I'm overwhelmed and need a reality check

[JerZeeGin]

I feel like I'm in over my head.  The groomer I used for 15 yrs on my poodle told me she can only shave the doodle matts and there is no other reasonable choice.  So I researched posts here and elsewhere and decided to groom her myself, bought a ton of supplies that would work better on a doodle than what I had for my poodle: lespooch green brush and red matt zapper, ear powder, and andes grooming electric shears, and Cherrybrook natural grooming spray for tangles.  I also began giving her salmon oil (organic, wild) this week, and made and use the homemade lemon spray...her hair is a little shinier and slightly more silky but essentially no difference yet.

Here's the problem...essentially I have no qualms about grooming Ginger, but it takes me days to work through the matts and by the time i get to the tail, her head is matted again.  I can't even get her matt-free enough to use the shears.   So I hand trim with scissors, but that looks a bit hacked.  It's been two solid weeks of effort and I'm no better off than before I started,  and >$200 in the hole, and her hair keeps getting longer and matting worse with each week that goes by. 

So, I did more research and read about the magic of Isle of Dogs Rehab kit for detangling but i read found some comments on another site that there is too much fragrance in their products and I decided I don't want to mail order any of these products because I can't smell them first (I am allergic to a lot of fragrances).  And I thought what am I doing buying more products anyway, when absolutely nothing I've done has made any difference at all.  I can honestly see why my friend shaves her doodle 2 or 3x a year. 

 

Is there any common products that I can find in stores for me to smell? Should I use the trimmers right after I've dematted an area?  Sorry to sound so needy...but where am I going wrong?

 

Thanks,

Cathie

[Diana Allen]

I hear your pain, I am sorry that I can't help but I wanted you know, you are not alone in this problem! Cagney is always a work in production! Just like you said! I think I resolved to the fact that he will be a matty dog from time to time, as long as I can keep his head presentable and just keep at it when I can that is the best I can do. I don't really want to have him shaven down. It is frustrating yes for sure. I sit there sometimes and put the matts a part by hand first before he gets brushed, it seems to help. Best of luck! :)

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

How old is she?  Is she going through the coat change?  Murphy started matting like crazy around 10 and a half months.  I shaved Murphy, it was just easier than fighting with the mats and I am sure he feels much better now that I am not constantly pulling and tugging on his matted hair.  I wouldn't even attempt to groom him myself so I can't help you but I do feel your pain and I can tell you that Isle of Dogs products do have a very strong smell like perfume.  Good luck! 

[JerZeeGin]

Thanks.  Yes, her coat is changing.  She is just 13 months and it all started around 10 months of age.  I really really don't want to shave her and I hate the idea of paying a groomer to shave her.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Ronna, the same thing happened with my Murphy.  The matting started around 10 months and a few weeks ago I could no longer put him or myself through the "fight" of dematting.  I had him shaved down to about an inch, and I have been so happy that I did this.  Now I just give him a quick brushing a couple times a week, and he stays perfect.  Once he's through the coat change I'll let him grow out, but we are both so happy now.  I'd do it again in a flash.

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Jane, me too!  We are both much happier.  I actually think I am going through my coat change with him and I am sure thinking about whacking all my hair off too.

[JerZeeGin]

I don't think that will work for us, but I do see the value.  It's too cold still here and I can't get the 1 inch trimmer through the matts.  I'm so discouraged.  I just worked for the last 2 hours and only got through the head, neck and shoulders.

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Murph was shaved right before Christmas and the cold and snow didn't seem to bother him at all.  I just decided to look at it from his point of view.....I sure wouldn't want someone pulling on my hair for two hours at a time.  I totally understand not wanting to lose the beautiful long doodle hair.  I hope one of the more experienced DK home groomers can give you some advice.  I look forward to reading their advice so I will be more prepared for Doodle number 2.  At least you can give us reviews on all the products you have purchased :)

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

If you scissor the coat to 2 inches, even if it's a bit rough it will give you enough coat to pull agains the mattes. Going thru the coat change is a pain, but at 2 inches, it will happen a bit faster because you can keep your dog combed out. Table drying is the only way to really prepare your dog's coat for a clipper with an extension.

There is shave, and then there is naked. If I cut my dog's coats down to 2 inches and then dematte and table dry, I can get almost any clipper blade thru.

 

And yes, by the time you get to dematting the tail, the head is matted again at this phase.

 

Scissor coat shorter first, dematte, wash, table dry, use a longer blade. This is the process although it is backwards to a groomer's training.

[JerZeeGin]

Hi Barb, this order makes sense so i'll try it.  Just a question about the shampoo...I'm using a conditioning shampoo and was told to not use any rinse-out type of conditioner but to use instead a leave-in detangling spray.  But her fur seems so dry and it's very hard to get a comb or brush through. Does that seem correct?  Thanks, Cathie

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

Simon's coat change started around 10 months. He had a long beautiful spiral fleece coat. There was no amount of combing/brushing I could do to get ahead of it. I brushed/combed him every night...next day there were mats. I broke down and had a groomer cut him down to around an inch. (The weather was warm) It was a different look, but still adorable. The grooming was a breeze. Three months later I had him cut down to about 1 1/2". It was great. When his hair was short, it was very easy to see the difference between his puppy coat and his adult coat. Simon is almost two and matting time is almost done. YAY!

[JerZeeGin]

I could do that in the warmer months, but I'm reluctant until we are past the ice and snowy weather. Sounds like a good plan though.

[Pat and Traveler]

Cathie--I feel your pain, as do dozens or hundreds of others on DK.  I finally gave up on trying to get out mats during the coat change and Traveler was basically shaved.  That was in November, and it was getting cold, at least for Portland.  Since then, I've combed and brushed almost every day, and have my fingers crossed that I can keep up with his coat this time around.  I sure never found any magic tool or product that really helped much with matting, though I sure got a lot of stuff.  :)