looking for quality dematting comb-long/short, jagged/smooth?? which is better?

[Diane Sloan]

I have a long dematting comb with a jagged edge and I like it as it is not thick so I can get closer to the skin if needed. But I hate the length of the blades as it can be awkward (probably because I am still getting used to this)  I was looking at getting a shorter bladed one but can not find one at a pet store so I guess I have to go online and order one so I am looking for ideas.  I did find  a shorter blade one at Petsmart by Conair but the blades are very thick so you would not get close to the skin it was also smooth on the blade.  I found one at Pet Supplies Plus that was jagged but the handle was 3 pieces which seemed flimsy. 

Any ideas?  I have a high velocity CC dryer that works great to get out most mats and if I blow them out every couple days we stay in good shape.  I also use the Les Pooch brush.  I am looking at getting a CC T brush (I think) as I am using a hartz pin brush that the handle is starting to slip off (but I love the feel of the brush). 

I skipped about a week of brushing/blowing out and I paid for it with long coats and one doodle being 11 months old I cut him from a 6 inch coat to a 4 inch coat which helped some with the tangles and having to brush/blow every other day.  He is also a combination coat. The other has a fleecy coat. 

So all that to say any ideas on a good short bladed tool and what is better jagged or smooth?

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Fav comb http://www.showdogstore.com/chris-christensen---9-3-4-the-brat-long...

And fav brush for some uses http://www.showdogstore.com/chris-christensen-pin-brush.aspx

The wooden pin brush is not a dematter. Les Poochs brushes are best for that.

[Diane Sloan]

what about those mat cutters?  I have a similar poodle comb those are great.

[Yvette & Emma]

Hi Barb-

This is my first Doodle and must say I am very nervous of all this matting talk. My last 7 dogs were 6 Shelties and 1 Collie obviously these coats are very different from Emma's.

She is only 6 mos now and only matting she has had is under chin and on her face by mouth. I felt that was too sensitive to try to comb out and and frankly not very experienced at this yet. So we cut the mats out .. was this bad to do?

I have seen the recommendations of the brushes. Where do you buy the Les Pooochs brush. Their website was somewhat confusing.

Lastly, what are your thoughts on detangler and conditioners do they help?

Thanks for your help and input.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

If you keep your puppy brushed and combed to the skin and have the coat no longer than 2 inches during the coat change, you will be fine. It's trying to keep a long coat during the coat change that is the problem. Or letting the brushing and combing get behind. If you do these 2 things, the puppy coat will be gone and the adult coat will be much easier to handle. You cannot get rid of the puppy coat by shaving it off. My adults that went thru the coat change do not mat anymore and my recent fleece coated puppies have almost no coat change compared to my puppies I had 8 years ago.

My favourite shampoo, cream rinse and finishing spray are from Stazco. Or I use Best Shot.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You can get help deciding which LesPoudhs brush to get by using Doodle Country Store http://www.doodlecountry.com/  or contacting the owner, Kemp, who is a member here.  http://www.doodlekisses.com/profile/KempRader?xg_source=profiles_me...

He has doodles himself and can guide you in the best brush for the dog's size and coat.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I've used several dematting combs/tools and my favorite (and the one I'm using exclusively these days) is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Safari-De-Matting-Comb-for-Dogs/dp/B0002ARR2W...

Maybe that's the one you already have, but for mats close to the skin, I find it works best. It also works wonders on large, dense mats. There's a specific way to hold it, using the extended thumb rest which gives you more control over the tool.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

I find those blades cut and thin the coat too much. I would rather scissor the matting in half in the direction of hair growth and work from there. I don't have much in the way of matting anymore as all but one of my dogs is over 2.

[Diane Sloan]

Debb I have one similar to that one but mine does not have a thumb rest and maybe that is why I find it to be awkward to use.

I assumed Si's mats were from being so long.  I keep reading about puppy coat -which he is just turning 1 so maybe that is my trouble.  I am finding mats at the armpits and I do find a few where they grab each other at the shoulders playing.  They are small about the size of a dime or nickel as the largest one and those larger ones are under his front legs when I find them. 

I am thinking maybe I need to take him to a groomer that knows doodles and have them work their magic and see if it is that darn puppy coat.  That or I am going to have hours of sitting here with the les pooch brush.  But I am sure they will laugh (just like my hair dresser does when I say oh I had to do a trim)

Barb I am going to pray that things get easier, I love these dogs but right now with the days so short and holidays coming getting that extra hour of grooming every other day or so has not been easy.  I now have a pair of scissors on the side table that I just cut the tiny mats that I find.  -I think that is more shedding hair as they are pin head size or so but I can feel them when I run my hand over them. 

Both are rescues and we always had shepherds.  They shed but don't mat.   These 2 are shedding and I find fine fuzzy hair all over.  For those that have non shedding doodles, I am jealous although I have heard that since we keep them longer that is part of the problem. 

Yvette we got out les pooch from someone that put in a bulk order with them so I am no help there but they do hve them in the doodle country store but are sold out at this time.  I got the wide blue one we were looking to get the one that was a bit below that in toughness but they were sold out of them at that time.  I am glad we got the blue one as our second doodle has a much thicker and course coat than the first and the one below the blue one does not go through his hair well (they are expensive but work much better than a regular slicker brush on these doodles I think)  I have a huge bin of brushes and while many of them are not super expensive I have to say the Les pooch works the best.  I have a cheap knock off that is soft that I use on the faces.  It would never make it for a full body.

Tonight I will try to brush him and see if I can get more puppy coat out I do know that I get several brushes of fur out of him when I go through.

Anyone know of a good doodle groomer in the Lake/ Geauga area of Ohio?