mark against them. The "blade" is actually identical to a top blade from a clipper set, so it is quite sharp. Push too hard with it, and you will leave rake marks on the skin. Ouch!
2012 Dutchmen Voltage Epic 3795
2010 Dodge 3500 DRW MC
2009 GMC 2500 DA CC
2012 Smart-for-two (sometimes hitches a ride in the Voltage!)
2005 Sundowner Sunlite 777
If you do decide on the Furminator be gentle with it. We were trying to control Anna's out of control thick hair with it and actually dug holes in the coat down to the skin. Poor dog. Lori
Javanut@tds.net
Lori Branson
RV.Net Ohio Rally Member
Dandy Dan's ball & chain --
Sarah's and Anna's Mom GO STEELERS --
Shedzilla (like the Coat King, I believe, but cheaper and available at Wallyworld) has sharp blades but those don't contact the skin. I've used it to good effect on a long haired dog (chow) and my long haired cats. But first I do the undercoat rake.
Furminator can really scrape up the skin and you're not supposed to go back over it. It also isn't actually that good for high volume shedding. I have one and will use it only after I've got the bulk out with the shedzilla or the undercoat rake. If I get to where those aren't pulling out a lot of hair and have more time to spend, then I'd go to the furminator. I rarely get to that point, however and almost never with more time to spare.
susan
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a wabbit, Fuzzy Wuzzy had a dandelion habit! RIP little Wuz... don't go far.
Most pet owners love the Furminator. Most groomers or show people? Not so much. They say it tears the coat. Most pet owners don't care about that, they just want to control shedding.
In addition to the above, I ditto the suggestion of a Mars Coat King and an undercoat rake.
A technique that a lot of friends that show in conformation use with medium to long coated dogs (corgis, GSD's, shelties, even (gasp) border collies) is to remove the dead hair during bath time. After the final rinse, one person brushes down the wet coat with a slicker brush. The helper has the spray nozzle from the bath, spraying against the grain where the slicker brush is working). Yes, it's going to pull out some hair, but like you said, pet owners don't mind, and even with show dogs, if they are dropping their coat, they are out of commission in the show ring for a while (most of the time, there are dogs that can show up without their coat and still look OK)
Samantha (the poster)
Tim, spouse and driver of the Corgi-Bus
Buddy, Diva, and Pippin - Pembroke Welsh Corgis
I've never done that, but I do use a rubber curry in the tub on Hal, and it gets out a ton of hair....but no matter how much comes out, more seems ready to go when she's dry, so then I brush again.
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