Whilst buying Murphy's dry food yesterday, a TV screen was on in the shop and a demonstration of something called a furminator was being played on a video. Has anyone used one and if so are they any good?

It cost £35 for a large breed one.

Yes, I have one and I think that it is brilliant!

It really does get loads of fur off and the advert is not an exaggeration at all - when I use it on mine (out on the patio)we are surrounded by fur

I put the fur in a box now though as Murray used to try and eat it

Is it like clippers, or does it just take out the dead hair like it says? If it is that good I might get one

You use it very much like an ordinary dog brush - it seems to pull the fur from underneath the coat. When I have furminated mine they almost look like they are not my dogs Pets at home are selling something similar which is cheaper but they only seem to sell it in the medium and mine need the large.

You really won't regret buying one

I've got one but I don't really use it on the hounds. But on the cat it is brilliant. Kaja moults continously and this helps get out the hair. I've removed so much but she will get sick of it. Unfortunately her coat has got so bad due to her age that I can't really do it very well with her now.
Getting back on topic I have used it on the dogs but just at the front of the throat area to help definition, but I am wary of stripping their coat

It doesn't seem to strip their coats so much as get the raggy fur from underneath. I don't use it so much on Murray as his coat hasn't fully come through yet but my lurchers William and Alfie have very rough coats and the furminator is brill on them

Mmmm...might be good for Xena as she has a thick, shorter coat but I doubt I would use it on Bree or Lockie as their coats aren't as thick.

Be very careful if you intend to use one of these on a Deerhound, it is a shedding blade!between the teeth it is very sharp, so its geared to smooth coats , cats etc, also people could be over zealous and end up making the poor dog or cat quite bald , this has happened and my vet had to deal with a skin infection caused by this on a dog

The best brush for a Deerhound is a Mason Pearson bristle and nylon, not cheap but will last years and years, most show exhibitors of Afghans poodles etc use this lovely gentle brush that gets right to the base of the hair to the skin

I would not recomend the furminator at all for Deerhounds

I agree with Ardneish. If your deerhound has the correct harsh coat why would you want to be pulling it all out?. This does work great on my Pug though but you have to be careful as too much can make thier skin sore. I wouldn't reccomend using it on a Deerhound.

I didn't think that the original post was about using a furminator on deerhounds - more other breeds of dogs but good advice not to use them on D/H's. Funnily enough I use a Mason Pearson brush on Murray. It was my grandmothers so has lasted for years. It is the only brush that she would use

Yes, those Mason Pearson brushes are very good. We also use a comb on the deerhounds which is called an untangler. It has rotating teeth which means you can pretty painlessly get through tangles. They are manufactured in the States but you can get them at most pet stalls at dog shows here in the UK.