May 4, 2010: 124 hours continuously wearing the human shoo!Tag
Well, it’s over. I’ve taken my shoo!Tag off. I see no evidence that the shoo!Tag worked to keep ticks outside of a “barrier” around my body. It did not keep ticks off of Oliver, the dog, either.
And what’s on the shoo!Tag strip? The tetherdcow.com looked at it. Here’s what they found.
SitStay.com tests and hand picks all products that go into the Store. If our tests and reviews show us that a product doesn’t work as the maker claims, we will not sell it. The shoo!Tag test was done because a Reader of The Dish by Darcie asked us about it. I felt that it was worth a try and I tried it.
We have an area of grass that never gets mowed where the deer like to bed down, it has historically been a good place to find ticks. This is the place we went for our final test of the shoo!Tag. A lot of people were worried and concerned for our safely and health during this testing period and we didn’t want to cause any more worry than necessary so we only stayed as long as necessary to encounter ticks. No ticks were allowed to attach to a human. The dogs run through this area occasionally and we do ticks checks every day so again, we watch out for their safety and health, too. I do love walking over here, it’s such a beautiful place, and on those days that I plan to go through this area I use a DEET product which does keep ticks from crawling on me. For this testing and experience with the shoo!Tag no other protection except for the shoo!Tag was used, no DEET or any other sprays, chemical or natural. My human control subject did not wear anything for protection from ticks. To keep this testing pure, I didn’t wear any makeup during the testing time. Sure is a good thing I’m not vain, I noticed that the camera really does add 10 pounds. I’m glad we were only using one camera.
Since this video was made, the SitStay Dogs have once again been treated with their spot on. Now ticks that we might miss in a tick check will bite the dog and die. One of my biggest concerns for natural tick treatments is that ticks can still ride into the house and take a blood meal from the next warm body. It’s a health hazard. I haven’t yet seen or tried a natural treatment that is 100% effective in repelling ticks, that means that they can and will ride into the house and have ample opportunity to begin an infestation. With the spot ons, and I don’t like chemicals any better than anyone else does, at least the ticks will die after they bite. I wish and hope for a better way.
My observations, experience with, and conclusion of the shoo!Tag: I don’t see evidence that it worked to keep ticks off at any stage from the beginning of wearing it on April 29 to the end of the test, May 4, 2010 after 124 hours of continuously wearing the Tag.
Please do note that this was not a scientific test as scientific tests go. We did use control subjects who entertained as many ticks over the life of the test as the wearers of the shoo!Tag did. I thought originally that I would need to sit down and be still and do quite a lot of walking with my control human to attract enough ticks to either prove or disprove the shoo!Tag. As it happened, the ticks showed up immediately and continued to climb onto both me, the wearer of the shoo!Tag, and onto Kent, my control human who was not wearing a shoo!Tag.
Click here to see the dog shoo!Tag video test conclusions.
Fact: Darcie wore the Shoo!Tag continuously for over 124 hours
Fact: She followed all directions as per the maker
Fact: Darcie is a healthy, happy person
Fact: Ticks crawled onto her clothes and body. (No ticks were allowed the time to attach for a blood meal.)
Warning: If you are creeped out by ticks, you may not want to watch all the way to the end of the video.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= J8Yzl12VvzU&w=560&h=340&rel=0]
Thank you wonderful people for all your efforts and time involved. We were so doubtful of this from the very first introduction of the Shoo!Tag. We too were curious to the effectiveness of the products. How wonderful it would be if it were the solution to all our buggy problems. You put it to the test and you obligated yourself to report it accurately and without bias. In my opinion, you have saved the health of many animals, just by putting yourself at risk. You performed the test with safety and with intelligence. You made us all part of the program. Bless you all. Special thanks to those beautiful four leggers as well. They are beautiful! Hugs to you all.
I purchased 5 ShooTags May 18, 2010. After 3 weeks I have seen SOME difference in the 4 cats but my dog is more infested with fleas than before the ShooTag. While the idea of ShooTag is a great one, the product just doesn’t produce. If you do decide to buy the product & try it, PLEASE read the return/guarantee carefully as they will only refund you for ONE tag purchased. Basically, the company does not stand behind the product. So, my suggestion is if you wish to try the product, buy one…that way if your not satisfied you can get your money back & not out for any tags over one that you buy.
I wanted these to work, I really did. THe idea of being mostly fly free for up to 4 months really made me excited. I hate fly spray, but sadly it looks like I will still be using it.
Cons:
#1 you can’t keep them attached to the horse. I tried braiding, tip tied to the halter, and even metal clips and every time they are off within a day. If they won’t stay on the horse, they don’t even stand a chance of working
#2 They just do not work even when they did stay atached. Even when they were on the horse they just did nothing. THere was no decrease in flies and the flies were even on the tags! I made sure to follow the instructions but it made no difference. THe flies were there until I used fly spray.
#3 there is no refund if they don’t work, so you will be out the purchase price. In todays economy I can’t afford to be out 20 bucks
So make sure you take heed. I really love the idea, but sadly it is just a pipe dream.
My cat has been wearing his for 3 weeks. It just doesn’t work at all but I really gave it a go by persisting for 3 weeks. Now I will try and get a refund……….