mheath0429 wrote:

I second the high velocity drier....amazing. Not just for show dogs!

I use a slicker brush, rake, and combs. Combs are amazing...and flea combs are great to smooth out the furry butt chaps(yes I call them furry butt chaps).

I've got to admit I've been calling them "furry butt chaps" ever since I read this. It's a perfect description!
I was using the furminator on both my dogs and thought it was working great, but have stopped after reading this thread. I didn't really notice the furminator doing damage or hurting them, but I'm trying just using a pin brush and a slicker brush to see what the difference is in getting the hair out as well as if they seem to like being brushed any better.
It's true that no matter what brush I'm using, if I use a lighter hand while brushing, it seems to be a lot more comfortable for them.

Hahaha yep, Whitney.

Jessica, I suggest you check out Karnovanda's facebook page. They have put up a lot of information about furminator.

I don't need to check out their page. I actually USE a Furminator. And have for a long time. There is always someone out there who wants to say how bad it is, but when used properly, it works great. You can clearly see in the videos we put up 3 times a week that our dogs coats are not damaged, they are nice and shiny and healthy.

I tried the furminator on Pongo once and didn't like how it was cutting the guard hairs. I use a double rake now and a slicker brush to get the loose hair. I do use the furminator on the cats no problem though.

I think most to all of us have used a Furminator at one point or another, coming from a Furminator to a rake I can't even see why I ever wasted my time! Sooo much easier and works so much better!



One of the best examples of how a Furminator truly is a shedding blade. Our groomer has taken a blade off the clippers and done the exact same thing to the coat with the same "results" as the Furminator. I mean to each their own but I would encourage you to try the rakes, they really do work much nicer and there's no worry to "over brushing."

I use the Furminator with good results. As long as you use it correctly it won't cut any guard hairs. I use my HVC, Rake, and the Furminator.

I've used a furminator - I've even used it correctly. I never would again. But, I guess that doesn't matter.

The furminator is basically a #40 blade with a handle, ask any groomer. Does it have its place with Siberian coats? In some cases I believe so. Yes it can be too harsh and it can cut the fur but I find from personal experience that it doesn't always have the negative effects either. Huskies come in such varied coats that I do believe that while the Furminator may work well on one coat, it may destroy another. I have and use a Furminator, been using it for years now. It's not my preferred tool (I prefer my HV dryer and undercoat rake), but I do use it when my sibe is really blowing coat. It works great on certain parts of my sibes coat but horrible on other parts so I am careful about where and when I use it. It's not for everyone or every coat but I do believe that it does have its uses in some circumstances. Do I recommend the Furminator? No, because not everyone can pay attention and know how to use it properly. BUT I would never want to be without one as when used appropriately on the right coat it is a very handy tool and doesn't always negatively impact coat. That just my two cents on it anyway.

I have never found that the furminator did much for huskys, I have an undercoat rake with moving teeth that I like much better for my huskies, the furminator works great on my lab though! I still am careful with it though.

I also agree with Karnovanda's views on the Furminator.  If the Furminator was such an awesome time saving tool, those of us with large kennels would be singing its praises!  There is a reason that they/we aren't.  I have never used one on my Siberians, I care too much about their coats to risk ruining them.  If you look closely at the picture Kristina posted it's quite clear what the Furminator is, a stripping tool like what is used on terrier breeds.  Not exactly a Siberian coat type.  The preferred tools for grooming double coated breeds have teeth at least 1" long to reach the undercoat without damaging the guard hair.

Though some people can't see a difference between a Furminator coat and a properly groomed coat- it's quite obvious to others.  No one is going to be able to change the minds of everyone....but hopefully it will reach a few.  

Photo posted to Karnovanda's page by Daisy Geasland, a former Furminator user. You can see the difference pretty clearly here.

As mentioned before if used correctly. I think that most people push down too hard on the furminator - which can cause problems. Our grooming process: #1 Rake, #2 Comb, #3 Furminator, #4 Slicker. We use it more like a hand brushing over the dog. I never use it on his back, only sides and back of the his legs - it barely touches him, mainly getting the fur that is already falling off.

He doesn't seem to mind it and since his coating is changing all the time it seems, we pay close attention to how we use the furminator.

I got one, but it didn't work well on my guy's coarse hair much at all. I prefer a good old undercoat rake.

Why would the designers and manufacturers put a blade in the furminator if they didn't want it to cut?

or to put it another way...

If using the furminator "correctly"  as some people will say, the blade doesn't cut. Surely this must mean that either the blade is superfluous or people who are not cutting hair are using it wrong  

Not the tool for me.

I use the furminator, but only when V is blowing his coat. It does a great job pulling out all the old under fur and doesn't do any damage to the guard hairs that I've seen. If you use it for regular grooming, then yes, I've gotten guard hairs with it (which is why I only use it during the blowing).

I like it a bit better than the slicker brush, as the slicker brush get's bogged down too quick with the hair when he's blowing. But for normal grooming, the slicker works great.

V's hair seems to not need a rake, at least the traditional kind. It goes through and does basically nothing.

However, I was fortunate enough to test drive an undercoat rake (professional grooming friend of mine) that had blades under neath the U shape and that was amazing! Better than the furminator! No chance to hitting the skin with the blade portion, so less risk to your dog than even using a slicker brush.

Undercoat rake

Admission: When I worked in a grooming salon (many moons ago) we occasionally used the blades on the razors to bring out tough undercoat spots. We were amused when the furminator came out.

That's the Mars coat king branded and cheapified under pet edge. This is a stripper, with various # blades.

http://www.groomersmall.com/coat_kings.htm

Furminator is one of the most highly misused dog grooming inventions of all time. Pretty much the only people that you hear complaining about it are the people that are using it wrong.

You don't have to put hardly any pressure when using it. That is the number one mistake most people do is they press too hard like it is a brush. This is what creates the skin issues and uncomfort and irritability.

You just have to glide it across the fur and it will get the job done the right way.

My groomer at the vets doesn't use the furminator on huskies when she grooms them. She says that its not the right tool for their fur and I agree. I have never had a need for a furminator.

arooroomom wrote:

That's the Mars coat king branded and cheapified under pet edge. This is a stripper, with various # blades.

http://www.groomersmall.com/coat_kings.htm

Yep! That's the one I used! Great tool! (right click, bookmarked)

Thanks for posting that, I didn't know the brand name of the one I used and just did a quick google to get a pic.

I've never used a furminator.. never saw the appeal to it. I wouldn't want to use a tool that if I press too hard I'm gonna accidentally ruin my dogs coat, nor do I want to use a tool that can cut the fur at all. A good undercoat pin rake is all I've ever used and the fur sure does fly off the dogs.

I think the biggest problem may be that sometimes a little research is all you need to do. In nz a furminator costs $125.. I looked into saving for one but I dont see why you should have to pay sooo much for a grooming tool. I bought an undercoat rake instead. If you stroke it against the direction of hair growth it works just as well as the videos of furminators on huskies.  But you cant stuff up and ruin their guard hairs. A furminator is a lazy persons option if you ask me. I use the undercoat rake first, followed by a slicker brush, then finish off with a rotating pin comb when Keyto is blowing her coat. I do it evety second day for around an hour. Keyto loves the attention,  and she looks fabulous afterward.

EDIT: I bought my double rowed undercoat rake, slicker brush and rotating pin comb for a combined cost of $42.