It works almost as well as the regular Dyson models. I got this vacuum as a gift a few weeks ago and can report that for my dog's sheddings (a greyhound/beagle mix with a 3/4"-1", medium-course, hard to vacuum coat, like a really soft beagle) it works really, really well. However, I also have a regular Dyson (the one with the ball that pivots to steer it around) that I love.

The animal vacuum is the SECOND best vacuum in my house. Just get the regular dyson. It works better and it is sturdier. However, I will say that one day my dog shed so bad on the black upholstery in my car that it looked like he had blown himself up back there. The Dyson animal vacuum handled it with ease!

Actually, I have never seen a truly high-end vacuum that does not work well on pet hair. Hope that helps!
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Last time I needed a new vacuum I considered a Dyson, just because everyone who has one seems to love it. The thing is, almost any new vacuum is going to outperform your old one. Plus, I think people might be predisposed to love something with this kind of reputation and costing megabucks. When you read reviews, Dyson isn't rated significantly better than many other uprights.

I checked around, read reviews, compared prices and ended up with a Hoover canister vac and a Rooma. I have hard wood, carpeted and linoleum floors and these vacs can do it all. They replaced a Rainbow, which I thought was the be all and end all of vacuums, and do a better job of cleaning.

The Hoover is easy to move around and has excellent attachments. I use it when I want to be sure to get in corners, under things, up high or to get finished quickly. It does things I need that an upright can't do.

The Roomba I just love. It does a surprisingly good job for a overgrown Frisbee that works on its own. It does take time for it to clean a room, because it makes numerous passes. Also, it only does a couple of rooms on one charge. You can't beat it for ease and convenience, though.

I think asking for other people's experiences is a great idea. I hope my input helps. Good luck!
Source(s):
http://www.consumersearch.com/vacuum-cleaners
http://obviousdiversion.com/technology/dyson-dc14/

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I've had mine for 4 years, I currently have 4 pets, a Samoyed, a German Spitz, a Persian cat and a Siamese cat (all but the Siamese are long haired and white). Before I purchased this vacuum I was burning through one or two vacuum's a year. After 4 years this one is still going strong, I would highly recommend it to anyone with pets!
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I subscribe to Consumer Reports and the latest ratings state that this is a pretty good vacuum. It does pick up pet hair very well and works on bare floors and carpets very well. The major negatives are that its pretty noisy, not self-propelled so might be hard to handle and it's pricier than other vacuums like Kenmore, Eureka and Hoover but it also lacks some features you would expect at this price point such as -- suction control, manual pile-height adjustment, and a retractable cord.
Source(s):
ConsumerReports.org

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The dyson animal vacuum is absolutely amazing. I am a student at James Madison University, and I own an oreck and a dustbuster. We threw a huge birthday party and during the cleanup could not get any of the dirt and dust up with the oreck and the dustbuster. When my roomates girlfreind brought us her dyson we filled up the entire clear tube tray you can see above three times with a disgusting gray dust/dirt combo, and our tiny apartment looked spotless. I recommend it highly, my mom also uses it for our golden retriever, and it works, even on the wooodfloors.
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I don't own one but I just looked around all over the internet for reviews, and they're all stellar.

First off, it's bagless, which in my opinion is a plus. You never can quite tell how efficiently your vacuum is working with a bagged vacuum, and you can never actually tell how full that bag is.

Second, I see one thing people say that they do is try a regular vacuum and then the Dyson Animal. They say the Dyson still picks up a tremendous amount of lint after even an initial vacuum.

Third, I hear really good things about the attachments it has. They say they work well.

Hope that helps!!
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I have a Eureka Boss that uses RR bags. It is a powerful beast. I put it through hell; I have an ever-shedding White German Shepherd and two cats. I am surprised at how powerful the vacuum is. My understanding is that it was a Consumer Reports top performer, and they mentioned it was fantastic for pet owners. I honestly feel that the bags are easier to deal with than the model pictured above. Pop the top and throw them away. It is also a 5th of the price. I have always purchased the best of the best in my life, and the only time I have ever felt that the purchase yielded me any benefits over a moderately priced item (notice I didn't say cheap item) is the Rowenta pressure steam iron. Otherwise, it's always been "eh." I confess, I have not used the Dysons, but this Eureka will literally pull your carpet from the foundation if you are not careful - do you need more power than this?
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