Doodle brushing! Help!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Yeti hates to be brushed. I feel so bad because he is getting matted a lot but every time we bring the brush out he tries to hide. We bought a grooming arm because it takes at least 2 if not 3 people
to brush him (1 to brush him and 2 to hold him down). We are finishing up a table for the arm and was wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks for distracting him from being brushed. I'm thinking a frozen kong held by my boyfriend while I brush but I was hoping for other ideas! I wish I could afford to send him to the groomer every month so she could take care of his mats but it's expensive!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Is that really a thing? I've heard people say this a lot?

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

He is still so cute!!! I'm so sorry you had this happen however, a lot of people would say this is the perfect time to start brush training with him. Every time his brush touches skin treat treat treat him! I say try something he doesn't get a lot (perhaps boiled chicken or ground beef?) Since he is so short now he won't have any (or many) tangles to work through so brushing shouldn't hurt him as much!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Frank, I would 'pretend brush him now when he doesn't really need it. Keep sessions short.  Cowboy Magic and Horse Mane N' Tail Detangler spray are my go-to products.  Ned is a major matter and we have him professionally groomed every 4 weeks and brush in between. 

Haley - the purpose of the brush is to enable the comb to go through - if you can shortcut it to the comb -- way to go.  With Ned's thick coat,  I really find that the LesPoochs brush helps me with mats before combing. 

Both of you -  Ned hates to be brushed (although our groomer has no trouble with him standing on the grooming table without being fastened - but then she has no trouble with any of them.)   Charlie and Clancy dislike brushing - I am not necessarily a gentle brusher - I am no nonsense, get it done person, but they will stay still for me to do it, with some repeated commands.  Ned disappears if he even sees a brush and knows my intent is him rather than the others - how he knows this, I have NO idea.  My husband and I use a team effort on Ned.  He snuggles him while I brush and comb him.  We do about 40 minute sessions and may or may not get through the entire coat.  When he was younger we brushed 3 times a week, now we wait about two weeks - he is matted and that is why we don't necessarily get done in a 40 minute session.  Because he hates this so much, I have gotten pretty liberal with my scissoring of matts.  I slice them the direction the hair grows from the skin outward; several slices per mat.  Once I get the bulk of the mat out, I cut off the rest.  He has so much fur/hair, that it doesn't show.  When he was matting the worst, this is the length we kept him  and I am thinking of going back to it.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Ned looks so cute this length! I do keep my guys shorter because it's hot here and they get in the ocean a few time a week. I'm not sure I would want to fight with them to be brushed. I'm glad the others are easier!

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Oh he does look so so handsome!!!! Thanks so much for the tips :) Last night we did about 30 minutes of brushing. Yeti squeals a lot and I always get so nervous that I hurt him. He tends to be kind of a baby so I try not to worry so much. I sprayed him with detangler and gently rubbed it all over. Combed through what I could then used a "de-mating" tool to try to get through some small mats he had. After that I used the green LesPooches brush to line brush all over his body. I know I didn't do the best job (the insides of his legs and belly are a challenge!!) but I was happy with what I did. I'm going to try to shoot for 3 times a week. I think we will both get better over time. In the mean time I'm ordering other random brushes that will hopefully help.

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

He seems less bothered by the comb or metal wire brush now that his hair is short.  

Questions:

(1)  How many times a week should I bathe him ?

(2)  Comb him daily, right ?  What about interim visits to a groomer to make sure I'm not missing anything -- worthwhile ?

(3)  Any comb/brush recommendations or fluids to untangle, let me know.  A few of you already made suggestions -- thanks !

Off to walk Curly, er, Teddy, right now..........LOL