Mat Zapper?

[Taylor & Huff]

Is the Mat Zapper good for getting mats out? I see that many people on here list it as one of their favorite doodle products. Huff gets mats pretty often and he doesn't like to stay still for brushing. Especially when the mats are around his belly area. What can I use that gets mats out gently? Any suggestions?

[Helen]

Is it a Matt Zapper? At first when I read the title, I thought is was a training tool. I have yet to deal with matts, but I am interested to see what others have to say for when I have to do battle.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

A matt zapper is kind of like a brush with blades. It can slice through the mats. If you use it too much it can badly thin the coat. There are some brushes and combs that you can use. Chris Christensen and LesPouchs have an expensive slicker brush where the handle is a bit flexible. They often work better than many of the brushes you might get at the pet store because of their design. They would not be worth the expense for a dog who doesn't mat much.

[Taylor & Huff]

Thanks:) We use a rake but for mats around his belly, you need to be extra careful because his belly is sensitive. I was just wondering if there was a gentler way (besides cutting).

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Pretty much - nope! There are products that help the mat come out before you brush. One is called Cowboy Magic. It is kind of like vasoline in texture and looks, but it is a silicon. When you put it on the mat and move it around a bit, you can usually comb/brush the mat out. Another product is The Original Horse Mane and Tail Detangler. It is a spray on detangler. You spray it on the area you want to brush, wait a bit, then brush. It works well also. You can get those products at a 'feed store' not at PetCo or that kind of pet store. I am sure Sun City has 'feed' stores that carry horse and other pet things. My dog's groomer says she likes BEDHEAD (for human kids) not the pet or adult one. She says it really makes the mats fall out.

[Taylor & Huff]

Thanks, this helped. I think I might use some of the bedhead. If I can find the Cowboy Magic, I think I will try it.

[Kemp Rader]

The Les Poochs Mat Zapper is a very firm "brush type" grooming tool. It does not have blades...it is equipped with firm bristles on a very firm brush head. It could be rough to use on a sensitive belly, but it does work very well for getting out isolated mats.
The "Mars Coat King" is a bladed tool that also works well for removing mats. This tool does have curved blades, but the sharp side of the blade doesn't touch the dog, only the blunt side touches the skin. You have to be careful removing the hair from the tool as your fingers will be exposed to the sharp side of the blade.
Both of these tools are very high quality, German made tools. I use the 6-blade Mars Coat King and the Les Poochs Mat Zapper (Regular Size) when grooming my four labradoodles.
I have these tools available at my Doodle Country Store, as well as all varieties of Les Poochs grooming brushes. I can help you select the correct brush variety for your dog. Please visit my profile page for a link to the store and if you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me any time at [e-mail].

Warmest Regards,
Kemp Rader
Ripley, Shiloh, Oliver and Truman

[Taylor & Huff]

Thank you fr all your info:)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thank you Kemp for clarifying. We don't have a mat zapper, but I thought that the bladed tool I have seen in pet stores was a mat zapper. Ned's groomer 'forbids' us to use one on Ned and Clancy doesn't mat. Was I correct in saying that overuse of the mat zapper thins the coat too much and causes breakage? At least that is why my groomer doesn't want us to use it on Ned.

[Kemp Rader]

Hi Nancy,

Yes, improper use of the Mat Zapper can damage the coat....many people try to use it as an overall grooming brush for their dog and that is not what it is designed for. The Mat Zapper has linear patterned bristles that should only be used on isolated mats. If used properly, it is a great tool to have available in your tool box for those particularly stubborn mats. I like to use it in combination with our GloCoat Detangling Spray...I am also considering carrying some of the other detangling products you mentioned, but I have to make sure they don't contain formaldehyde first...I know some detanglers do contain that. :-(

Thank you Nancy!!
Have a great weekend. :-)

Kemp

[Kemp Rader]

p.s. - the bladed tool is called a "Mat Breaker"...:-)
...they work pretty good, but I prefer the Mars Coat King.

Kemp

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Aha! I didn't know there was a difference between a mat zapper and a mat breaker. I will have to see if a mat zapper might be a good tool to add to Ned's grooming basket. I am going to have to check the ingredients on the products I currently have.

[Kemp Rader]

Thanks, Nancy!! :-)

Let me know if you find any "bad" ingredients....sometimes they don't list them if the product is not consumable...I often have to do a Google search and do some investigative work. :-)

By the way, if you decide to get a Mat Zapper we currently have free shipping (Priority Mail) on orders over $50.00. The free shipping is being offered through Monday (Labor Day). Just enter the word "doodle" in the coupon code box. Feel free to share this info with your friends. :-)

Kemp