[NO] Matty the Border Collie by Don’t Hug Cacti

We were not told what year this project was completed on, the item being reviewed could possibly not reflect the makers current work.




Maker Information

Don't Hug Cacti Based in Arizona.


Year of Project2016 or earlier

Completion Time (?)7 - 12 Months

ETA AccuracyYES - the ETA was accurate
An ETA is the Estimated Time of Arrival for a project.
In other words, an estimated turnaround time.
An ETA is not a deadline.


Review Date2 April 2022

RelationshipThe maker is NOT a friend
This relationship was indicated by the reviewer at the time this review was written.


Review Information
ReviewerMatty McDoggyPants

Prior ExperienceThis was my first fursuit

Wear Time500+

Informed Maker of IssuesI told them about certain issues, not entire everything at the time.


Matty

Negative

ProjectThis item was a commission

Paid: A Payment Plan of $1000 - $2999

Initial Contact: February 2012

Completion/Ship Date: December 2012

Shipping Origin: USA

Type: Fullsuit

Style: Toony

Padding: Plantigrade

Specialties: None


SpeciesName: Border Collie

Found in: Canidae(?)

Features: None


Concept Art


Photos of Completed Product



Overall

Initial ContactIt was easy. I contacted DHC through email as listed on their website. It was easy to make my DTD, and the suit ended up fitting perfectly with my body at the time. To pay for it, I paid through money orders


Maker CommunicationProfessionalism was okay, it was under a bit in expectations. I felt like I was treated almost like a friend as I was able to do a video call with Lucky at the time which she stated she never did during production stages. I was also able to get a WIP of my suit, which she also stated she never did with others.

Project Completion TimeIt was email, but also Skype. My suit was not made on time, it was about a month or two my suit was completed and shipped. DHC did pay for my shipping, which they stated to be $75, which I believe to be not a normal occurrence for the company.


Overall Project QualityOverall, I am happy with it. The suit has been great over the past decade and I plan on continuing to wear it. If I had to give a rating for the quality of the suit, I'd say its around 70/100. My suit was $2400, which Lucky Coyote stated my costume was the lowest priced commission, which I would believe to still be, giving the increase of prices over the years for their suits. I'm ambivalent on if the suit was worth the price at purchase, but I have had the suit for near 10 years which would mean $240 a year so far, which made it quite a nice investment . If the suit was made recently given the price increases with DHC's suits, It would've not been worth it. If I had to compare to other suits at the same time it was completed, visually, it was just as good as other "higher end" fursuits of the time, mainly due to the eyes. Construction wise, they don't seem to have changed much given I have seen the quality of construction in newer suits such as one completed in 2021 that is listed on this website. If I were to update my character's eyes, It'd look just like a more contemporary suit.


Components


Head

Wear SatisfactionWhen I got my hair, the inside of the maw wasn't fully glued down, and also exposed, which cut my lip the first time I wore it, given the sharpness of the glue's dried formation. The vision is perfect. The head fits snugly, yet comfortably.


Visual SatisfactionFor the time, the fursuit looked very new "in style". Now, it looks more vintage compared to newer ones, mainly with the styling of the eyes. The ears are floppy, like actual border collies. My only issure with my fursuit was they did not come with eyebrows, unlike other fursuits they have created. The head around the brow area does have black fur, however it would be a nice touch, considering when people look at my suit close.


One-Piece Body

Wear SatisfactionWhen I got my fursuit, it fitted perfectly given my body type at the time and over the years, did stretch a bit as I was still growing at the time. The stitching wasn't the best and did cause small holes over time with movement. The suit's airflow is good, never had an issue with sweating too much or getting overheated indoors.


Visual SatisfactionMy suit looks just as I wanted it and matched the concept art at the time, aside without the eyebrows. I have updated the fursuit myself, giving it circle blush cheeks.


Hands

Wear SatisfactionThe hands fit well and as it was my first fursuit, I had to get used to the 4 digits, of course. The pawpads were made with 2 way stretch shiny black PVC, which did not hold up over the years. If they had used 4 way stretch PVC, the pawpad material would've lasted longer.


Visual SatisfactionThe claws were too small to my liking but overall, the paws were perfect at the time. Matched concept art.


Tail

Wear SatisfactionFirst and wear perfectly. Never had an issue with the tail integrity wise. Around the belt loop it is matted but that is expected with the motion movements involved.


Visual SatisfactionLooks great, even to this day.


Feet

Wear SatisfactionThey wear perfectly, even to this day. The quality of the seams however, were very low. They actually got loose after 2 uses and unstitched. I reinforced them myself, which should have been unnecessary until later with more wear and tear as expected.


Visual SatisfactionThey looked like the concept art, though wished the claws were more visible.


Special FeaturesPaws came with Shiny two way stretch PVC as I requested it. Due to the nature of the material, it wore over the years and the plastic coating now is ripped off in various areas. If the paws were to use 4 way stretch PVC, there would not have been an issue.

RatingFursuitReview rates by asking the question:
Would you recommend this maker?

NO This review has been marked with a negative rating.
This means the reviewer would NOT recommend Don’t Hug Cacti unless they significantly change their practices.

Final CommentsAt the time, I would recommend them, but now, definitely not. Firstly, the prices are exorbitant given the price to quality ratio. I'm sure if I got my fursuit from them now, it'd be around the $4000 mark, which I would not be able to justify given quality has not increased much via testimonials and evidence through pictures from other DHC suiters. As of recent, The makers of the company are also at the center of a scandal and with their ideals and beliefs, I cannot recommend them to someone that cares for animal rights and consent as the makers have been accused, with evidence from survivors, of grooming minors, manipulation and participating in beastiality.

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Comments

  1. i think this review is kind of ridiculous and unfair, no matter how ‘cancelled’ the maker is. you got a suit for a much lower price than they charge nowadays and got over 500 hours of wear and its still a good suit. fursuitreview is a review of the suit and what you received then, not a reflection of the company Now.
    i dont care what opinions on DHC is, this is just a bit silly to rate it No when i read all the overwhelmingly positive things youve received for the product you got in 2016

    Reply

    • Something to take into consideration is inflation when discussing the price as well as DHC own increase in pricing. Inflation in the United States has increased about 30% since I paid for the costume. This review is accumulation of a decade’s use of this costume, my person experience with interacting with the company, as well as my personal feelings in regard to it; this includes everything from when I contacted the maker to currently. This fursuit was completed in 2012, not 2016. As the personal owner of the costume, everything I have written here is my authentic experience and I still would not recommend them to this day for the same reasons. The negative rating states “This means the reviewer would NOT recommend Don’t Hug Cacti unless they significantly change their practices.” I do not agree with their practices within the company and outside. You’re free to have your own opinion on this, but at the end of the day, this review is a combination of my subjective and objective thoughts and views that encompass everything from the start of my suit to currently.

      Reply

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