Brushing / matting?

[Michele Kiss]

Our 5-month-old miniature labradoodle is petrified of brushing - we can't go near him with one. We have even bought three kinds figuring one of them would be better! We have tried giving him treats/peanut butter/etc and we can't even get him to have the brush next to him still. 

We do take him to the groomers (he has been twice so far) so he does get brushed. Is grooming enough to avoid him ever getting matted? I don't want to ever have to shave him down, but it's so hard to get him over this fear of brushing... 

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Periodic grooming may be enough right now, but it will not be enough in the near future to keep him mat-free. I find new tangles on Ragley daily right now (she is in her coat change period) and her coat is on the easy end of the spectrum as far as upkeep. Soon the coat change will hit and brushing AND combing every 1-2 days will be necessary to keep him tangle free. Have you tried a comb?

[Michele Kiss]

We have the following types of brushes: 

Rake style: http://www.petsmart.com/supplies-training/brushes-combs-blow-dryers...

Brush style: http://www.petsmart.com/supplies-training/brushes-combs-blow-dryers...

Glove brush: http://www.petsmart.com/supplies-training/brushes-combs-blow-dryers... 

And he hates all of them :-(   No comb but I sort of doubt that would be okay... 

I'm guessing we'll just have to hold him and force him to deal with it :-(  Are there any other options that might be better? Or, that are quicker to do (so it's less time for him?) 

[Stephanie and Ragley]

I can't think of anything off the top of my head, but I will tell you that now that I have a stainless steel comb, I rarely use my slicker brush on Ragley anymore. She prefers the comb and I like knowing that it does a better job than a slicker brush anyway. I'm sorry I can't be of more assistance!

[Michele Kiss]

No you've been super helpful! Thank you so much for the responses. It is worth trying a comb - who knows...! 

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

Honestly we've never used our slicker brush, we're stainless steel comb fans too! I wasn't sure if it was as good as the slicker brush, but I figured if I could see skin and just line combed it would be okay. Glad to hear it's better! :)

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

Maybe have one person hold until he settles while meanwhile petting. Other person starts a real easy brushing while treating. Keep the sessions very short at first, praising constantly. We started brushing Yogi from day one, our first brush was a very soft bristle brush, it didn't pull at all, it was only to get him accustomed to the feel of being brushed and only lasted maybe 10 seconds at first. Then we eventually moved to stiffer brushes and combs.
I personally use what was the les pooches brush and a steel comb with rotating teeth. Yogi is just about 10 months now and he has been matting since 9 months. It just happens overnight and does require a LOT of brushing while going through this stage. Good luck and keep at it!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

First of all, he is adorable and like you I wouldn't want to shave him so you need to get this under control now.  It is never going to be any easier than it is now, so here are my thoughts.  Where do you have him when you are trying to brush him?  Do you have him up on a counter or table or somewhere?  If not, that would be my first suggestion.  Not sitting on the sofa or bed or floor, up on something.  I would also have one person feeding him really yummy treats.  Something he doesn't normally get that smell really yummy.  I wouldn't have someone try and force hold him.  The tighter they hold the more he will fight and it will make it a scary experience.  Then I would get some type of a slicker brush and a steel comb with wide teeth and narrow teeth.  Les Pooch is a very popular brush for doodle owners but the company is in the process of moving at the moment and they aren't available right now.  So some other type of slicker brush.  The brushes you are using are pretty much useless on his coat type.  Many people hate a slicker brush because if you hit your fingers with it it hurts.  You have to learn to keep your fingers out of the way.  My Sophie hated any type of brush or comb except the Les Pooch slicker type brush.  If she saw me pick up a comb she got wiggly.  But the Les Pooch, no problem.  Once you have him up on a table, just lay the brush and comb out and let him sort of look at them, touch them while giving him the really good treats  (could also be something to chew on like an antler or peanut butter on your finger.  Whatever he loves).   If that goes well, just let him down for a little while.  A little later, do it again.  If it goes well, this time, still feeding little yummy treats, start on his rump area and just comb easy.  Very calm environment, no yelling, no holding tightly, just comb easily.  If he seems scared just lay the brush down again and let him look and sniff and try the comb.  Show him before you start combing.  If you get two or three swipes with the comb then stop on a positive note, reward and let him down.  Each time do a little more.  You might also go on you tube and search for videos of line brushing golden doodles.  Line brushing is a very good method for brushing a doodle.   If all of this fails then I'd talk to the groomer you are using and see what they are doing.    As everyone has said he might be mat free now, but he isn't going to stay that way in a couple months without regular brushing with a really good brush and a comb.  You will need to be sure you are getting all the way down to the skin.   Let me know if there is anything else I can help with.  Good luck.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Here are the videos I was thinking about.  http://www.doodlekisses.com/video/2065244:Video:36241

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I didn't mean "force" hold. One of the things we taught Yogi at a very young age per our trainer was to hold him and once he settles( I mean go limp and sigh) to do purposeful handling such as look in ears, play with paws, brush, etc. just get him used to being handled( and I guess be submissive). I've seen rescue dogs at an older age come in and be taught this and they learned to relax and allow their new owners to take care of them.
This also came in very handy a few weeks ago when he had a femur bone wedged on his lower jaw. He started panicking, I told him to settle while holding, he calmed down and allowed me to work it off.
It's not a mean or rough thing at all. Didn't want it to come off the wrong way :-)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Leslie -- Hope you didn't think I was saying you were "force" holding.  I just wanted to make sure they didn't.  Sometimes I think it seems like the natural thing to do when they won't hold still and it really only makes it worse.

[Michele Kiss]

Thank you SO much for the counter / table suggestion. It made a huge difference! 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Glad to hear that things are improving.  Be sure as you progress to pay particular attention to the area under neath his front legs (like his armpits), behind his ears and on his neck and collar area.  These are areas that tend to mat a lot!