The Furminator - Pet Hair Be Gone!

If my mother were alive and could see all the animals I have she would probably roll over in her grave. Actually, she'd probably laugh and say it figures.....being the mother to 4 dogs and 4 cats must surely qualify me for some time of loopy award - dealing with multiple cat and dog moods, food habits, exercise demands and probably the most daunting of all - PET HAIR!!!!!

In true style though - and not one to let a little thing like cat and dog hair get me down - I was determined to find a solution to my hairy problems this year. Especially after my border collie has been leaving fur coats all over the couch and on the backs of my guests as they exit my home.

In the quest for a more hair free home (you'll notice I use the word "more" - because there will never be such a thing as being totally pet hair free) - I purchased "THE FURMINATOR" , a tool that I have been coveting for at least 2 years now. I first saw the furminator at The Pet Club on a video which showed a dog being "de-furred" live on camera. Ever since then I vowed that one day I would be the the owner of one such tool.

I had hedged on buying the furminator sooner because of it's cost (the one I wanted was about $45 plus tax in the store) but after finding and bidding on one on EBay for just $22.00, I figured I just couldn't go wrong so I got the middle sized dog FURMINATOR for my fur-babies. I chose the middle sized one because I figured I could then use it on my cats too, killing 2 birds with one stone.

Just a few days later (about 3 days) I got my furminator in the mail and went to work that night on Karma, my 2 year old border collie who has been the worst hair offender in the house. At first Karma was pretty happy to be getting a brushing but after she realized this was not a regular brushing she wasn't too thrilled - but being the sweet dog that she is, she complied and let me do my job.

The results were absolutely stunning. After about an hour Karma didn't look like Karma anymore. I swear about half her fur was gone, and she looked much thinner..... and "svelte" is about the best way I can describe her after her "de-furring".

The hair that came out of Karma was all her molting undercoat, that until now had been deposited in my car seats, couches, bed covers, and like I said, even on the butts and backs of my house guests (talk about embarrassing!) People were beginning to be afraid of even petting her because hair would literally come off in globs in their hands.

Now I can safely report that Karma is now pretty hair free - (a week after her initial groom I did about another 10 minute go through just to get any new growth or hair I'd missed)

(I also started grooming my other border collie Simon with the furminator but had to stop and wait for the hubby because Simon was a little disagreeable to my de-furring idea) The furminator doesn't hurt your dog but it is a little different than a regular brush.

So now with the addition of the furminator to our household (along with a Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum I got for Christmas) - I can now safely say our hair problem has been licked. Karma is one happy camper now that she is getting more attention and people aren't afraid to touch her. I also feel more confident now when I go to work - knowing that I'm not taking Karmas fur coat to work with me. I'm also very pleased and happy to say that my guests are looking alot less hairier to me these days too - thanks to the Furminator!!

(Dorsi Diaz is a freelance writer and blogger in the San Francisco Bay Area- if this article has been helpful a thumbs up rating would be appreciated!)