All Things Dog Blog |
| FURminator Takes Shedding Seriously: Review and Giveaway Posted: 12 May 2011 09:01 PM PDT by Carrie Boyko, CEB
Who remembers the first FURminators? I'm not sure when this amazing tool was first introduced, but I certainly recall my first experience. I was handed the tool to try while visiting a small pet supply shop. At that time, there was just one size, one type, one color--just one FURminator. Much to my amazement I was able to pull massive amounts of fur from Xena's coat with a light brushing. The clerk beamed. Obviously I bought it, and still have it to this day. When we returned home I followed the clerk's instructions to give Xena a deeper brushing. Honestly, I thought I would be wasting my time after all the fur that I left behind at the store. Big surprise--another bagful and I could have kept going. Wow, was I feeling like a bad dog mom. Sure, I had been regularly brushing Xena, and yes, I got a good amount of fur out of her coat when brushing. But never in my wildest dreams had I expected this result. Now, FURminator has continued to improve their products, creating versions of their fur removal tool for different types and sizes of dogs. You can use their helpful Tool Selector to figure out which one you need for your pet. They were kind enough to send me a small one to test on Oliver. I was surprised to find that he looked at it oddly as if to say, "That's not Xena's brush; I want Xena's brush!"  I asked a groomer to look at his coat and got a thumbs up, so I've decided to share the FURminator love. I'll give this free sample to one of you. It's a Small Dog Version for Long-haired dogs, so I suggest you only enter this drawing if you have a dog up to 20 lbs. with long fur (2 inches or longer). Entry guidelines are at the bottom of the post. Good luck! Here's a photo of the prize © courtesy of FURminator:The new tool has a fur ejecting button--a pretty slick idea--to remove the fur as you go without using your other hand to pull it from the brush. This makes the going easier and faster. I like to use my other hand to soothingly stroke while gently holding Oliver on my lap, as I work through his coat. It's a two-handed job, so the ejector button is a great improvement. Visiting the FURminator site is quite a scientific adventure. I found a page of information entitled The Science of Fur. This was no short report, but a full education that will answer all your questions about your pet's coat. It's a great resource, as are the grooming tips that they offer. If you choose to purchase a FURminator online, you can order from their website or through Amazon, as well as many other online retailers. This is one very popular product for an obvious reason; it is notorious for helping to reduce shedding.  Tanner and Oliver can vouch for the comfort of this tool as a brush, however I do recommend that you heed their grooming advice carefully. If your dog has mats or long, thick fur, give him a good brushing with a regular brush FIRST. Use soothing music like Through a Dog's Ear to calm your dog while he is groomed, and offer praise and treats to help associate the activity with pleasure. Soon you'll find you have less fur on your furniture, floors and clothing, and that will make it all worth the effort. Happy tails! How to Enter the Giveaway:
Entries will close Thursday, May 19 at 5 PM. Winners will be announced on the blog Friday, May 20. Best of luck to all you furry monsters! Full Disclosure: The FURminator being given away in this review was provided compliments of FURminator. I do not accept compensation for product reviews, and the opinion I have given is my own. 
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| Ask the Dog Trainer, with Terry Lynn Cuyler: Training for Indoor Potty Use Posted: 12 May 2011 09:01 PM PDT by Terry Lynn Cuyler, APDT, CPDT-KA
I am considering buying an indoor potty for my 2 toy poodles, so they will be able to take care of business if I am gone longer than expected. I have seen several types. I like the ones that have a grass-like top and drainage area. Can you give me some help with training and placement? Liz -------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Liz, Indoor potties are a great idea as an alternative when you aren't home or the weather is inclement. To begin the training it helps to have the dogs confined to an area so the indoor potty is a logical and easy choice. You can remove the confinement once they get the idea. Introduce them to the potty by luring them on with a treat and giving it to them while they are on the potty. This convinces them that they are in a good spot. A baby gate or exercise pen works well to keep them in one area. At times when they should need to go potty, you put them in their potty area and even set them on the potty. Then when they do their business, they get a yummy – just as they're done. Not after you've taken them out and walked to the pantry, right after they're done and if possible while they are still on the potty. Best times are first thing in the morning when they wake up, after a hard play and within a half hour of eating. Get the behavior you want to reward by setting them up for success. Shouldn't take very long before they catch on that it is OK to potty on the indoor one when they can't get outside. Regards, The Paws Prof
You can read more of Terry Lynn Cuyler's training questions at her Archives page. Watch for indoor potty reviews coming, for more information on features, training and uses. 
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