Furminator yes or no?
- Thread starter CAllen
- Start date
Margi
Premium Member
Don't know about others here, but I bought one and it didn't work on my guys coats. Waste of money--just a rake and their pin and slicker brushes work great.
Caro
Moderator
Gotta love it when people who have pets with coats that are nothing like a sheltie coat give advice. Golden retrievers and Shelties have very different fur. The outer coat on a Sheltie is much coarser than a Goldie and you'll find you will strip A LOT of the outer coat out with a furminator, not just undercoat and you could end up with a disaster. I have used a furminator on a sheltie coat so let me share my experience.
I sometimes use a small furminator in areas where I want to strip a lot of coat out. I use it to make a 'poop chute' instead of clipping. sometimes I use it on the pants, but you have to so careful they don't end up looking misshapen, and I sometimes use it for knots behind the ears when I'm being lazy.
Now my caveat. I did use the furminator when we were doing flyball in summer (and we're talking outside in 35+ degree heat) and that was to thin particular areas of Tully's thick coat and was done with care. Also if someone was going to do something crazy like shave or clip a Sheltie I would recommend they use a furminator instead as at least they keep some coat and it retains varying lengths that will reduce matting.
I sometimes use a small furminator in areas where I want to strip a lot of coat out. I use it to make a 'poop chute' instead of clipping. sometimes I use it on the pants, but you have to so careful they don't end up looking misshapen, and I sometimes use it for knots behind the ears when I'm being lazy.
Now my caveat. I did use the furminator when we were doing flyball in summer (and we're talking outside in 35+ degree heat) and that was to thin particular areas of Tully's thick coat and was done with care. Also if someone was going to do something crazy like shave or clip a Sheltie I would recommend they use a furminator instead as at least they keep some coat and it retains varying lengths that will reduce matting.
Ann
Moderator
Good grief, NO! Furminators cut the outer hair, which is not what you want to do. You're left with a dog with no guard hair. They are not good for double-coated dogs. The only exception is, as Caro said, if you want to thin an area of the body, for instance if you're looking to take down a poufy butt for show. Other than that, It's about the worst tool you can use on a Sheltie.
Sandy in CT
Premium Member
I have a knock off that I got from Amazon - for my double coated CAT - not Brodie, I would NEVER use it on Brodie! Although Caro's post on the poop shoot - I might try that one to see the difference between it and a scissor cut - on my list for this week!
I do use the knock off furminator quite successfully on our cat. Understand he has a thick, double coat but his outer coat is short, just a tad longer than his uber thick undercoat. Every few weeks, we go out on the deck and he gets a thinning out. Goodness, I could make pillows with the hair I remove from him! But it is NOT grooming - it actually cuts the undercoat. With Rusty, it may even cut some of the outer coat but it does work very well - for him.... He is an indoor cat, is only allowed out on the deck for his grooming and is on a leash then so no fears about him needing that coat for heating and cooling.
I would never use this on Brodie....
I do use the knock off furminator quite successfully on our cat. Understand he has a thick, double coat but his outer coat is short, just a tad longer than his uber thick undercoat. Every few weeks, we go out on the deck and he gets a thinning out. Goodness, I could make pillows with the hair I remove from him! But it is NOT grooming - it actually cuts the undercoat. With Rusty, it may even cut some of the outer coat but it does work very well - for him.... He is an indoor cat, is only allowed out on the deck for his grooming and is on a leash then so no fears about him needing that coat for heating and cooling.
I would never use this on Brodie....