Best Tools for Dematting and Clippers

[Laura and Angus]

Hi everyone! 

I am inching toward doing full grooming for my pup. However, We brush him almost every day or every other day, but he still matts like crazy! What do you all use to get matts out? We have a comb and slicker brush, but I have seen a "dematting" tool that looks kind of like a brush. Does anyone use this? Perhaps we need to get a detangler conditioner/spray...any suggestions?

Thanks!

Laura

[Wanda Klomp]

Hi Laura,

If you are quick, you can still benefit from the Doodle self grooming challenge group that is assembled on my Facebook page. There are 7 FREE tips that are very useful for you plus extra blogs and answers to questions from other Doodle parents and a LOT of beautiful Doodle photo's :-)

Go check it out!

Facebook: search for 7 day Doodle self grooming challenge

Hope to see you there!

Lots of Doodle love, Wanda

[Laura and Angus]

Thanks for sharing, Wanda. I'll check it out! 

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Hi Laura!
I have always done my own grooming. The les pooches brush is great. I use a purple one for Yogi because he has a much thicker, longer coat. Then I use the green one for Maci, her fur is much thinner. They are expensive, but a good investment.
The other items in my arsenal are a rotating comb, Chris Christenson T brush, and a Safari dematting brush.
The Safari dematting brush is what I use if the matts do get ahead of me, like if I'm combing or brushing and come across a matt, I will grab the dematting brush, brush out the matt, and go back to the brush or comb I was using.
These brushes have served us very well!
I think depending on what you are using, sometimes you think you are getting down to the skin when you really aren't. So a matt can be starting and you don't really know it.

[Laura and Angus]

Thanks so much for sharing! I am going to check all these out to see how they compare to what I already have and how I can add to my arsenal. Do you ever use any detangler sprays or conditioners? It's hard because our pup has soft hair, but you may be right about not getting down all the way. I've been working on doing the line brushing, though his hair was really not long enough over the summer to successfully do this. Going to look into the dematting brush and the other ones you mentioned. Currently browsing and trying things out...we have a very wiggly doodle, so my groomer struggles to get him groomed fully. Thinking I should stop wasting so much money on an unfinished doodle...ugh

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I use "The Stuff" as a detangler spray. It works great after a bath to ease the brush out, plus it helps repel
dirt. I have also used several times after they swim and their hair is damp.
Just be sure you hold over the bath towel or do it outside because it makes the floor like an
ice skating rink ;-)

[Laura and Angus]

Yes! I've heard of "The Stuff" in other posts! I might have to get this - perhaps we'll start putting it on (in the bath tub) after baths to see if that helps. thanks!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I love The Stuff and Cowboy Magic Mane and Tail Detangler, I actually spread the Detangler on all over them when their coats are still wet to help prevent mats. I know you can also use it to "spot treat" mats too and it works really well.

[Laura and Angus]

Perfect, we're going to get some detangler stat. I'm thinking we'll try out The Stuff first to see how that works with our little buddy. Thank you :) 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Hi Laura ~ if you checked out Wanda's 7 day grooming challenge you probably saw the great tool for dematting.  There are also lots of tips in the grooming group on this site.  If I remember right, Angus is probably about 1 yr old now and he is just getting his mature coat, so he is probably matting off the charts.  My first doodle Charlie has such a woolly fleece and so much hair that when he went through the coat change I would brush him before bedtime and in the morning he would already have mats starting.  I ended up going shorter with him and that helped.  We made it through and I can tell you there is light at the end of the tunnel!  IMO the mature coats are so much easier to care for. Hang in there.

[Laura and Angus]

oh my gosh that's crazy! He's 16 months and, yes, this seems like it must be the his coat change based on what others have said about matting. It's really tough! He had to get shaved down short at the groomers - I think I agree with you that we'll keep him short. Luckily we got him an adorable coat for winter :) I will definitely check out the grooming challenge Wanda mentioned when I get home :) Thanks for sharing your experience!

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Hi Laura,

By far the best tool that I have found to prevent matting in the first place is an undercoat rake. What it does is lift out all of the dead soft hair that stays near the skin in "non shedding" dogs.

I don't recommend the kind of rake that "cuts" through the coat- those can damage the coat and make if even more prone to matting. The one I have is similar to this:

If I rake her 3 times a week followed by a steel comb, she gets absolutely no matts. I have a purple Activet brush, but honestly it was very time intensive to "line brush" her every day with it. And, it never got out the dead hair as much as the rake does. I also have a Chris Christensen T Brush that I use for "everyday fluffing."

After I shampoo Winnie, I spritz her with Chris Christensen's Ice On Ice spray. It's a nice product that makes brushing easier and doesn't attract dirt.

Hope that helps!

[Laura and Angus]

Thank you so much! This rake sounds interesting, might have to add it to our toolkit at home. I'll also have to look into the Ice On Ice spray - we want to have options cuz we're definitely moving toward doing the majority of grooming activities at home (I said we, but I mean me haha). I just want to get better at the process!