I have a new weapon this year to combat the shedding: enter the Furminator.
According to their website, the Furminator pushes through the topcoat to remove the dead undercoat and loose hair. It comes in small, medium, large, and equine - all of the sizes have the same edge, only the width is different. This is the equine version - it's 5" wide. I won't pretend to know how it works, I only know that it does. It's better than any curry comb, brush, or shedding blade I've ever used on Hank, and he seems to love the way it feels.
Smooch likes it, too, and is just as surprised as I am that she has any hair left, considering how much we've furminated away.
Now where are those cats...
I have one of those too and think it's THE best thing to come along in a long, long time! Yes, I 'furminate' Wally and you'd think he'd be bald when I finish, but I know he feels much better when I'm done.
ReplyDeleteAh, the look on George's face in that first photo - priceless! Guess you and the fantastic Furminator are pretty popular these days?
ReplyDeleteI might have to look into that tool. Looks like it works better than anything I currently own.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation. I just ordered one on ebay, can't wait to get it!
ReplyDeleteI don't know how they work either but boy, oh boy, what a product. Our dog loves it and I have a feeling you are going to be spending a lot of time in the corral. Capture some shots of their faces (if possible, if you're a contortionist, lol) when you use it....
ReplyDeleteI've considered getting the furminator. Your post may have just convinced me to do it!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I've signed on as a follower of your blog and would love it if you did the same at Critter Alley:
www.critteralley.blogspot.com
Thanks!
We're gonna get us one of them thangs for sure. That is a total goober face on George in the first picture. :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE my furminator! Put that fur (and lint from your dryer's lint catcher) in a mesh onion bag and you will get a TON of wild photo ops from your local bird population Add short lengths of string and threads for variety.
ReplyDeleteoops! Maybe I don't have to tell you to hang the bag somewhere easily accessed for birds, cameras and refilling.
ReplyDeleteI have one and love it!
ReplyDeleteSo do the horses!
I bought a few furminators a couple years back when they first came out. I have to say they work wonderful on small animals, horses not so much. Horses don't have an undercoat so a shedding blade works the same IMO. I sold my large one I had intended for horse use to a friend with an Italian spinoni dog and kept the other one for my dog. I have to say everyone has borrowed it and bought their own after getting grocery bags of hair off teeny cats and dogs. For small animals with an undercoat, definitely worth the money.
ReplyDeleteI have one too. They work great, but I do caution everyone not to press too hard, they are sharp and if you press too hard its kind of like getting razor burn....Love these photos....Love your site, it makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteAren't they great? I have one for the dogs. I think it's best to use them outside though. The hair really comes out and flies. One for the horses would be nice. I read that dirt can dull them so I'd recomend getting any mud off with the curry first and then furminate!! I love your itchy boys and Smooch's look is like, that came from me??? As always great pictures.
ReplyDeleteYour itching photos have captured the real essence of an itchy critter! Thanks for the info on the Furminator!! I'm going to try one on my guys.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the Furminator is the best! I didn't realize there was an equine size....cool! I wish I had been the one to come up with that invention. I'd be sitting pretty now, for sure!
ReplyDeleteAhha! We just got our first Furminator last week! What a mess we created with all the fur we extract - Fun and I love seeing the equine version at work.
ReplyDeleteLOL - love it! I remember when I was younger and had a horse, and all that spring hair-shedding. My horse was palomino, and he usually was sort of light-colored. But when that new, slick hair would show up on his neck in the spring, it was the most beautiful, deep gold color. Unfortunately, it didn't stay that pretty. But all that flying hair in your photos brought back a lot of memories! Especially got a kick out of the one of Smooch!
ReplyDeleteThink that'd work on kids? I'm always covered in long blond hairs after fixing my daughter's do.
ReplyDeleteI could have used that with Bear. He should have been bald, with all the fur he shed.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as the Winter Olympics were over, the temperatures plummeted and we got snow. Go figure. We're all in shock here, including the flowers that were blooming.
Love love love the first pic of George - the expression on his face is absolutely priceless!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, gonna' have to get me one of those. Between the horses, donkeys, dogs and cats, something like that would be great. Thanks for lettinh us know about a product that actually works.
ReplyDeleteThe Furminator is the best thing EVER. I no longer have a shedding dog, only poodles, but Marly and I used to have Furminator sessions that we both loved! The piles of fluff that came out of her! ...even when she didn't seem to be shedding her coat!
ReplyDeleteCute pictures of some hair critters. We've got the same thing going on here, very itchy animals. I saw this tool and thought it might be just another nonsense thing to sell to animal lovers. I'm glad to see that you like the way it works. I may give it a try.
ReplyDeleteGottagettaFurminator! I saw one in the pet store and choked on the price....I am sure I can do better on a horse website.
ReplyDeleteIf it's better than a sheddin' blade that'll work. These days I like things with handles!
Happy shedding!
The Furminator is awesome! I have two, one at home for the dogs & cats and the second out where I board for the horses. Works better than anything else I've ever used.
ReplyDeleteOne word of caution to anyone wanting to buy one. They are kinda pricey so you may be tempted to purchase a less expensive knock off. The actual Furminator is worth the cost as the knock offs have inferior blades that tend to pull, rip, break and cut hair resulting in a scruffy, ragged and dull haircoat.
ps - I posted about my Furminator last year :)
http://myhorsesmylife.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-got-it.html
Smooch! Ah Choo!
ReplyDeleteI got one of those for my cats, but they're not too thrilled by it. It does remove the clumps. I keep telling Siete that we could make a sweater out of all that fur she's shedding this year. The birds in the barn are using it to make nests. Love the photos of all your guys finding a way to itch where it's itchiest.
ReplyDeleteOH MY LORD! That 1st picture of George has got to be in next year's calendar! Haven't been posting lately - stuff happening on the homefront. You should get a commission off of the number of fuminators you sold! Have a good weekend Carson.
ReplyDeleteAh, Victoria, you answered my question. I was wondering if the birds wouldn't love that soft hair to line their nests. The Furminator looks like a great invention.
ReplyDeleteYeah! You see, my cat "Sweetie" does not like to be combed or brushed, so...I'm not sure I would get to far with this tool...Though I must say, it looks FABULOUS!
ReplyDelete