I'm not really sure what's so different about the FURminator than the other stripping tools. I don't have any of those. I asked a friend of mine, who is a professional groomer, and she recommended the FURminator highly. People will come into her shop just to have their dogs FURminated. The cost is a bit much, however I don't have to take her in to be professionally groomed now either. It doesn't hurt her and it pulls just the undercoat part out, which is apparently where most shedding occurs. I was also glad that it came in a larger size for my larger dog. Good luck!