Vik-Advisor Review. Instruments of Torture.

So when I posted yesterday about the dreaded Christmas bath, an old friend of my human's sent her a note and asked about brushes for us PONs - or any long haired dog.  So my human thought that would be a good topic for my blog.  Note SHE thought it was a good topic.  To me, it's like writing about instruments of torture.  And let me tell you - she has a whole arsenal.  And heaven forbid when she goes to a dog show.  She slinks around looking at whatever tools people are using.  And then she HAS to get them.  We have fought many a battle in the war on mats - but some of our ammunition doesn't work all that well.

Although there are LOTS of options, she has a favorite group of artillery. Now keep in mind - there are MANY people who have been grooming PONs for a LOT longer than my human - so she is NO expert.  And NO doubt there are other tools out there that work even BETTER.  (Heaven forbid - she'll get more ideas when we post this.)  But these are the "go to" tools in our household. These are the tools that if she can't find one, she begins panic.  

The first is her favorite.  The cheapo, One 'n Only Argan Heat Professional Argan Ceramic Volume Detangling Comb.  No.  I didn't make up the name. For those who have been following my blog forever, you may recall that I wrote about it before.  My human still swears by it. It is THE comb that she uses when she begins our marathon brushing routine. She likes that it has a handle - it's easier on her wrist.  And it gets out loose mats very easily.  And the best part?  It's cheap.  As opposed to other tools in the arsenal.

http://www.sallybeauty.com/argan-detangling-comb/SBS-345719,default,pd.html

Now when she comes across a mat, which she occasionally does (cough cough), she pulls out the ActiVet Red and Purple Tuff Zapper brush http://www.groomershelper.com/buy-activet-brushes/  

OR the Les Pooches Mat Zapper. http://lespoochs.com/product/mat-zapper/ Honestly, these things are crazy expensive.  For heavens sake - it's a BRUSH.  BUT - they work. You will note that they tell you which breeds they work for. http://www.groomershelper.com/pdf/ActiVet-Information.pdf

If you use the brush on the wrong breed, their hair falls out.  JUST KIDDING.  But it seems helpful, or it may just be trick advertising.  But we DO use them to get mats out. And even Frodo AKA King Mat doesn't mind this brush.  One other note - there ARE cheaper versions of this brush on the market. And yes - we have those too.  Of course we do.  But for us, they just didn't work as well.

Next we have the Greyhound Pro Ultra-Lite 10" or 7.5"Poodle Comb CANDY.  http://greyhoundcomb.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20&products_id=11  

Another crazy name.  I mean we are NOT greyhounds and certainly NOT poodles.  And again - the price on this comb is  crazy.  BUT we have had it forever - and the teeth do not bend or fall out. It is used during the battle AFTER the other comb.  

And next  we have the more reasonably priced 4.5 inch Safari 558 comb- Seen here on a UK site, https://www.amazon.co.uk/Safari-Pet-Products-DSFW558-Comb/dp/B0002AQUQG
and here on a John Deere site http://www.scruggsfarm.com/coastal-safari-45-medium-fine-comb-w558.html   I picture lots of guys sitting on their tractors, brushing their dogs...  Anyway, this comb is GREAT for ears.  And feet.  Which we hate you touching.  But that's another blog.

When at Crufts, my human talked to a PON breeder who was using the Mini Rake Untangler.  So you KNOW my human had to find one.  And it does work to get out those mats in awkward areas.  Which I won't elaborate on...
http://www.theuntangler.com/products/rakes/rakes.html

And LAST - which we honestly don't always even use - but we have it - is the  #1 All Systems Pin Brush. We have the Oblong version - but there are obviously LOTS of options.  http://www.1allsystems.com/doc-eng/brush_comb.html 
We use this when the major torturing is OVER and my human wants to brush us down more.  But it's really a waste of time - we just shake ourselves off - and that's that.

So that's the PON arsenal.  And Astro?  Well my human is just beginning to experiment on him.  So far she could probably get away with JUST the purple comb!  He's a pretty "wash and wear" kind of dog - his grooming requirements are MUCH easier!!!!  The ActiVet brush does actually say "Picards"  in the list and she has used it on him - but he doesn't really mat like us PONs.  Time will tell as he gets older.

So that's my Vik-Advisor review for today.  Tomorrow I think I would rather review dog treats...

Have a good one!