Hi DebzC, I'm no expert, but I have bought a Furminator for my puppy (for use when he's older and coat thicker) and will be using a basic run-of-the-mill smallish dog brush whilst he's a puppy.
We also have a Furminator, since she lost her puppy fur. Other types of brushes were not helpful at all.
The Zoom-Groom works best on Coco's coat which is longish & the fairly soft, top coat is less coarse than a Labrador's, not as waterproof. The Furminator seems not as good for him. It was great for Belle.
I use something very much like the Furminator, but I have to say I've not used it in a few months and their coats look a lot better for it. They're going through their seasonal moult at the moment, so there's hair everywhere, but I found the same last time, even when I was brushing them daily.
I find a human brush called 'Tangle Teaser' the best - it works like a zoom groom but the hairs don't fly everywhere so I can groom them indoors. I groom them every day. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tangle-Tee...=1477306837&sr=8-1&keywords=Tangle+tease&th=1 ...
I bought a Furgopet at Target. It was much cheaper than the Furminator and, from what I can see, is identical. I must confess, though, that Snowie does not particular like it (when I use it, he tries to mouth it, which to me is an indication that he wants me to stop). He will tolerate it though. I'm not sure why he doesn't like it because I am careful not to apply too much pressure so that the metal teeth don't touch his skin -- I can imagine that if the teeth do touch his skin, it might scratch him. What he does absolutely LOVE is being rubbed with a wet towel, and that sure does loosen the hair. If the towel is wet, then the hair sticks to it -- so it's a good way to get moulting hair off him. The brush does do a good job of removing the undercoat (the shorter, softer hair), but in moulting season I have to remove the hair from the teeth after just a few strokes otherwise it clogs up and doesn't do the job. I have also used a rubber mitt, but it was awkward and didn't do much. I've also used a regular brush and that didn't grab the moulting hair very well either.
With my last dog -chocolate Lab- I used a zoom groom. It was great for getting out loose hair and he adored it. Just seeing me get it out sent him into happy waggles. Molly hates the zoom groom and the only thing that she'll stand still for is being combed with a human narrow tooth comb. However she doesn't shed much, apart from spring and autumn moulting.
General lustre and quality of coat is markedly improved. It's more noticeable in Willow, who can suffer with dry skin. I increased her salmon oil intake at the same time as stopping brushing her, and her coat is now lovely. It's mostly down to the salmon oil - I recently tried to reduce this to see what happened and the flakiness came back - but I did brush her once a few weeks ago, and it had an almost immediate effect on making her less shiny. I don't know if it's simply dead skin cells being brought out, or if it's because the brushing stimulates the production of oils, but not brushing certainly agrees with her. Shadow, too, who hasn't had his salmon oil increased, has a nicer feel since I stopped brushing.
I have wondered if the Furgopet breaks the hair, making it look raggedy. So I tried it on my own hair (which is long) and it didn't break my hair or feel like it was pulling my hair out (I thought perhaps that is why Snowie didn't like it). But yes, I have wondered if brushing with certain brushes can make the coat look worse rather than better due to hair breakage.
I'm afraid of the Furminator. Use it improperly and it can cut top coat and I'm afraid I would. I like the Zoom Groom but I don't have one. It's really nothing more than a pure rubber curry comb and they are much less expensive at the tack shop. I just had to replace the one I used on horses this summer. A note about Zoom Groom or curry comb, you have to keep them clean. It's partly friction that gets that loose hair out and once these tools get oily they won't work as well. My other favourite is a rake just like this: http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/wahl-double-row-rake-shedding-blade/6000037143465 In fact I think it is this one, I got it at Walmart. I mostly use the longer teeth but the short ones are good for getting stickies and burrs out. I just have to be careful of bony parts with this one.
My brush doesn't break the hair. It removes undercoat, that's all. Top coat will come out during the seasonal shed, but the rest of the year, it's only the undercoat, as you'd expect. You can clearly see from the hair that you collect. There is no cutting or breaking of top coat happening at all.
What is the proper and improper way to use it? I have wondered about breaking the top coat, so I'm keen to know please!
Lots of good advice, thank you. I'm not sure at all of the furminator, I think I'd do it wrong. Does it make a noise? Libby's already scared of a normal brush going anywhere near her so I'm keen to make it a more pleasant experience.
I use a zoom groom on Axel. It works best after he swims in the lake and dries off completely. Takes a lot of hair out. I have the furninator as well but Axel doesn't have much for an undercoat so I don't use it. Maybe next year in the spring it will work better.
I use a furminator. Arnie is moulting heavily ATM and I brushed a whole shopping bags worth of hair out in about five minutes yesterday. He loves it. Just sits there and rolls over, first this side, then the other. No complaints here from me or him
