Longest Possible Coat Length for Easy De-Matting

[Robin & Josie]

I've read through a lot of posts regarding coat change, haircuts etc., but I'm still not sure what to do.

Josie is almost 10 months and never had any significant matting until the last couple of weeks. She's been running around in the snow, which probably hasn't helped.

I've been trying to brush her out a little at a time or as much as she'll let me. Last week she went to day care and came home an absolute, filthy mess. It was a cold, rainy day and she loves to be wet. They have an outside section with toys, etc. and the dogs go outside to pee, etc., and my guess is that Josie spent quite a bit of time out there. The combination of her having been somewhat matted before she got there, being wet, running around in some mud and playing all day with the other dogs, left us with a huge task.

We did successfully brush/comb through her and de-mat her to the skin. Fortunately, she was exhausted from her day, so that made it a little easier. Then we went away for a little vacation (five days) and I was dreading what her coat would be like when I picked her up.

Surprisingly, after running around the entire time with other dogs, her coat stayed pretty mat free.

We'd like to avoid going through what we did last week and she's scheduled to be groomed on Thursday. I don't want to shave her (and that doesn't seem to be recommended anyway). I love her soft, fluffy coat and she would look like a different dog, I think, if we cut her too short.

On the other hand, we cannot be putting her through painful de-matting sessions either. 

Can we have it both ways? Cute length and easy combing? I don't mind brushing her every other day, and if she's not really matted, she doesn't mind either. She's only 12 pounds, so it doesn't take that long to go through her coat.

Suggestions for length? Pictures? I will add a recent photo so you can see what she looks like now...

Thanks in advance.

[Gerri]

I just posted a photo of McDuff on the puppy madness page of his first cut. He looked exactly like Josie before his cut. He is a little shorter than I wanted but not bad looking. He's about 3/4", but it seems that of he were 1.5",( like I wanted) it would still be manageable...not sure though

[Robin & Josie]

McDuff is adorable. I feel like Josie's hair has been that length before. I may ask for an inch? What about thinning? Does anybody do that with their dogs??

[Vivian & Mojo]

I think it depends on the kind of coat...fleece coats need more grooming and a Wool coat needs less. My Mojo has a combo of both, fleece on head and front legs and wool on back and hind legs. He can go to 2 inches without too much matting as along as I brush and comb him every few days.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It really does depend upon the coat type and the dog's age.  What you need to do is experiment.  Have your groomer cut her a bit shorter than usual and see if that length works.  If not, then go a bit shorter.  I haven't tried this but I met some people who take their dogs (not doodles) into the brush when they ride horses.  They spray the dogs with Horse Mane 'N Tale Detangler BEFORE taking them out. They swear that it helps keep things from sticking in the coat.  You might spray Josie before taking her to day care????   I do use this product on Ned and it helps get tangles/mats out.  Now that Ned is 5, we have found that the longer we go between brushing/combing, the better because the brushing itself breaks his coat.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Nancy that is really interesting - how long do you typically wait to brush now?

[Diane Sloan]

Sirus has a combo coat you can actually see the darker course golden retriever hairs popping up all over  he is pretty curly but not super tight and he will get a nice kink when long.  He is now 13 months he has a 6 inch coat and I trimmed it down to about an inch-give or take as I am not that good but after 3 weeks he looks much better and I was able to run the clipper with a comb through and things are looking much better and we are working on getting that tube shape to the front legs.  I am thinking if I keep him at about 2 inches or less we will be okay.  Molly has a very soft coat and I have her down to an inch at this point- she was also 6 inches but she only matts behind her ears.  She is about 2 and I think that is what has helped as well.  I do like the longer coats and I am going to see where I can get to.  Some said that they shed less when they are shorter well I have not noticed much change in the shedding.

I have seen some shaved down to the skin and well that for us was not an option.  I would just play with it.  I was able to keep Sirus at about 3-4 inches then that puppy coat started to come out and that with snow and the growth to 6 inches not to mention Christmas tossed in there just made it a mess, I completely understand.

Maybe ask them to go to 1 1/2 inch and see how it goes from there?

[Marie Dennen]

I have doodle clients of all lengths, 4 plus inches to less than half and inch. Regular scheduled grooming is my trick. I have been at this for a while and just can't take the extensive dematting or my wrist gives out. All my clients know they get the length they want only if they follow my maintenance schedule recommendations. The length is all going to up to you and how much work you want to put into. For a long doodle that is very active it does not take long to matt up. Also something to think about when you constantly dematt you are creating a cycle of more matts and worse. It damages the hair, picture those shampoo commercials that show hair at the microscopic level. The individual hairs get damaged , frayed and more easily hook up and wrap themselves around each. Keep the coat healthy and in good condition with very regular grooming and you see the difference. Some doodles are an exception to this. There is so much variation in their coats because of inconsistencies in the breeding that some just have crappy coats. Coats that matt up if you look at them cross eyed. I have one like this now. The owner and I have tried everything from going short to coming in everything two weeks. It is not a great coat. It is very fine, but also has tight curls.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Keep in mind - if you take her to the groomer the longest they can clip (shave with clippers) her is 1 1/2" unless you pay to have her hand scissored, which is at least twice as much $ in my experience, although if I could afford it I would pay for it in a heart beat! Also - not all groomers know how - the good ones do, but not Petsmart or places like that I don't think. Just something to think about. 

I have found that the only way to keep Darwin dematted is to brush and comb him every single day with a fine toothed steel comb and a slicker brush. Now, when he's shorter this takes a lot less time. For me - the time involved gets prohibitive at around 3".

This is about as long as we let him get

This is him with a typical haircut length. It's 1 1/2" on the head, and 1" on the body, grown out a bit.

[Robin & Josie]

Thanks all. I asked the groomer to cut Josie much shorter. She ended up at about an inch and a half. She also cut her armpits and chest even shorter, as these were the problem areas. Maybe shorter under the ears too. In any case, she's amazingly soft right now, and so far, no mats (it's only been a few days, but she's been running around in the snow, so maybe it's a good sign!). Time will tell....

[Camilla and Darwin]

She looks adorable!

[Robin & Josie]

Thanks Camilla. She is adorable. Like a live teddy bear. Except when she's chewing on my shoes. Then, not so adorable....

[Camilla and Darwin]

LOL!