Help! We have a Newfoundland who sheds like crazy, and a toddler who likes to eat dog hair.
Does anyone have a favorite vacuum that’s good for dog hair? My vet catalog recommends Oreck, but I don’t know if they get paid to say that.
Any suggestions?
The best vacuum for dog hair is Mr. Scarlett’s mother’s old, old Hoover upright with the scuffed paint, cheesy headlight, and humongous motor. Gets that carpet clean, boy.
Do NOT buy a Dirt Devil upright – the one we had sucked, and not in a good way.
The Dyson is a good choice.
It does not use bags and the part that is most likely to clog up is so easy to remove, clear and refit that it will leave you wondering why you bothered with other makes.
Last time I shopped for a vaccuum, the salesperson steered me away from the Oreck & sold me a cheaper brand; he said Oreck was not that good for dog hair. (I have Major Dog Hair Issues.) 
Besides, the Oreck commercials are so irritating I won’t even buy one.
Scarlett67 is right on. My favourite vaccuum of all time was an ancient mid 70’s commercial Hoover I bought for $60.00. It would suck the cats right off the carpet. I had it tuned up every year; I loved it & was so disappointed when the motor finally blew.
I have a Eureka with some fancy shmancy filter. Works OK.
Next time I go shopping for a vaccuum, I’m going to get another old reconditioned Hoover, though.
Something that might also help your dog hair problem is an “undercoat rake”. You can get them in most pet supply stores, and nearly all catalogs. They are a “T” shaped thingy: the handle is the up-and-down part and the head is a bar with one row of little nubbies.
After you brush out your Newfie with a regular slicker brush (to get rid of tangles, and this will pull out some of the hair), go at 'em with the rake. Start at the back of the dog and part the hair and rake down at the skin level, brushing back and out. Take the next hunk of hair up and do it again. Maybe your vet can show you, or a local groomer. Maybe a book from the library would do it for you. If you do it right you’ll wind up with a basket of hair in about an hour. For a short,straight haired dog you could use a “shedding blade” or “curry comb”.
Newfies shed like buffalo, so you’ll still need a good vacuum cleaner. I have a Eureka 10 amp jobbie, and it’s just O.K. Maybe you can train your dog to let you “Shop Vac” it. Get the hair at the source.
And, EJsGirl, yeah, Oreck pays the catalog to say how spiffy they are. If you do get an Oreck, be sure to get the bowling-ball-lifting attachment.
Yes, I have raked the dog, but there is really no alternative to Newfs “blowing coat.” We even shave him down to about 1 inch in the summertime. I know, I know, sacriledge, but it’s not fair to the dog for him to be so hot he can’t sleep (we are in SoCal).
So, an old Hoover? I can only guess how many people are saying “D’oh!” after getting rid of the old clunkers. Dyson was also mentioned, I haven’t heard of it but I’ll do a search.
It’s just so nasty when the toddler drops an ice cube, then picks it right up and shoves it back in his mouth, oblivious to the fact that it now has a fur coat. Yuck.
All the help I can get is great, thank you!