Dreaded Mats

[Erin & Maizey]

Despite me trying very, very hard to keep my sweet little one year old goldendoodle mat-free, things are not going as well as I'd hoped.  She ended up with a very short haircut last summer and at that time I vowed to keep her mat-free and I've been combing and combing, but in the last month big giant ones seem to form on a daily basis and I'm slowly losing the war.  

I've tried no more tangles to get them out, but I'm at a loss as to how to get them out (other than cutting).  I have a wire comb and a les pooches brush but they just make her a big frizz ball and don't seem to get them out and seem to make her more prone to them because the frizzy pieces stick together.

In the interest of full disclosure - she spends her day at doggy daycare which she loves, but I think playing with other dogs all day is not conducive to keeping mats out.  I try to comb her daily, but sometimes life interferes.    

My questions are:

(1) Any helpful suggestions for getting mats out?  Clearly I'm doing something wrong....

(2) Is she going through a coat change?  How do i tell?  Her hair seems to be changing texture a little bit - from soft to a just touch more wiry.  Is this normal or does it mean the hair is dirty?  Apologies if that's a dumb question

(3) Am I just going to have to keep her short?  (I love her shaggy and long but maybe her curly hair isn't meant to be so long / fit in with our lifestyle).  

As a side note, when I had to get her cut really short, she acted like she was free and was so bouncy and jumpy and was so much more hyper.  It was pretty hilarious.  Not sure if anyone else has seen this happen.  It might have been because it was so hot this past summer and she probably felt nice and cool.  I'm afraid to do it now since it's been so cold here.  

Thanks so much in advance!

[Joan]

Cowboy Magic Detangler and Conditioner is great (I got it on Amazon) and a groomer recommended The Stuff, which I think is a similar to Cowboy Magic. I also love the Safari comb - works better on my dog than the more expensive Les Pooches.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

1) No More Tangles is NOT enough.  Use Cowboy Magic on the actual mat.  It is a vasoline-like substance. Put some on the mat, wait, brush/comb.  Also use a spray on product for general brushing that helps take mats out.  I happen to use Horse Mane 'N Tail dematting spray. When you are done brushing, spritz with water or finishing spray and scrunch.

2) most likely, yes

3) While she is in this stage it is better to keep her a bit shorter,  Here is Ned during that stage:

And when I was at my wit's end, it was this short:

4) she is probably getting slobbered on in day care and that can cause mats.

5) that her coat feels different is the adult coat coming in. Ned's is coarser than his puppy coat.

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Hi folks,
I have read the advice you all have shared and learned about several new tools/products I will have to try. I like what I'm using but I'm always interested in trying different things. A waterless shampoo called In Between Clean from Bark Basics has been a blessing for my doodles who don't always understand MY expectations for staying clean. ;-)

[Hailey and Oliver]

When we first got Oliver we thought that his previous owners didn't care about him because he had dreadlocks   then we realized they were just to lazy. we looked at a bunch of p;aces for a mat splitter.  we finally found one,  its from four paws, and its black and red.  we also use a slicker brush to keep them out.  every other week we have doodle grooming day, where all day is devoted to o

Olivers coat.  after we use the brush and de-mat him, we trim off all of the fuzz.