Furminator
Furbuster
Being a nerdy dog trainer and obsessed with all the really cool stuff available to care for our pets, I have been on the receiving end of some nifty stuff lately.
One area for which my obsession for the cool tool has carried over is in the number of treat bags I carry around and lately, the number of brushes and combs I use on pets.
For years, for no plugola whatsoever, I have been pleased with the performance of the Furminator grooming tool. With labs and a Jack Russell terrier in the family pack, plus two cats, brushing often is a must. I have used the Furminator, purchased at a Sonoma County feed store, for more than two years.
So it was with a touch of skepticism that I was offered a chance to look at the FurBuster tool from Bamboo. I was provided a free product sample to use and review. (The item was sent unsolicited likely in hopes I would review it.)
The Furbuster is pretty much the same tool as the Furminator. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Both products use stainless steel blades that when drawn across an animals’ coat, the blades get the undercoat and duff quite effectively. Go easy using these tools because although they are not supposed to scratch the dog’s skin, some dogs are sensitive to the blades if too much pressure is applied during the stroke across the fur. For cats especially, be gentle.
The differences are the Furbuster uses interchangeable blades for different sizes of dogs and cats, this beats having to purchase an entirely new Furminator for each size of animal and the color. Something you really don’t need to do. The Furminator comes in industrial black and yellow while the Furbuster comes in prettier colors. Not a huge issue for something as utilitarian as a de-shedding tool. The handle is slightly skinnier, again, one supposes is a nod to women.
Probably the major difference is price. The Furminator, at the time I purchased it, was one of the pricier pieces of equipment I had ever bought. I had been convinced by fellow trainers that it was worth it. It has been with a price tag of just under $50.00. You can find some really good deals if you shop around.
The Furbuster is supposed to retail for about $25.00 with the replacement blades another $15.00.
