HELP! Grooming a doodle with long straight hair!

[Lauren Heiden]

My doodle has long straight hair.. we cut her short once a year and want to do it ourselves this time since we cannot find a good groomer.  She is full of mats this year.  Please suggest the grooming tools we will need.  We want her to stay as long as possible but she still needs a trim.  Please help!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I tried looking at pictures of your dog so I could get a better idea of his coat; it's hard to tell from your profile photo.

Jack has long straight hair, too, but it sheds, and he never gets a haircut. He also doesn't mat much. Your dog's coat is probably thicker than Jack's.

Mats are best dealt with by combing and brushing several times a week, regardless of how often you cut their hair, although longer hair will be harder to keep mat-free.

I think you will get the best advice on do-it-yourself trims and proper tools in the Grooming Group.

[Leslie J]

Cocoa also has long straight hair.  It was full of mats last November and I had it cut very short.  I learned my lesson then- She must have every inch of her body (down to the skin) combed out every week or the mats become uncontrollable.  When it was shorter it took about 45 minutes.  Now it is very long and taking an hour and a half to comb her out entirely (I do it in 4 different steps so it doesn't take so long in one sitting)... it is now starting to get uncomfortable for her.  With the weekly combing I have managed to keep her mat-free.  I know if I missed a single week it would soon be out of control.  Now that it's long I use a Les Poochs brush first and then follow up with the comb (except on her belly which is too sensitive for a brush and mats very easily).

If she is already full of mats I don't think that there is much you can do without making her suffer.  Each mat needs to be cut and combed and it would take an incredible amount of time.  If I were you I would have a compassionate groomer cut her short and start combing her every single week.  I learned the hard way because I had never had a dog which matted so easily.  I now know that my doodle either needs to have short hair or lots of grooming!

[Lauren Heiden]

Thank you sooooo much, Lisa for your advice.  This helped tremendously! Is the Ice on Ice what you dilute and use all over to melt away the matts or is it the shampoo? Again, thanks for bringing hope to my situation!

-Lauren

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Conditioner,conditioner,and more conditioner!! It;s not fun when we have to shave them! Good luck!