Matting Issues

[Sherry]

Hello Everyone!

I am new to this forum. Milo, our one year old doodle, is matting, around his collar area and back end.  We brush him all the time.  Any suggestions on shampoo or easy way to eliminate this issue? 

[Stella]

Join the grooming group for lots of good ideas and advice. A rolled leather collar might help reduce the matting on his neck. Brushing isn't enough, you need to comb right through his coat to the roots. Look on YouTube for videos on line brushing / combing and you'll see what to do. Some people swear by Cowboy Magic or Show Sheen to help keep the coat silkier and to help get trough the mats. 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Milo is at the age when his coat is changing and that's why he is matting so much. When my two were that age, I used a Resco #80 Comb and the red Les Poochs Matt Zapper. The comb will help you determine where the knots are, but you have to comb gently all the way down to his skin. Then use the Matt Zapper (also gently and without scratching him) to brush through the knotted tangles. Spend some time every day or it will be hard to keep his coat under control. After a few more months, you should be able to tend to his coat every week without too much trouble. Good luck. He's a cutie!

[Sherry]

Thank you for the replies.  Milo is looking great!  I love this site. Learning a lot!

[Lynda Kamrath]

I would say to shave him down and start over.  He is at the age when he looses his puppy coat.  Also some dogs just have a very thick undercoat which tends to matt heavily.  Don't use any rinse on his hair after bathing him as that tends to make it worse.  Good luck and it does get better with age.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We spray Horse Mane 'N Tail detangler on before brushing - let is sit a bit.  We use Cowboy Magic on a specific mat - rub some (it's like Vaseline) into the mat - let it sit a bit and begin brushing/combing through the mat.  We use LesPouches slicker brushes and a steel comb. I also have  Chris Christensen pin brush which I like but it doesn't work for serious mats.

 

If the mat is too terrible, I use rounded tip, fingernail scissors to slice through the mat in several places - slice the direction the hair grows from the skin out, never toward the skin.

My boys cannot wear the 'usual' collars you see. Those collars cause the mats.  They can either wear a rolled leather collar or the water collar. Rolled leather:

Our water collars were ordered from Hot Dogs All Dressed in Canada and are called Hydro collars. They are perfect if your dog gets wet. The rolled leather dye will bleed onto their coat.

[Leah]

Thanks. Good info. I didn’t even think of using a diff collar

[Sherry]

Thank you for the info above.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Your welcome.  I hope it helps.  Many doodles have matting coats.  Even my shedding one that doesn't mat much will mat around the neck and ears.