Ace hates all aspects of taking a bath. She hates when I run the water. She hates when I plop her into the tub. She really hates the soap, and she definitely hates the rinse. By the time we get to toweling off, she is ready to explode out of the bathroom. She would rather forgo being towel dried and instead madly rub her body all over my couch or the rug. Trying to juggle a towel with a squirmy, slick-wet Boston Terrier often results in the towel being dropped in the bathtub water or with Ace erupting in a mighty shake all over the bathroom walls (and her tired Mama).

During Ace’s most recent bath, I tried the Soggy Doggy Super Shammy ($19.99) to see if it would make bath time a little easier. Like other Soggy Doggy products, which include dog mats and beds, the Super Shammy is made of chenille microfiber “noodles” designed to soak up water and collect dirt and debris. The Super Shammy claims to absorb up to seven times its weight in water! That’s pretty incredible, especially when you consider the Super Shammy is machine washable and dryable. Dogster noted the release of the Super Shammy in 2012, but I decided to put it to the test to see if it really is as super as it’s purported to be.

The first thing that struck me about the Super Shammy is its incredible softness. I’ve used microfiber towels with Ace before, and those towels became scratchy and rough after multiple trips through my dryer. I washed and dried the Super Shammy according to its instructions, and I’m happy to report it is still as soft as when I got it. I’d love to have a robe made out of this stuff for myself! I can see why Soggy Doggy makes a bed out of this material.

The Super Shammy comes in one size and has a unique design. At either end of its rectangular shape, the corners of the fabric are sewn into a V-shaped pocket. When drying your dog, you wear the Super Shammy with your hands in these pockets, allowing you to give your dog a good rub down with the Super Shammy securely in hand.

Drying Ace with the Super Shammy was different than drying her using a towel. Think of the Super Shammy as two absorbent oven mitts connected by a narrow towel. Instead of covering her body with a towel and then moving my hands around to rub her dry, I primarily dried Ace using the material of the hand pockets. For this reason, I think the Super Shammy could still be a good tool to use on larger dogs. Ace is a small dog (15 pounds), and I had more than enough material with which to dry her.

I found the Super Shammy to be quite absorbent, particularly given its petite size and light weight. With a few well-positioned swipes, Ace was acceptably dry to exit the bathroom. I’m betting Ace likes the Super Shammy because it makes her dreaded bath time just a little bit shorter.

I’d love to see what the Soggy Doggy Doormat could do for Ace’s muddy dog paws! Check out this video of the Soggy Doggy Doormat in action.

Dogster Scorecard for the Soggy Doggy Super Shammy

• Quality: The Super Shammy seems durable; it survived trips through my washer and dryer while retaining its softness.
• Style: I’d love to see more than three color options for the Super Shammy!
• Function: The Super Shammy dried Ace quickly and efficiently.
• Creativity: I love how the design of the Super Shammy lets you pick up your dog and easily dry hard-to-reach areas like the belly.
• Value: Since this is the only towel I need for drying Ace, I’m willing to part with $19.99.

Bottom line

I’m recycling my old microfiber dog towels into rags, because the Super Shammy is the softest, snuggliest, most absorbent towel I’ve ever used.

Dogster readers, have you used any Soggy Doggy products with your dogs? Share your experiences in the comments section below. I would especially like to hear the experiences of large dog owners –- was the Super Shammy big enough and absorbent enough to dry your dogs?

Learn more about dogs with Dogster:

• The 10 Naughtiest Dog Breeds
• The World’s Most Popular Dog Names for 2013
• 5 Myths About Dog Behavior That Often Lead to Tragedy

About the Author: This East Coast transplant enjoys the bounty of San Francisco, including its microclimates, farmers’ markets, and secret stairway walks. When she’s not walking with, talking about, or kissing the face of her Boston Terrier, Ace, she blogs about Ace’s adventures. Product reviews writer and guinea pig at Dogster.